Peak Oil and Population reduction

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You seem to have a conceptual problem with Keplerian motion.

ruveyn

I was considering fuel costs, but what's the deal with orbital mechanics?

It is impossible to build a spoke from the sun that passes straight through earth to mars.

The inner planets revolve faster than the outer planets. See Kepler's Third Law.

ruveyn

I wasn't suggesting a starladder connecting the two planets, rather I think it might be easier (once we're finally able to colonize Mars anyhow) to build a starladder (i.e., a space-elevator) on Mars than it would be to build one on Earth.

Or, in other words, a means to bypass the fuel-inefficient step of launch and instead, have "elevators" that are essentially towers that provide low-orbit docking stations.

That's what a starladder is.

I know, I was trying to rephrase it for ruveyn's sake.

He's mentioned it in another thread, so I think he would know already. I think he just misunderstood what I was trying to say.

Mars would definitely be easier for a space elevator or sky hook type setup. In fact any construction there would be easier just due to the lower gravity, less structural support would be needed, or much lighter support. I find it easier to comprehend a space elevator when thinking of it 'dropping' to the planet rather then as a 'tower'. You could probably use Phobos or Deimos as a counterweight if it were possible to move one of them into an Areosynchronous orbit
Looks like the space fanatics have temporarily hijacked this thread

Considering space is the only decent longterm answer to both energy and population problems, I consider it a reasonable extension of the original topic.

OP approved.

Is it possible for an influx of unexpected resources to have a negative impact on the environment? That is to say if we strip mars of all its materials is there a limit to how much it would be safe to bring to earth?

Mars is an ideal target for settlement, not exploitation, though some of that will happen. I would suggest that planets unlikely to harbor life or be a potential habitat are better targets for strip mining, such as Mercury. I don't think so though, in any case. If we didn't have to plunder the Earth, we would simply be replacing our source of materials. The materials elsewhere in the solar system are the exact same as here, the only difference being is exploiting them elsewhere spares our environment

Last edited by Vigilans on 24 Feb 2011, 4:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

that is an awesome idea for a science fiction short story.

I think that when mining of Mars is able to be underway that there will be commerce between the two planets and intermediate stations possibly. Materials would go from Mars to Earth and from Earth to Mars. Much of the materials on Mars would be of more use for construction upon the planet, at least immediately, than it would be merely for shipment back to Earth. After there has been a generation of colonists who have never seen Earth, objects from Earth and travel to, and from, Earth would probably increase in demand. IDK, just some thoughts.

Nice userpic keet
I think of Mars as an unexploited breadbasket rather then a big rock to tear apart. With some imported nitrogen and fell field work for a few generations, Mars' regolith could become soil-like. It would then be one of two places in the solar system where we can grow food. And because of it's lower gravity, it would be more economical to ship food from Mars to the rest of the solar system then from Earth. Additionally, even with an engineered ocean (which would likely cover no more then 30% of the surface...) Mars still has an almost equal amount of land to the Earth, and without wildlife covering it. Thus we could potentially use 100% of Mars' land for agriculture, without any clear cutting involved, or displacing any native species

Couldn't water(or components to make water) be taken from unused planets and transfered to mars? Wouldn't this be necessary for any farming on the scale you imply? Is there enough water for what you suggest already on mars? This assumes that our transportation is even at the level where the option could be considered.