Human habitat at mass center of asteroid

There are physical limitation to living on an asteroid. The body loses calcium in low gravity and this would result in sever osteoporosis thus preventing the space travelers from ever retruning to a high-gravity planet. Also, if you jump too high on an asteroid you will wind up forever in orbit. Tbhe lack of gravity would prevent any possible attempt at terra-forming as an atmosphere would be impossible. However, I would selflessly sacrifice myself as the sole male on a planet full of women.

Some Preperation H will cure up those asteroids. I love how our friend neil asks us to refute something that is a complete whacko theory. Mind you, everyone is entitled to their opinions.

Hi cav: I have several other far out ideas for which I would appreciate feedback. I don't find things we have already done very challenging. Much of what we have done recently was considered whacko a century ago. At least nickfun had some specific objections. I agree , the ladies would be cripples if they moved to high gravity after a decade or so. It would be a big sacrifice knowing the technology to return safely to Earth was decades, perhaps centuries in the future. There are however billions of low gravity locations in the solar system that can be colonized at moderate risk, with easy opportunities Small asteroids occasionally pass each other at speeds as low as 70 MPH, perhaps several times per decade.
Going to the surface of a 60 meter asteroid would be about as hazardous as an EVA = extra vehicular activity at the space station. An external atmosphere is not possible unless we invent a force field, artificile gravity or something similar, but transparent habitat domes may be practical in a few decades. Neil

Why not envelope the entire asteroid (cav there is a difference) with some membrane that would hold in the atmosphere of choice? Could be changed once a month, with addition of psychoactive volatile compounds...great for getting the procreation fluids going. And no need to worry about osteroperosis...the "ladies" could live in centrifuges when they weren't outside shagging in microgravity.

Yes Neil I think your idea has merit, especially for science fiction writers with an additional interest in pornography.

I'm almost thinking this should start as a beginning of a novel or story in original writing, and keep it sort of like a dual thread, where you could get feedback on the science and the creative aspects.

Hi Steve: The large spherical membrane may soon be practical if CNT = carbon nano tubes meet the optimistic projections. Radius 1000 inches. Surface area = 4 times 3.1416 times 1000 squared = 12,560,000 square inches = 12,560,000 pounds pressure trying to burst the membrane if the internal pressure is one psi. Any chance we can make genetically altered humans who can remain conscious breathing one psi oxygen partial pressure? Earth seal level has 3 psi oxygen partial pressure, so one psi is equivelent to about 27,000 feet without supplimentary oxygen. Neil

think you might be right there Neil. Best to get them all wearing little bubbles on their heads.

Why do it? There are many higher priorities, and the costs would be prohibitive. It may be a good thing to colonize and terraform Mars, but that could better be accomplished in a more elegant fashion.

Try this as an alternative proposal.

Construct and position a satellite in stationary orbit over Nevada. The satellite would deploy a large concave mylar "sail" to focus solar rays onto a small area of the satellite. The solar energy would boil a contained liquid shunted by one-way valves through a generator and onto the cold side of the satellite. There the gas would be chilled back into liquid and shunted through a second generator as it returns to the boiler chamber. Between the two generators a large amount of electricity should be produced, and translated into microwaves. The microwaves would then be transmitted, via a broad-beam down to the receiving station in Nevada. The receiving station antenna would be about 100 yards square (to ameliorate the power of the microwave to anything flying through it, though the airspace would be restricted). The receiving station would then convert the microwaves back into electricity and send it out over the grid. After the initial costs of implementing the plan which uses relatively old and proven technology, we would have very cheap and non-polluting energy. Once proven, the satellite electrical system might be duplicated many times, and supply electrical power to much of the world.

Couple that with a shift from the internal combustion engine to more efficient electrical/petroleum powered composite vehicles, and the return on the investment might be very significant in terms of reducing many of the world's technological problems.

Hi asherman: I was so impressed, I took the liberty to paste most of your comment as a new topic called SPS = Solar Powered Satellite. I hope you are not offended.
A few turbines and wankles and stirling engines have been test marketed in cars. I suspect they failed because most mechanics did not know how to make repairs.
100 kilo of battery = 220 pounds should be able to double the torque in the rather brief periods double torque is desired. The battery would however be exhausted (and possibly over heated) in about ten minutes at 100 miles per hour or climbing a very long steep hill. Neil