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Dyson Asteroid Shells

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Tue, 2012-12-04 13:55

Arenamontanus Arenamontanus's picture

Dyson Asteroid Shells

Here is a neat concept for colonizing asteroids I found today: http://sei.aero/eng/papers/uploads/archive/ISTS_2008-k-13_DysonAsteroidS... "The Dyson Asteroid Shell (DAS) involves completely enclosing a small body such as an asteroid in a rigid or semi-rigid shell" - first it is covered with roofing, and then the interior can be mined and converted at leisure. This can produce some pretty interesting habitats, either leaving the asteroid in place and with a lush surface, or fully converted into a 3D environment inside the shell. See http://sei.aero/gallery/index.shtml#unmanned for some pictures (and plenty of other space sketches usable as EP illustrations). http://sei.aero/gallery/fullres/unmanned-space-systems/Asteroid-Shell-1.jpg http://sei.aero/gallery/fullres/unmanned-space-systems/Asteroid-Shell-2.jpg http://sei.aero/gallery/fullres/unmanned-space-systems/MADMEN.jpg http://sei.aero/gallery/fullres/unmanned-space-systems/PETSAT-Sketch.jpg http://sei.aero/gallery/fullres/miscellaneous/Robotic-Space-Platform.jpg

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Wed, 2012-12-05 09:21

nezumi.hebereke nezumi.hebereke's picture

What is the advantage of this

What is the advantage of this over creating a beehive habitat as you mine? Or just creating a sealed environment over the section you're mining? (I'm also assuming this doesn't count mining ships which may totally envelope a smaller meteor for processing.)

Thu, 2012-12-06 06:12

Arenamontanus Arenamontanus's picture

I assume the problem with

I assume the problem with beehives is that they depend on the internal integrity of the asteroid - if it is a rubble pile, it is hard to make airtight and stable tunnels. And since you have more freedom of motion when mining a surface, it is likely useful for many mining methods... but then you will want to keep stuff from flying off, so wrapping at least the mining section in some tarp makes sense. I mostly think this approach is good for creating a very cool setting. Imagine a glittering green asteroid as the secret base of the opposition.

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