Showing posts with label Mars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mars. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 01, 2025

Earth To Earth Rocketry + Hyperloop



Elon Musk's Earth to Earth transportation project via SpaceX's Starship is an ambitious concept aimed at revolutionizing long-distance travel on Earth. Here's a breakdown:

Key Features of the Project:

  1. Transportation Model:

    • Starship rockets would launch passengers into suborbital flight.
    • The rocket would travel parallel to the Earth's surface at extreme speeds.
    • It would land on floating platforms near major urban centers.

  2. Travel Times:

    • The system promises remarkably short travel durations.
    • Example: New York to London in approximately 29 minutes.

  3. Cost Efficiency:

    • Musk envisions ticket prices being comparable to an economy-class airline ticket.
    • This accessibility could democratize high-speed global travel.

  4. Technology:

    • Leverages the Starship rocket's reusability and high payload capabilities.
    • Uses vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology for efficiency and adaptability.

  5. Infrastructure:

    • Requires floating launch and landing platforms positioned near coastal cities.
    • Infrastructure development would be critical for the system's scalability.

Challenges and Considerations:

  • Safety and Regulation:

    • Ensuring passenger safety in high-speed rocket travel.
    • Navigating international airspace and space regulations.

  • Environmental Impact:

    • Addressing carbon emissions or implementing greener propulsion technologies.

  • Cost Feasibility:

    • Achieving economy-class pricing while covering development and operational costs.

  • Public Acceptance:

    • Overcoming potential passenger hesitancy regarding rocket travel.

If successful, the Earth to Earth system could drastically alter global travel, making intercontinental commutes faster than ever and reshaping the way we think about distance and time.





Earth to Earth Rocket Transportation and Hyperloop: A Perfect Duo for Future Travel

In recent years, technological advancements have redefined the boundaries of human transportation. Elon Musk’s SpaceX Earth to Earth rocket transportation project is one such groundbreaking concept, promising to revolutionize global travel by cutting travel times to under an hour. Imagine flying from New York to London in just 29 minutes. While the idea is futuristic and awe-inspiring, pairing it with another of Musk’s visionary projects, the Hyperloop, could create a seamless transportation network that connects the entire planet.

Here’s why Earth to Earth rocket transportation should go hand in hand with the Hyperloop.

The Case for a Unified System

1. Bridging Gaps Between Speed and Accessibility

The Earth to Earth rocket system offers unparalleled speed for long-distance travel, but accessibility remains a challenge. Rockets will likely land on floating platforms near coastal cities, requiring additional transportation for inland destinations.

This is where the Hyperloop comes in. With its ultra-high-speed pods traveling through vacuum tubes, the Hyperloop could efficiently connect major inland cities to rocket launch pads. Passengers could hop off a rocket and board a Hyperloop pod, seamlessly traveling to their final destination without delays or interruptions.

2. Addressing the Urban Congestion Problem

Major cities worldwide are already grappling with overburdened transportation systems. Integrating Hyperloop networks with rocket transportation can alleviate this pressure by offering a direct, high-speed alternative for intercity travel. For example, a traveler arriving in Los Angeles via rocket could take the Hyperloop to San Francisco in less than an hour, bypassing congested airports and highways.

3. Synergy of Technologies

Both systems share a focus on efficiency, sustainability, and cutting-edge engineering:

  • Earth to Earth Rockets: Leverage reusable rockets and vertical takeoff/landing technology.
  • Hyperloop: Utilizes magnetic levitation and near-vacuum tubes for energy-efficient travel.

Together, these technologies can create a global travel ecosystem that’s not just fast but also environmentally conscious.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

1. Reducing Carbon Footprints

Rocket launches are often criticized for their environmental impact. However, integrating the Hyperloop could reduce the need for short-haul flights, which are some of the most polluting segments of air travel. By combining the strengths of these systems, we can minimize emissions and promote a greener future.

