This document suggests possibility of Rockwell business involving the creation of a three-part launch system for construction of a large research space habitat, and of a means of gaining support for it by using the web.
This may seem more like brainstorming than a business proposal. But brainstorming comes first in a leading-edge project. With new vision, then one can stir up some new business.
This mutual project would be the creation of a milestone on a larger space scenario of great potential benefit to human civilization and the earth ecosystem. Thus, it is a worthwhile task. This particular milestone would be the construction and use of an R&D 1,000-person, 1-mile-diameter wheel-like research habitat, using centrepetal force to create artificial gravity as part of a large near-earth-surface-normal interior living/working/agricultural space. The harmonization of agriculture, people, and machines would be the product of this project, determining the operational feasability of large scale semi-closed artificial ecosystems in near-earth orbit.
Visionaries have foreseen something like this from the very beginnings of the space effort. The way it is to be done as described by this "Centristation" concept, is what can make it feasable in the near future, at long last. The teleoperated docking of prefabricated habitat modules into a spoked circle configuration on site in LEO, through unmanned wet launches using reuseable propulsion systems, built thusly before the first human presence is needed there in LEO, is what could make it happen; the spoked wheel habitat having been first built and tested as much as possible on the ground, pre-harmonizing the multiple feedback systems of agriculture, residential, light industry, and the mammoth machine in which all this takes place.
I have a dream; you have the can-do. The benefit to humanity and to the ecosystem is an ultimate measure of value. How to make it happen, is the question here.
The concept I've been developing over the past decade indicates there is a potential way (through the development of a "kinetic energy supported transportation structure" technology, not particularly discussed here now) to massively move human civilization to a ring of space habitats in earth orbit, if necessary to re-build the planetary ecosystem, to ensure the survival of earthlife long-term. To actually develop and R&D test the space colony concept, on site in LEO, is the part of the task you have the technology to do. This test of operational feasability is also on the critical path to other, more distant, colonization concepts such as those using asteroidal material for habitat construction.
I refuse to further wallow in the prevailing apathy and technological discouragement -- it is a waste of time -- and I urge you to do the same until you hear me out. We are a tool-using species that learns from mistakes, creatively making things better as we go.
Even the technological spin-offs of the Centristation part of the project would be of great benefit to a resource-dwindling civilization, the earth itself being nearly a closed ecosystem.
A three-part launch system needs to be created for the Centristation" project. One part is a pilotless engine cluster (such as of SSME derivatives, long-term re-useable) with enough teleoperated control systems to be used for LEO dockings and with enough airframe to fly back to the launch site after each orbital emplacement of a module. Another is a pilotless airbreathing strap-on booster, also with airframe to fly it back to the launch site for the next launch. And wet-launch technology needs be developed for using the prefabricated habitat modules as fuel tanks during their own launch. The following sketch, from my paper Wet-Launch of Prefab Habitat Modules in "Space Manufacturing 10: Pathways to The High Frontier" pp. 88-91, 1995, published by AIAA, shows this three part launch system.
Compared to the achievement of creating the STS Space Shuttle transportation system, this seems like child's play, a piece of cake for your can-do expertise. A tremendous task, true, but do-able given incentive and resources.
The managerial, scientific R&D expertise, engineering, manufacturing challenges are great, but, then, that is what you enjoy doing and at which you earn a livlihood.
Who is going to pay for it and why? Ideally, those who will eventually reap the benefits of its use. So part of this project is to get the early involvement of them in its design and manifestation into reality. The American public is going toward virtual realities, this TV and computer virtual experiencing. Through WWW a group design for manifesting a true near-earthsurface-normal-interior habitat could commence. Properly guided, this group virtual reality experience could become manifested reality.
Involving the public in the creation of this project could be done by using the WWW web communication system capability. The proverbial "doctors, lawyers, and indian chiefs", all will be needed in space habitats; every Tom-Dick-&-Harry would live there too, contributing their skills, so a WWW web-communicated group virtual-reality process designing these habitats, even revising any relevant portions of the launch system concept I've outlined, will involve a broad spectrum of people. The possibility of making it really happen, physically manifested, is important. Dr. Gerard O'Neil involved his students in space habitat design as an exercise, resulting in their enthusiasm and the growing belief that it could really happen. (And could happen in their own lifetimes, even with their own physical access to space habitats.) Through the web, a vast diversity of people could similarly contribute. And people tend to support their own brainchildren, even financially.
Like in the the game where each person adds some sketching to a crayon drawing being passed around in a circle, the resulting artwork may have a somewhat uncertain interpretation; but vastly more importantly, each person gets a feeling of having a "piece of the action" of personal contribution to its creation, making it personally significant to all in the circle. And in looking at the whole artwork emerging in the drawing, continued contributions to the sketch bring it to a more harmonious wholeness.
Gone are the business days when the mighty F1 engines shoved the Saturn 5 up to get to the moon before rivals might get there first to plant missiles aimed at us from there. Simple social survival motivation mechanisms provided that business.
Today, people take on projects which would be satisfyingly worthwhile, even actually fun to do. Tasks to improve the well-being of ourselves, our special loved ones, and of whomever we feel we belong with. Make Life Better! And with this spontaneous involvement from people of all walks of life, everywhere, perhaps will come a dawning of the seeing of the "bigger-picture", where we together see a pattern of wholeness for the well-being of ourselves as humanity, as a planetary ecosystem, as dwellers of our solar system.
And then linking earthsurface ecosystem/civilization prosperity with space resources can become endless opportunities for prosperous business. The Centristation project, or something very much like it, is an essential link on the fast-track to large scale space habitation.
Dave Cline