Space factories -the third industrial revolution

[mississippichem]

Where does the oxygen go? Ore is an oxidized metal (iron ore = iron + oxygen). You can only turn it into iron/steel when you get rid of the oxygen. As far as I know, you need cokes or charcoal (essentially carbon) for that.

 

In short: the cokes in a blast furnace are added for 2 reasons: heat, and to react with the oxygen (to form CO2). Only heat is not enough.

 

I second that. You won't be reducing much of anything without reductant.

[Widdekind]

Where does the oxygen go? Ore is an oxidized metal (iron ore = iron + oxygen). You can only turn it into iron/steel when you get rid of the oxygen. As far as I know, you need cokes or charcoal (essentially carbon) for that.

 

In short: the cokes in a blast furnace are added for 2 reasons: heat, and to react with the oxygen (to form CO2). Only heat is not enough.

many asteroids are "carbonaceous", i.e. rich in carbon. Ergo, "carbonaceous" materials already exist, in situ, at least in the main asteroid belt. And, would not silicon work well, too (to form SiO2)? Silicon is perhaps the most common element in asteroids.

 

perhaps "nuclear broilers" are buildable, using "hot-running fission cores" as "light-bulb-elements", backed by a reflective shield, like a "nuclear-bulb flash-light":

 

heat radiation, from the fission cores, would be radiated onto, and reflected back onto, space-ores in the "hopper" or "crucible" below (per artificial gravity).

[Widdekind]

what about Mag-Lev for freight trains ? Perhaps electro-magnetic forces could "carry" larger loads, more energy efficiently, e.g. "you could recoup your energy costs, whilst the train decelerates" ? Mag-Lev technology resembles "rail-guns" & "mass-drivers"; ergo development of super-heavy-payload Mag-Lev freight-trains could help develop "mass-drivers", to accelerate super-heavy-payloads, e.g. space-factories, to orbital velocities, for economic exploitation, of space:

 

 

theoretically, earth-orbiting "EM wiffle-ball-scoops" could "catch" and decelerate moon-launched payloads. Hypothetical earth-launched Mag-Lev "cargo vehicles" would resemble space-shuttles, which would release payloads in orbit, before gliding back down to earth:

 

Edited April 9, 2012 by Widdekind

[lightspeed]

To POM

 

Your futuristic space plane sounds good. Sadly, there is no sign it will appear, in the near future or far future. On the other hand, the space elevator is already being researched by a dedicated team. So far, they have built one a mile long and hung it under a balloon.

 

OK, this is a long way from the 78,000 km long ribbon that will be needed - but it is a start, and the technology is possible in theory. This means that it is likely to appear in due course.

 

The fact that orbit is achieved using just electricity has to be seen as a major advantage. No reaction mass required!

Have you ever heard of the skylon spaceplane.It has been approved.

Edited December 20, 2012 by lightspeed