2. Boosting Global Economies

Faster travel means enhanced connectivity between economic hubs. Pairing Earth to Earth rockets with Hyperloop networks would:

  • Open up new trade routes.
  • Enable rapid business travel.
  • Increase tourism by making even the most remote destinations accessible within hours.

Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges

  • Infrastructure Development: Building Hyperloop networks and floating rocket platforms near major cities requires significant investment and coordination.
  • Regulatory Hurdles: International cooperation will be essential to navigate airspace and transportation regulations.
  • Public Adoption: Educating the public about the safety and benefits of these systems will be crucial for widespread acceptance.

Opportunities

  • Job Creation: Large-scale infrastructure projects will generate employment across various sectors.
  • Technological Advancement: Pushing the boundaries of physics and engineering will spur innovation in other industries.
  • Global Unity: A truly interconnected world fosters collaboration and cultural exchange.

A Vision of the Future

Picture this: You leave your home in a small inland city, board a Hyperloop pod, and arrive at a coastal rocket terminal within minutes. From there, you take an Earth to Earth rocket to another continent, where another Hyperloop pod whisks you to your final destination. What once took 12 hours by plane now takes less than two hours in total.

Combining Earth to Earth rocket transportation with the Hyperloop isn’t just a possibility; it’s a necessity for creating a future where speed, accessibility, and sustainability coexist. Together, these technologies can bring the world closer than ever before—not just geographically, but culturally and economically.

The future of travel isn’t just about getting from point A to point B. It’s about creating a seamless, efficient, and sustainable journey. By integrating Earth to Earth rockets with the Hyperloop, we can achieve just that.






Earth to Earth Rocket Transportation: A Better Use Case for SpaceX and Space Tech Startups Than Mars

For years, the prospect of colonizing Mars has dominated the ambitions of space tech companies, with SpaceX leading the charge. While the vision of establishing a human presence on the Red Planet is inspiring, the case for Earth-based applications of rocket technology is far more compelling—and immediate. Among these, Earth to Earth rocket transportation and low-orbit, low-cost satellite internet stand out as transformative technologies with the potential to reshape life on our home planet.

Here’s why Earth to Earth transportation and satellite internet are stronger use cases for space tech than Mars colonization.

The Power of Earth to Earth Rocket Transportation

1. Revolutionizing Global Travel

Earth to Earth rocket transportation promises to shrink the world like never before. Imagine flying from New York to Tokyo in under an hour. This would make intercontinental travel as convenient as a domestic flight, eliminating the barriers of time zones and long-haul flights.

Such a system would:

  • Enable rapid business travel, facilitating global collaboration.
  • Make far-off destinations accessible, boosting tourism and cultural exchange.
  • Redefine supply chains by enabling faster movement of goods.

2. Immediate Market Demand

Unlike the hypothetical market for Mars colonization, Earth to Earth transportation addresses an existing and robust demand for faster, more efficient travel. The global aviation industry—valued at over $800 billion—could be disrupted and enhanced by the introduction of rocket-based travel.

3. Economic Viability

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has claimed that Earth to Earth rocket travel could be priced similarly to economy airline tickets. If achieved, this price point would democratize access to high-speed global travel, creating a massive market and ensuring high utilization of the technology.

The Case for Low-Orbit, Low-Cost Satellite Internet

1. Global Connectivity

SpaceX’s Starlink project has already begun to demonstrate the transformative power of low-orbit satellites for providing high-speed internet. With thousands of satellites in orbit, Starlink can bring connectivity to:

  • Rural and remote areas currently underserved by traditional broadband.
  • Developing countries, bridging the digital divide.
  • Disaster zones, where terrestrial infrastructure is often destroyed.

2. Enabling the Digital Economy

Reliable, high-speed internet is the backbone of the modern economy. By making it universally accessible, low-orbit satellite networks can:

  • Support remote work and education.
  • Accelerate the adoption of digital services in emerging markets.
  • Enhance the capabilities of connected technologies like IoT and autonomous vehicles.

