Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Not really.

Really, really, actually
E.P. Grondine — (archived)

This isn't a one shot limited-lifetime re-con satellite, where you fire off a better replacement after a few years, it's a system on which 100,000,000's of lives depend now, and will depend always, for all time.

Since 100,000,000's of lives depend on the system, you're not looking for the low cost option, hoping someway to "save" enmough money so you can buy a manned Mars mission, a mission which in the end will only allow a few emotional retards to satisfy their escapists fantasies for a few years, until the reality of what a dead rock Mars is finally penetrates their fantasy worlds.

What you're looking for is the best system you can have. Think in terms of getting a heart valve put in. You want the low cost option?

I've mentioned before that the data handling requirements for a space based NEO system are different than those for a reconnaisance satellite, but they didn't sink in. Let me run them by you again.

First off, you're right about the visibility, but you failed to mention another problem, which is lunar dust. Given these restraints, why consider the Moon at all?

One, simple volume of data, far far greater than that generated by reconaisance satellites. Second, the need for completely lossless transmission of that data. Read large antennas, and large power supplies. Baring which, the need for reduction of that data remotely, with large computers and thus again large power supplies. Fourth, instrument size. Fifth, comparison of servicing versus replacement costs for a system which will remain in use forever.

These people are professionals, Larry, they're not amateurs, and they're not retired, they do this for a living.

Which brings me to Point Six. If the space based system can not provide as good a product as the lunar based one, then it's simply not a contender.

A lot of people, including many here, don't realize this yet, but the terms of discussion have changed.

EP

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