Moving Into Space: Who Wants to Get Out of this World Alive?

Humans are remarkably adaptible to life at different climates, elevations, and latitudes on earth. But most of us understand that we improve our long term odds of survival by also learning to live off planet. Michael Anissimov at the popular blog Accelerating Future, takes a good look at some of the ways that have been proposed to make space exploitation and migration more affordable, thus more possible.

Michael includes some amazing graphics, and a good analysis of some shortcomings of the most popular current alternative space access approach, the space elevator. He concludes his article by pointing to the concept of the "space pier." See illustration at top.

The space pier would be built on 100 km tall compression pillars, and incorporates a 300 km long electromagnetic linear accelerator. At that altitude, air resistance is much lower than at sea level A 300 km linear accelerator at 100km could accelerate payloads to earth orbit, or much farther. For a sobering perspective, consider that the Ultima Tower is only 3km tall. Innovative construction methods will be necessary for either the Space Pier or the Space Elevator.

For a good run through of several imaginative space launch approaches, try this Island One website (frames).

Then there is always the free online ebook, "LEO On The Cheap", for more conventional information on less expensive approaches using rockets to access space.

Large scale movement of humans into the outer space environment is a daunting challenge. Achieving that transition will take all the imagination and hard work that modern humans can provide.