3. A Rapidly Growing Market

The global satellite internet market is projected to reach $53 billion by 2030. With its head start, SpaceX is well-positioned to dominate this space, creating a steady revenue stream to fund further innovation.

Why Mars Falls Short

1. Delayed ROI

While Mars colonization is a bold vision, it’s a long-term endeavor with significant scientific, technological, and financial hurdles. Establishing even a small, self-sustaining colony on Mars could take decades, with no guarantee of economic return.

2. Niche Appeal

Mars colonization appeals primarily to space enthusiasts and futurists. By contrast, Earth to Earth transportation and satellite internet have broad, immediate appeal, addressing needs that affect billions of people.

3. Planetary Priorities

Investing in Earth-based applications of space technology allows us to solve pressing global challenges. From bridging connectivity gaps to reducing travel times, these innovations improve life on Earth while also laying the groundwork for future interplanetary exploration.

A Vision for the Future

By focusing on Earth to Earth rocket transportation and low-cost satellite internet, SpaceX and other space tech startups can achieve transformative change within our lifetime. These technologies have the potential to:

  • Shrink travel times and connect people like never before.
  • Make the internet accessible to every corner of the planet.
  • Generate the revenue needed to fund humanity’s long-term space ambitions, including Mars colonization.

Mars may be humanity’s long-term goal, but the technologies developed for Earth today can make that dream a reality tomorrow. In the meantime, let’s focus on making the most of these innovations here at home.



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Sunday, April 02, 2023

Two Martians Walk Into A Bar

Two Martians walk into a bar, and Elon Musk turns to the other Martian and says, "I heard Earth is flat." The other Martian looks at him incredulously and says, "Elon, you're an alien! You've seen the curvature of the universe with your own eyes!" Elon just shrugs and says, "Eh, I guess I just haven't been paying attention." The bartender overhears this exchange and chimes in, "Well, I guess this bar is the only place flat-earthers are welcome."



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Friday, April 29, 2022

Musk Reveals His Political Leanings, And It's Dangerous



Free Speech And Just Society
Should Elon Musk Be Owning All Of Twitter?
Marc Andreessen Is A Dud When It Comes To Politics
The Masses, Not Mars

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Thursday, April 14, 2022

The Masses, Not Mars?

The Masses, Not Mars





Marc Is A Dud



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Wednesday, September 02, 2020

Elon Musk's Neuralink Is No Scam, Just A Startup With A Long Horizon


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Trying to collect digital information from a drop of blood should be much less challenging than playing piano with the brain, and Elizabeth Holmes had 10 years before she was hounded out as maybe a thief and a scammer, but Musk's Neuralink has already run for five years, and I don't think the promised delivery will be made in another five. Both have had Steve Jobs comparisons. I think Musk is validly compared to Jobs. 

2020, the year of the Coronavirus, is the Netscape year for biotech. 

The elephant in the room is gender. Musk seems to have a longer runway because he is a man. And I do think Musk is quite off on the idea of human habitation of Mars. The rocket part is fairly easy, though plenty challenging. The hard part is the human body is designed for the earth's surface. Lack of gravity is disorienting and debilitating for many organs. Mars is more hostile than the deep ocean, and we have not colonized the deep ocean. I'd rather fund the Green New Deal than attempt Mars. It is fairly basic biology. If you can't get the eyes, you should not attempt the brain. Eyes start bulging out during prolonged loss of gravity leading to permanent sight damage. 

I am strong on Tesla. I have consistently been. I am also strong on robotic mining of asteroids. 


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Saturday, November 23, 2019

NEOM Beats Mars

If you have read three articles on NEOM, it is fair to say you are no NEOM expert, and I am no NEOM expert. I expect to read up on it a little bit more. But sometimes it is an advantage to have read less. That gives you a freshness of perspective.

