Space Construction Hub

Advancement in space requires manufacturability in space. The parts that can be put to orbit are limited in size even with folding them. I propose a Space Construction Hub like ISS but fully automated (all robots no humans). Large structures will be manufactured using open space manufacturing. Most of the manufacturing area will have no closed structure and open to Space. Only docking hub and control systems will be in confined modules.

I had the inspiration from Ford F3T in 2013 and a decade later Machine Labs sheet metal forming robots. (videos below). Cold processing of metal sheets allows an open space manufacturing. Large structures will be put into shape from rolled sheet metal and will be attached to each other by riveting. The goal is to have the minimum temperature dependency during the shaping and assembly.

The Space Construction Hub will orbit above the space debris region but close to Earth to lower transportation costs. All hubs will be designed for robots only lowering the cost. If a repair is needed first option will be using robots to do the task and the last will be sanding humans on a special hub. If don't force our designs to be fully automated (including problem solving) we can never achieve the goal of Space colonization. 

Once the hub is ready, I propose it to build giant sun reflectors. Current solar panels are delegate and loose considerable power when struck by space junk. A reflector deforming would have minimal effect because the electric will be generated using concentrated sun light.

Tesla Ion Thruster

The catastrophic failure of rockets made me think of a less aggressive propulsion method. Coupled with the news of China planning to construct a massive solar power plant in space that will use microwaves to continuously send energy back to Earth. I came with the following idea.

Wirelessly transmit electric power from space to a rocket that uses ion thrusters. If we can build Ion thrusters that can exceed the gravity it can be viable. Lower acceleration would be more comfortable for the humans and the satellites travelling to space. Also decreases the possibility of a catastrophe. My Stage Zero idea would also help. Raising the rocket to a higher altitude increases the wireless power transfer efficiency due to lack of clouds and thick atmosphere.

Space Sustainability - Problems and Solutions

16th of January 2025 SpaceX Starship disintegrated over the Caribbean Sea. This reminded the problem of space debris and environmental hazard on EARTH to explore the rest of the Universe. It is funny to make Earth uninhabitable (for humans) just to send a handful of people to extremely uninhabitable extraterrestrial objects. We cannot nix out Space Exploration all together. We have to come up with solutions to problems and discuss them.

1. Spaceships should be more reliable and their failure rates should be reduced. (Look at aviation)

My solution is to use more reliable solid boosters which are simpler and have low failure rate. For some time forget the idea of reusability of rocket stages. Except for the Stage Zero I proposed earlier.

2. In case of failure, disintegrating rocket stages should have minimal impact on people and environment.

My solution is to use glass rocket casing which would disintegrate into small pieces (tempered glass). Also glass is environmentally friendly.

Hope more people start developing and discussing ideas. Problems are not solved by complaining but discussing solutions.

The Poles are The New Straits

A polar orbit is one in which a satellite passes above or nearly above both poles of the Earth.

More and more satellites are utilizing this orbit such as Starlink, Iridium and GPS satellites (not all satellites use this orbit but some) making the arctic circles critical regions for satellite security like a strait for the navy. Increasing the importance of Alaska, Canada and Scandinavian countries.

Solar Parachute and Atmospheric Skipping

Space Capsules returning to Earth have very high speeds.  Capsules slow down using the atmospheric drag which heats them up to very high temperatures. I recommend we use Solar Sails to slow down the capsules like a parachute.  Solar sails utilize radiation pressure exerted by sunlight on large surfaces. Coupled with the atmospheric skip maneuver the capsules would experience much less heat, less g-force and much higher accuracy in the landing location. (You may check Orion Skip Maneuver)

Orion Skip Maneuver

Nine Men's Morris against Nikola Tesla

Nine Men's Morris using Wireless Led pieces. I designed and created to play it against Nikola Tesla. He would have loved that.

Robot Built Modular Piezo Wind Electric Generator

All my construction ideas are based on automated swarm robots powered by wind turbines. Current wind turbines are designed to be manually constructed by cranes and human workers. I propose a new generation of wind turbines that is build using smaller parts that can fit in a container. Their connectors would be designed such that the automated robots can easily construct them. The construction should be from inside out. The construction robot would move inside the hallow shaft of the tower and built it like LEGO tiles. One important feature of these wind electric generators is that they will generate electric using leaves attached to piezo electric generators. The movement of the leaves will generate electricity. This design allows the wind electric generator to be built in small modules compared to giant blades and dynamos and gears. The wind harvesting area can be increased using branches like in a tree. The electric will be generated during the construction. Therefore, the tower can be built in stages depending on the power need. The lack of bearings and gears is also beneficial in desert areas where fine sand particles from sand storms wear out them fast.

The main goal of this idea is to come up with a design that can be fully robot build using smaller parts.