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wombat5003 t1_j6jzbml wrote

This will be the future not of space exploration, but mining ore… this is the start of humans building out past the confines of our planet to making possibly a series of rings around Mother Earth using ore from asteroids as material.. think I’m crazy?? Maybe not… Ask Larry Niven :)))) Ringworld is coming!!

Seriously I say this because if ya think about it, it takes 18 months currently to get to the asteroid belt with what tech we have. With this new way, we could cut the round trip significantly which makes mining a viable prospect..

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cjameshuff t1_j6k76wg wrote

This will give you 10% or so better performance. That's not nothing, but it's not the difference between asteroid mining being viable or not.

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TheOtherAisle t1_j6n568q wrote

10% is huge, given that the weight restrictions are so harsh that astronauts have to pick and choose on how much underwear they bring.

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