Welcome to the Sunday Paper Club. (Almost) every Sunday, this blog will offer analysis of a paper on space habitation and other related topics. These are my opinions on a weekly scientific paper; basically I read the paper and write down my thoughts are I read it. They are subject to my perspectives and believes. I am open to debate, so if any reader believes I have misinterpreted something in a paper, please point it out. I'm only a student and I'm still learning how to read these papers and interpret them. All quotes are from the paper unless otherwise noted. All papers I review are available for free online.
This week we are reviewing Space Colonization—Benefits for the World.
The paper opens by considering space habitation’s place in a world full of horrible problems. It presents space habitation as an answer to the world’s biggest problems and highest priorities, not a priority in its self. This is good from a public relations perspective because, if space habitation prevents the solving of world hunger or any other major problems, the public will wage war against the idea of space habitation. But, presented this this paper’s light, space habitation will encounter less resistance.
There is also an increasing graph of world energy use, nonnuclear clean energy and nuclear energy. Based on the graph on page 2 on the PDF, we see that renewable energy sources are not increasing production enough to meet the growing energy demand. So, the paper suggests Space Solar Power, Helium 3 and Lunar Power Systems to prevent a huge increase in polluting energy sources.
The idea of a self contained life support system is being applied to towns and cities on Earth. “For example, [the] Shimizu Corporation is most interested in bio-regenerative systems as a path toward solution of Tokyo’s waste management problems”. The standards of space colonization can help improve life on Earth.
The paper also goes over the standard arguments for space habitation, mainly planetary defense and economic incentives from spin offs. But, it find it interesting that only 17% of the jobs generated by space habitation will be in engineering and science, the rest will be in other fields.
Reactions
-Will the need for more renewable energy force the development of non-space renewable energy?
In Case You Skimmed
-Space habitation should be presented as a answer to the world’s priorities.
-Production of renewable energy is not increasing fast enough to meet increasing energy demands.
-Closed loop systems are being used in urban planning because of space habitation.
-Only 17% of the jobs generated by space habitation will be in engineering and science.