NEOM: Wide Participation Will Enhance Chance Of Success
NEOM, Jerusalem: Twin Cities?
My Take On NEOM, The City
NEOM: A City

Every astronaut has been an athlete. You need to be in an absolute great shape physically to experience that pressure on your body when the rocket accelerates at rocket speed to get out of the clutches of earth's gravity. This means everyone who buys a ticket from Elon to go to Mars will have to attain that athlete status. And that's for the first part of the journey when gravity is a big problem. Then you have a nine-month journey of being in a no gravity zone. That actually is harder on the body. Lack of gravity is very challenging for your bones, for your eyes, for your body in general. And there no amount of physical training can prepare you.

But NEOM does not have that Mars problem. NEOM is on earth. Mars has been sold as a fresh start for humanity. NEOM can be that fresh start. But it has to be a fresh start in many ways. It has to be a fresh start politically, economically, technologically.

NEOM needs peace. NEOM needs the Saudi-Iran regional cold war to end. NEOM needs genuine peace between Israel and Palestine. Peace is necessary infrastructure.

Also, NEOM is not going to have, so what air do we breathe issues. It is not going to have radiation issues. Earth has a magnetic field that protects it from solar radiation.

There are also psychological issues. If you keep people in a small space for too long, many get claustrophobic. And they start acting up.


Is Elon Musk Just Getting Started?
Elon Musk's Giant Blind Spot: Human Beings



Humans Will Never Colonize Mars The Red Planet is a cold, dead place, with an atmosphere about 100 times thinner than Earth’s. The paltry amount of air that does exist on Mars is primarily composed of noxious carbon dioxide, which does little to protect the surface from the Sun’s harmful rays. Air pressure on Mars is very low; at 600 Pascals, it’s only about 0.6 percent that of Earth. You might as well be exposed to the vacuum of space, resulting in a severe form of the bends—including ruptured lungs, dangerously swollen skin and body tissue, and ultimately death. The thin atmosphere also means that heat cannot be retained at the surface. The average temperature on Mars is -81 degrees Fahrenheit (-63 degrees Celsius), with temperatures dropping as low as -195 degrees F (-126 degrees C). By contrast, the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was at Vostok Station in Antarctica, at -128 degrees F (-89 degrees C) on June 23, 1982. Once temperatures get below the -40 degrees F/C mark, people who aren’t properly dressed for the occasion can expect hypothermia to set in within about five to seven minutes............. The notion that we’ll soon set up colonies inhabited by hundreds or thousands of people is pure nonsense.......... Gravity on the Red Planet is 0.375 that of Earth’s, which means a 180-pound person on Earth would weigh a scant 68 pounds on Mars. While that might sound appealing, this low-gravity environment would likely wreak havoc to human health in the long term, and possibly have negative impacts on human fertility. ........ the unfulfilled visions proposed during the 1940s and 1950s........ “Back then, cover stories of magazines like Popular Mechanics and Popular Science showed colonies under the oceans and in the Antarctic,” Friedman told Gizmodo. The feeling was that humans would find a way to occupy every nook and cranny of the planet, no matter how challenging or inhospitable ........ “But this just hasn’t happened. We make occasional visits to Antarctica and we even have some bases there, but that’s about it. Under the oceans it’s even worse, with some limited human operations, but in reality it’s really very, very little.” As for human colonies in either of these environments, not so much. In fact, not at all, despite the relative ease at which we could achieve this...... Unlike other fields, development into human spaceflight, he said, “has become static.” Friedman agreed that we’ll likely build bases on Mars, but the “evidence of history” suggests colonization is unlikely for the foreseeable future........ astronauts on the ISS, who are subject to tremendous muscle and bone loss, try to counteract the effects by doing strength and aerobic training while up in space. As for treating the resulting negative health impacts, whether caused by long-duration stays on the ISS or from long-term living in the low-gravity environment of Mars, “we’re not there yet” ........ It’s a dangerous delusion to think that space offers an escape from Earth’s problems. We’ve got to solve these problems here. Coping with climate change may seem daunting, but it’s a doddle compared to terraforming Mars. No place in our solar system offers an environment even as clement as the Antarctic or the top of Everest.

