Actually, a book.
Posted on 02/09/2019 7:20:47 AM PST by BenLurkin
Why would we attempt such a bizarre feat of astro-engineering? Because the spin of the asteroid would create enough gravity for mining equipment to be effectively used, giving us a way to tap into the rich minerals and deposits inside these celestial rocks.
In addition, researchers suggest the asteroid's rocky hull could also help keep the mining station safe from the dangers of being out in space – cosmic ray radiation and all.
This crazy idea might just be possible, according to a new study from astrophysicists at the University of Vienna in Austria, who applied some advanced gravity models to a hypothetical asteroid measuring 500 metres by 390 metres (1,640 feet by 1,280 feet).
"Loads resulting from centrifugal forces... [make] a space station in the cavern of a mined asteroid feasible," write the researchers, though there are a lot of unknowns here – the right dimensions and materials would need to be chosen, and the asteroid would need to be strong enough to support a station.
"Practical applications will crucially depend on knowing not only the composition but also the internal structure of candidate bodies," adds the team. "As missions to these asteroids seem inevitable for such studies, decisions on inhabiting such asteroids may only be possible after mining operations have started."
While the dimensions of the asteroid used in the scientists' models roughly match some space rocks we've already observed – including 3757 Anagolay, 99942 Apophis and 3361 Orpheus – much of the composition of these asteroids isn't known at the moment.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencealert.com ...
Actually, a book.
Also John Ringo’s Troy Rising series and Robert Heinlein in various books.
Well, I guess that sure beats building a space station inside Uranus.
Who pays for it?
What a bizarre site. I tried to scroll down to see if they allowed comments and found it to be bottomless. It’s clickbait all the way down.
Excellent series. Loved the Troy Rising series. I keep hoping for another book in the series, but so far, no joy.
Sounds a little inconvenient.
Glad to see a couple more John Ringo fans here. I too would like another book in the Troy Rising series.
I do hear John Ringo and David Weber have a new book in the Empire of Man series. I just read the forth book “We Few”. Looking forward to the fifth.
“Because the spin of the asteroid would create enough gravity for mining equipment to be effectively used, giving us a way to tap into the rich minerals and deposits inside these celestial rocks.”
It does not create gravity. The artificial gravity, as its usually called, that is created by centrifugal force is roughly analogous to our experience with gravity. But, due to the Coriolis Effect, there would be unique challenges to mining or any other work within a rapidly spinning asteroid. For example, “falling” objects would move in an apparently (i.e. based on the frame of reference) curved trajectory.
On Earth we experience “up” and “down” within our gravitational frame of reference. But this would not be the case in artificial gravity. (Doesn’t mean the idea is not feasible though. Just has unique challenges.)
hard to take a science article seriously when the very first line asserts a scientific impossibility, ain’t it
There is no such thing as “centrifugal force”. It’s an effect caused by acceleration, which according to general relativity is the same as gravity. But that’s a nit-picky point that only science nerds would correct someone on.
Or up on Uranus.
“There is no such thing as ‘centrifugal force’. It’s an effect caused by acceleration, which according to general relativity is the same as gravity.”
Centrifugal force is an “apparent” force. The actual force involved is inertia, which is identical to gravity.
What the average person often has a hard time wrapping his or her head around is that rotating and revolving objects are accelerating toward their axis of motion. This is because, even though the rate of speed may be constant, velocity is more than speed. It includes the direction of motion. And, in the case of objects that spin or revolve, the direction of motion is constantly changing (and usually at a constant rate of change).
Add this article to the stack of articles about the coming flying car. It will never happen.
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