[extropy-chat] FWD [Skeptic] Re: defending the Vision for Space Exploration

[Eugen Leitl]

On Thu, Jan 20, 2005 at 04:13:43PM -0800, Ned Late wrote:

> How much is it at this time to send each pound into
> space?

The cheapest LEO launch seem to be around 1.5 k$/lb (3.4 k$/kg).
GTO is considerably more expensive (about 7 k$/lb). 

Right now Au is about 13.6 k$/kg. Of course, satellites are considerably more
expensive than mere dumb gold.

> Can robots mine asteroids for platinum & gold?

Self-replicating lunar factories operation costs: zero.
Linear motor launch reaction mass: zero.
Having a kiloton of titanium widgets airdropped to your GPS coordinates:
priceless.


 
-- 
Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a>
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