There’s no ‘Planet B’

....... Martian terraforming is a pipedream, a prospect that’s “way beyond any kind of technology we’re going to have any time soon” ....... radiation on Mars is far worse than we thought, adding that “we don’t have the long-term solutions yet, unless you want to risk radiation illnesses.” Depending on the degree of exposure, excessive radiation can result in skin burns, radiation sickness, cancer, and cardiovascular disease........ Life in a Martian colony would be miserable, with people forced to live in artificially lit underground bases, or in thickly protected surface stations with severely minimized access to the outdoors. Life in this closed environment, with limited access to the surface, could result in other health issues related to exclusive indoor living, such as depression, boredom from lack of stimulus, an inability to concentrate, poor eyesight, and high blood pressure—not to mention a complete disconnect from nature......... we don’t see colonists living in Antarctica or under the sea, so why should we expect troves of people to want to live in a place that’s considerably more unpleasant? ....... for prospective families hoping to spawn future generations of Martian colonists, it’s borderline cruelty. ...... Studies of astronauts who have participated in long-duration missions lasting about a year exhibit troubling symptoms, including bone and muscle loss, cardiovascular problems, immune and metabolic disorders, visual disorders, balance and sensorimotor problems, among many other health issues. ...... Some astronauts, like NASA’s Scott Kelly, never feel like their old selves again, including declines in cognitive test scores and altered gene function. ........ The regolith, or soil, on Mars is toxic, containing dangerous perchlorate chemicals, so that also needs to be avoided. To grow crops, colonists will likely build subterranean hydroponic greenhouses. This will require specialized lighting, genetically modified plants designed specifically for Mars, and plenty of water, the latter of which will be difficult to source on Mars.........

We may be stuck on Earth.



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Wednesday, October 09, 2019

Elon Musk's Giant Blind Spot: Human Beings

There is this no small detail called gravity. It is big, it is fat.



And gravity is physics. And Elon Musk has a degree in physics from U Penn. He must know his physics because he seems to send rockets out into space at will.

But Elon was no biology major, looks like.

There is this funny thing called gravity. The human body needs the earth's gravity. That is why long term human habitation on the moon is a bad idea. Robots? Yes. Human beings? No, no.

In absence of gravity, your eyes might bulge out. Your joints might start getting, well, disjointed. Your bones need gravity to stay bones.

But Elon stays oblivious to the fact. He says everyone who signs up for Mars will get 10 cubic meters of space inside his spaceship, "which is a lot."

And that's just gravity. Radiation will have to be another blog post. Radiation might make those ten cubic meters a microwave experience, which is a lot. Like, too much.

It is not like Elon does not have enough on his plate. There are trillions to be made through robotic asteroid mining. Spices used to be like gold. Gold can become like spices. I want his 10,000 satellites to provide gigabit broadband every point on earth. I like the idea of any point on earth to any other point on earth in 30 minutes. You escape zero gravity before the bones figure it out. Hyperloop is massive. I have an entire real estate tech startup around the Hyperloop concept. Tesla? I want one. Solar tiles on the roof? I want. Super cheap, super boring tunnels? I want them. Although it could get literally boring down there unless the walls of those underground vehicles come alive and are entertainment.

Save earth like this is the only planet we got. There is no other. Plant a trillion trees. Elon should design some drones that will plant those trillion trees. And his satellites should map out the earth to find out every patch of land where trees can be planted. And let's get it done and over with already.

Somebody drop an apple on Elon's head.











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Sunday, September 29, 2019

Elon Musk's Starship Announcement












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Saturday, July 20, 2019

Africa Is Mars


Mars is undoable. Mars is undesirable. There is this funny thing called gravity. The human body does not do well in the absence of gravity. Send robots. They are gravity neutral. But people? Africa is plenty undiscovered. Plant a trillion trees instead. Save this very planet instead.

When you plant the Australian eucalyptus in a new climate, there is havoc. Imagine a microbe from Mars coming over to earth. What could happen?

