|
|
Well, I am not so optimistic. However precious the metals, the costs of
transporting them to earth will outweigh any selling price for a very long
time.
When prices climb, we will probably first start to mine the oceans. Lots of
treasures here, some obvious like methane hydrate, some we have to search
for. The ocean covers more than 70% of the earth's surface - so I suppose we
can reasonably believe that 70% of all mineral desposits which don't
dissolve in water can be mined here. When prices rise, underwater
prospecting will start. Probably it will be done completely by robots, but
then, who knows?
Before starting into space for commercial gain, we have to have a cheap
energy source like fusion-power. No real SF here, fusion power generation
already works. Unfortunately with our current technology we have to use more
power to heat the plasma, to generate the magnetic fields etc. than we gain
by the fusion-reaction. I am confident that when energy prices rise high
enough research in this field will be resumed and properly funded - and then
there is a good chance to make fusion power the next power source.
I >hope< you are right. I hope that we will start to claim our solar system.
I would like to see a working space-elevator, for instance. I think we
already have the technology to make this work, if we really wanted to and
would spend the money.
I just doubt it will happen. Politicians are elected for a few years, only.
If they want to be reelected, they have to produce short term results,
especially if things cost much money. Think about the ISS - how long did it
take to become operational? And it may be shut down in 5 to 15 years.
Probably sooner than later.
BTW: Nice planet - well done. I forgot to mention this in my last post...
;-)
How long did the anim take to render?
Post a reply to this message
|
|
|
|
High!
> BTW: Nice planet - well done. I forgot to mention this in my last post...
> ;-)
>
> How long did the anim take to render?
Hard to say, as I rendered it in many sessions, each maximally 14, 15
hours long (as my computer makes too much noise to run it while
sleeping), also during rendering, I performed other tasks on the
computer, so that POV-Ray often could not make use of the full CPU
performance. But I estimate that all in all, it took about 20 days!
See you in Khyberspace!
Yadgar
Now playing: Black Man Ray (China Crisis)
Post a reply to this message
|
|