I see an economic diasater coming...

[triffid]

The future is still good I think.I dream about the space elevator.We can build one already on the moon.Maybe even on mars.In 5 to 10 years maybe even one or more on the earth.I would like to see the earth enter into a new era of prosperity.To stay only on the earth dooms our species to the same fate as the dinosaurs.Extinction when a big enough rock falls from the sky.triffid

[the_big_m_in_ok]

The future is still good I think.

As a Native American who's familiar with the Traditional ways, I have something to say about that:

There's a Grand-style of major Mayan cycles that's said to end on 21-22 Dec. 2012 (Winter Solstice).   Okay, but after that, the Mayans said there will have been a minor cycle in which the following would have been foreseen:


A.  Half the population will eat well and the other half would have difficulties.
B.  The whole population will come together for a common purpose or goal.

I interpret:  The economies of the world will collapse and social unrest will be very severe, to say the least.  We, in the Americas, have more land and smaller populations in which to contend with social strife, some of which may be unavoidable.  A.  We can eat better than they can in the Eastern Hemisphere.

The Muslim extremists are numerous enough and patient enough to win their "Jihad" in the Eastern Hemisphere.  When they do, they'll overthrow the rest of the Arabic states and set their sights on Europe---which is closer to them than we are.  After that, however, they'll come after us.  B.  We'll need to band together to confront this threat with a unified goal of winning WWIII.  Otherwise, we all die.

--Lee

[triffid]

At the missouri renewable fair I went to last week,I met a man named Mr.Thom Day of MEERI(Maxwell-Edison Energgy Research Institute) located in jefferson City,Mo.He told me that in order for men to live in space Someone must learn to turn electricity into gravity.Because all life on earth evolved  in a gravitational field and therefore falls apart in the weightnessless of space.I asked him about one constant gee aceleration engines.He said its not real gravity and your body can tell the difference.He said too that Nasa's attempts to grow food plants in orbit are failures.Related to lack of gravity.He had magnetic floatation devices there for demonstration purposes.Including one he built 35 years ago.It still floats in the earths gravity field.Its nothing more than two opposing magnets held in place by a wooden frame.But he built it 35 years ago and it still floatsI built a much simpler one in the late 1990.s and let it float for two months.triffid

[triffid]

He said a manned mission would not survive a trip to mars.It would take too long to get there.If hes right then we need to focus on using electricity to make real gravity.I think we can get to the moon quick enough build a base there.See what happens in 1/6 the gravity of earth.triffid

[the_big_m_in_ok]

He said a manned mission would not survive a trip to mars.It would take too long to get there.If hes right then we need to focus on using electricity to make real gravity.I think we can get to the moon quick enough build a base there.See what happens in 1/6 the gravity of earth.triffid

Was he talking about the VASIMR?  A plasma rocket that uses H2 or He to give variable thrust.  It only takes 35-45 days to get to Mars.  It has to be built in orbit, though.  The fuel alone should weigh about 50 tons.  The ship would weigh 5,000 to 10,000 tons.  But that would be feasible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_Specific_Impulse_Magnetoplasma_Rocket

--Lee