Spring Break
Asteroids are answer to where to live in space
Scott Conover
Issue date: 5/18/09 Section: Forum
In the near future, as space exploration grows, humans will have many places to settle. From the miners who draw ore from the near-earth asteroids around us, to settlers hoping for a home amidst the stars, people will forge for themselves a place in the dark skies.
Where, however, will people choose to live?
The new home needs to be safe, secure and located near important resources such as ore and water. This decision would mean more than just access to a good view; it may mean the difference between life and death.
It is most important that settlers not only choose a location based on its resources and living space, but also on its ability to help them survive and thrive in the deep of space.
There are essentially four places for early settlers to live: planets, comets, asteroids and man-made structures.
While in theory each has their own advantages and disadvantages for the average settler, the fact is that only two of the places introduced are suitable for early settlement. The other two are simply unsuitable for early space settlement due to the difficulties in settling and maintaining proper living space and heath conditions.
One of the most unsuitable places to live for early settlers is on a planet. Despite the apparent analogy to discovering a new home similar to Earth, planets are extremely poor places to choose as a settlement location.
First of all, unless the planet simulates Earth-like conditions for gravity, then health problems would quickly emerge for early settlers. When humans are in an environment which has less gravity than their native heath of Earth, they tend to suffer from the deterioration of their bones and ligaments. Astronauts are affected by this condition during their stay in the International Space Station. This article from Science Daily provides some excellent insight into this condition: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090126121350.htm.
Second of all, planets possess a gravity well that inhibits movement away from planet surface, so any settlers leaving the planet would need to attain additional thrust in order to reach escape velocity. Even in a low-gravity environment there is a required escape velocity, and the additional thrust required can assume much-needed energies which could otherwise be expended towards survival.
Where, however, will people choose to live?
The new home needs to be safe, secure and located near important resources such as ore and water. This decision would mean more than just access to a good view; it may mean the difference between life and death.
It is most important that settlers not only choose a location based on its resources and living space, but also on its ability to help them survive and thrive in the deep of space.
There are essentially four places for early settlers to live: planets, comets, asteroids and man-made structures.
While in theory each has their own advantages and disadvantages for the average settler, the fact is that only two of the places introduced are suitable for early settlement. The other two are simply unsuitable for early space settlement due to the difficulties in settling and maintaining proper living space and heath conditions.
One of the most unsuitable places to live for early settlers is on a planet. Despite the apparent analogy to discovering a new home similar to Earth, planets are extremely poor places to choose as a settlement location.
First of all, unless the planet simulates Earth-like conditions for gravity, then health problems would quickly emerge for early settlers. When humans are in an environment which has less gravity than their native heath of Earth, they tend to suffer from the deterioration of their bones and ligaments. Astronauts are affected by this condition during their stay in the International Space Station. This article from Science Daily provides some excellent insight into this condition: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090126121350.htm.
Second of all, planets possess a gravity well that inhibits movement away from planet surface, so any settlers leaving the planet would need to attain additional thrust in order to reach escape velocity. Even in a low-gravity environment there is a required escape velocity, and the additional thrust required can assume much-needed energies which could otherwise be expended towards survival.
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