The best point for rockets are one step further and one step closer. I am all for robotic mining of the asteroid belt. Countries used to go to war over spices. Gold is the new spice. I am all for internet access on every point on earth through 10,000 or more satellites.

But I am all about Africa, not Mars. Ray Youssef has an edge over Elon Musk in that regard. Mars might be Elon Musk's masterstroke in marketing, not an actual place he wants to go to. Look, Mars! He says. And then builds boring tunnels and exciting cars.

Both Ray and Elon are immigration success stories. Both are out of Africa. Elon might look like he has white skin, but you just have to read his life story to realize the sickness that was apartheid also brutalized him. Elon grew up in South Africa. Ray's parents came from Africa. Ray is a New Yorker. And now Ray is America's gift to Africa. These two inspiring entrepreneurs are in stark contrast to the stupidity emanating out of Washington. So much garbage is being talked about immigration. To Ray I might say, go back to Africa. But looks like he is already there.














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Tuesday, November 07, 2017

Asteroid Belt And Earth On The Way To Mars


Spending a year in weightless space is a nightmare for the human body. But the push for Mars might have benefits closer to home. And robotic travel will harvest the asteroid belt. A few hundred years ago spices were scarce and literally gold. The asteroid belt could turn gold into a commodity.



Delhi to Tokyo in 30 minutes, says Elon Musk. That translates to anywhere to anywhere on earth in 30 minutes. That is more alluring for human tourism (and commerce) than zooming vertically to the boundaries of from where all you see is pitch black before you come back.



But if you move information well enough, fast enough, in large enough quantities, securely enough, and from every point to every other point on earth, human beings perhaps can get by on less travel in the first place. The vision of 4,000 satellites carrying the bulk of internet traffic is sound. And it beats going to Mars. Such a spacenet would be indispensable for the Internet Of Things with its hundreds of billions of sensors, its top use being to keep the earthly ecosystem at its optimum best. Human safety and security would be a whole new paradigm.








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Friday, October 28, 2016

Elon Musk: To Mars Or Not To Mars

I say no Mars. It is basic. I don't mean to spoil the fun and sound like I were saying the emperor is naked. But the human skeleton is not designed for Mars gravity. Or for the months of space travel. It would simply give up.

But reusable rockets are a great concept. The financials are in the robotic mining of the asteroid belt and, more immediately, in the network of 4,000 satellites that would carry a big chunk of the load of internet traffic. The need for bandwidth is going to grow exponentially. Both would be tremendous money makers. And robots don't have skeleton issues. Good thing.

The earth is the only home. And Elon Musk should really double down on solar. Create a Musk Law whereby costs are halved every two, or three or four years. Dirty needs to be driven out of business.
Electric vehicles go hand in hand with that.

And what's up with the hyperloop? Again, I have human body questions. All that acceleration and deceleration, how would the human body react to that? But if the hyperloop be possible then you will see an Amazon size forest in America before 2050. Good thing. People would congregate in the big cities of the world.

Mars is for the Curiosity rover. Robotic exploration is the best way.


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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Ceres





Watch NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft Buzz Dwarf Planet Ceres in the Asteroid Belt
Ceres accounts for 25% of the mass of the asteroid belt, and unlike most of its irregularly shaped neighbors, it is massive enough to be nearly spherical like a moon or planet. ..... Models of the dwarf planet’s interior suggest its mantle may consist of a slurry of water and dirt that contains more fresh water than Earth. .... early images from the Dawn mission showed mysterious bright spots on the surface .... highly reflective patches of surface ice are one possibility. ...... Discovering water on Ceres would have implications for space exploration. Water is a potential source of hydration, breathable air, and rocket fuel, and will therefore prove a precious resource for space wanderers. .... Ceres would make a good extraterrestrial outpost. Its low gravity makes landing and taking off less energy intensive, and resources on the surface could resupply missions—perhaps even trips to the outer solar system.

Related articles

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