3 ms·

> Would that really be out of reach for what we can currently do? Naively. I would say yes. I think you're far far underestimating the thrusts needed to move b

> Would that really be out of reach for what we can currently do? Naively. I would say yes. I think you're far far underestimating the thrusts needed to move big rocks and match orbits. But please go ahead and do the math if you think that this extra-ordinary idea can work. Having a 173 mile metal object in LEO is also a non-starter - getting it there and keeping it there are both insanely dangerous if anything goes wrong. The ISS's orbit is not stable without periodic booster thrusts (1). And higher orbits where there is not-one around - how useful are those exactly? They could become useful, maybe. but that's not what we can currently do. 1) https://www.universetoday.com/155694/watch-what-happens-to-astronauts-when-the-international-space-station-gets-an-orbital-reboost https://www.universetoday.com/155694/watch-what-happens-to-a...

imiric 3y ago
Sure, I'm aware it would take an extraordinary amount of thrust, but the exact amount will depend on the acceleration and speed we want it to move. If we would be willing to wait decades (centuries?) for it to reach us, it could possibly be done cheaply with solar sails. And this wouldn't have to be anywhere near LEO/HEO to be useful. Getting it somewhere in the order of the distance to the Moon, or even much closer than Mars, would make mining and transportation that much cheaper. We could even blow and transport chunks of it at a time instead of the whole thing, as a sibling comment mentioned. It's not much worth to us in its current location, so these missions are merely exploratory.
- SideburnsOfDoom 3y ago
  > Getting it somewhere in the order of the distance to the Moon, or even much closer than Mars, would make mining and transportation that much cheaper. Actually I disagree, placing an object "somewhere between the moon and mars" is at our current space ability, uselessly "out of reach". Perhaps there is a plan where this makes sense in the next century, but I think you're far far overestimating the utility of it and "what we can currently do".

imiric 3y ago

Sure, I'm aware it would take an extraordinary amount of thrust, but the exact amount will depend on the acceleration and speed we want it to move. If we would be willing to wait decades (centuries?) for it to reach us, it could possibly be done cheaply with solar sails. And this wouldn't have to be anywhere near LEO/HEO to be useful. Getting it somewhere in the order of the distance to the Moon, or even much closer than Mars, would make mining and transportation that much cheaper. We could even blow and transport chunks of it at a time instead of the whole thing, as a sibling comment mentioned. It's not much worth to us in its current location, so these missions are merely exploratory.

SideburnsOfDoom 3y ago
> Getting it somewhere in the order of the distance to the Moon, or even much closer than Mars, would make mining and transportation that much cheaper. Actually I disagree, placing an object "somewhere between the moon and mars" is at our current space ability, uselessly "out of reach". Perhaps there is a plan where this makes sense in the next century, but I think you're far far overestimating the utility of it and "what we can currently do".