China Wants to Build a Deep Sea 'Space Station'
motherboard.vice.com
China Wants to Build a Deep Sea 'Space Station'
1–10 of 19 posts
Re: China Wants to Build a Deep Sea 'Space Station'
#2I just hope they find that last vending machine that has Mingus Dew...
Re: China Wants to Build a Deep Sea 'Space Station'
#3I think something like this was a plot point in the recent novel 'Ghost Fleet', portraying a high-tech non-nuclear war between China and the US.
Re: China Wants to Build a Deep Sea 'Space Station'
#4Deep sea mining and more importantly thermal vents mining is probably the next frontier in terrestrial resource exploitation and its considerably more likely to happen within the next 5 decades than asteroid mining even if we limit ourselves to near earth objects.
The environment aside China is really making smart moves.
Re: China Wants to Build a Deep Sea 'Space Station'
#5[deleted]
Re: China Wants to Build a Deep Sea 'Space Station'
#6Deep sea mining and more importantly thermal vents mining is probably the next frontier in terrestrial resource exploitation and its considerably more likely to happen within the next 5 decades than asteroid mining even if we limit ourselves to near earth objects. The environment aside China is really making smart moves.
I agree, I think it makes more sense to explore the deep sea than space.
Re: China Wants to Build a Deep Sea 'Space Station'
#7Deep sea mining and more importantly thermal vents mining is probably the next frontier in terrestrial resource exploitation and its considerably more likely to happen within the next 5 decades than asteroid mining even if we limit ourselves to near earth objects. The environment aside China is really making smart moves.
I agree, I think it makes more sense to explore the deep sea than space.
That's interesting, care to elaborate on why?
On the surface, it would seem that the engineering requirements for space tend be greater than those involved for the deep sea. But you have a different set of trade offs; for example, you may end up disturbing the natural equilibrium of the biosphere in the deep sea, whereas in space you wouldn't have such an issue.
Also, they would still have to man the station underwater, whereas in asteroid mining, it's relatively easy to send a fleet of drones for resource gathering and discovery. The only station really required would be a fueling station.
Re: China Wants to Build a Deep Sea 'Space Station'
#8"Welcome to Pathos II, your expressway to the stars. What started as a geothermal mining operation in the 60's has now become home to the Omega Space Gun."
Re: China Wants to Build a Deep Sea 'Space Station'
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree, I think it makes more sense to explore the deep sea than space.
That's interesting, care to elaborate on why? On the surface, it would seem that the engineering requirements for space tend be greater than those involved for the deep sea. But you have a different set of trade offs; for example, you may end up disturbing the natural equilibrium of the biosphere in the deep sea, whereas in space you wouldn't have such an issue. Also, they would still have to man the station underwat…
I think there are more accessible natural resources for cheaper acquisition in the deep sea. We don't need the tremendous equipment needed for lift from the atmosphere. The oceans play a more critical role in survival here on earth, and yet we dont know much about the deep sea. Personal Pet Idea, I'm also hoping undiscovered deep sea organisms could give us technological and medical breakthroughs.
Re: China Wants to Build a Deep Sea 'Space Station'
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree, I think it makes more sense to explore the deep sea than space.
That's interesting, care to elaborate on why? On the surface, it would seem that the engineering requirements for space tend be greater than those involved for the deep sea. But you have a different set of trade offs; for example, you may end up disturbing the natural equilibrium of the biosphere in the deep sea, whereas in space you wouldn't have such an issue. Also, they would still have to man the station underwat…
> Also, they would still have to man the station underwater, whereas in asteroid mining, it's relatively easy to send a fleet of drones for resource gathering and discovery.
It's interesting why you would think this. Underwater drones would be an order of magnitude easier. For starters you can control them with amazing high bandwidth just using a simple 10km long cord from a boat.
You can pull them in for maintenance every day.
They cost ~zero $ to deliver. A fishing boat could do it.
I think because SciFi movies delivers space so much we lose perspective of how hard it is and how 'easy' other things are.
I'm not sure why China is manning this underwater lab other than it's cool. (like going to the moon)