From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Sun Sep 15 2002 - 20:45:14 MDT
Why exactly did the sacrifice question come up? I missed
something there. The amount of radiation would not be terribly
large for the low-yield explosions required. Some of todays
speacialized nuclear devices could probably make it much cleaner
than in the initial desigsn.
What I find most interesting is the possibility of getting a lot
of material to the Moon and in orbit from which to build
further. Future Orions around the Solar System need not even
launch from Earth.
As China made some noises about going to the moon and doing some
serious things there, Orion might be very interesting to them.
- samantha
Robert J. Bradbury wrote:
> Glenn Harlen Reynolds, one of the people on the Board
> of the Foresight institute, has recently written a review
> based (apparently) on George Dyson's recent book regarding
> Project Orion.
>
> Glenn's commentary:
>
> http://www.techcentralstation.com/1051/defensewrapper.jsp?PID=1051-350&CID=1051-091102C
>
> Project Orion book:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805059857/qid%3D1031353768/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-4857139-4904913
>
> Very interesting with respect to our ability to withdraw from treaties.
>
> While I'm not fond of the normal Project Orion perspective I have a
> great deal of optimism that DNA repair in the public can be enhanced
> to tolerate the radiation exposures these launches might present.
>
> An *interesting* question -- what percentage of the human race
> might one sacrifice for its ultimate survival?
>
> Begs some very interesting questions as to precisely when the
> needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
>
> R.
>
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