A. Description of Space Station Categories:
The diagram below gives a possible basic pattern of human settlement on space stations throughout our solar system. In fact this pattern could fit habitation for other solar systems as well, as well as deep space.

The human habitation facilities in reference to each celestial body (star, planet, moon, asteroid) represent what could be constructed for each and every planet and star system. The inter-solar system station shown in the diagram would be true for all inter-solar system stations stationed throughout the solar system between the planets at regular intervals.

Following the diagram is an explanation of the features of the diagram as well as a chart summarizing the different facilities available on the different categories of space stations.

Following this is a possible sequence of steps that could be taken by governments and private industry to realize the above plan - to make it economically feasible and eventually self-sustaining.

• 1. ALL-STATION FACILITIES - All Stations would contain at the least basic facilities for Communications, Transportation, Security, Minor Automated Industrial Machinery, and Scientific Research.
• 2. PLANET STATIONS - Planet Stations are on the surface of, or in orbit around planets, moons, and asteroids. In addition to All-Station Facilities, these stations includes Major and Minor On-Planet Stations and Near-Planet Stations. All of these would include all of the All-Station facilities.
  • A. On-Planet Stations - in addition to All-Station Facilities, On-Planet Stations would only include educational, recreational, spiritual, mining and transportation facilities, and the services required to maintain them. Minor On-Planet Stations would be Stations that don't require full-time staffing. Near-Planet Stations would hold heavy industrial functions.

    The principles guiding the development of these stations would be preservation of the ecological systems and historic and cultural features of the planet while still serving the needs of the educational, recreational and mining facilities.

  • B. Near-Planet Stations -
    • Major Near-Planet Stations - these Stations become the center of human life and activity, and include all facilities. This is because their position is best for exploiting and yet protecting the resources of the planet near them and the wide open space that surrounds them.

      These Stations would contain the major facilities for farming, food processing, industry (manufacturing, assembly, etc.) for sustaining life on both the nearby planet as well as the space stations in the space around them, and the special needs facilities for interstellar transport. And these Stations would also include full educational, recreational and spiritual facilities as well.

      The basic principle is that all industrial functions (farming, manufacturing, etc.) are stationed in off-planet positions to maximize the quality of life on the planets, protect the ecological, historic and cultural features of the planets, and to take advantage of the zero-gravity and high energy conditions found in off-planet positions.

      But the quality of life in the Major Near-Planet Stations should still be very high with the addition of full facilities for education, recreation, and spirituality.

    • Minor Near-Planet Stations - would contain only the All-Planet Facilities (Communications, Transportation, Law Enforcement Surveillance/ Reconnaissance, minor automated industrial machinery, and Scientific Research). Most likely these Stations would not need to be staffed full-time.
  • C. Planet Stations for Asteroids - Asteroids are solid objects in space in orbit around their Star or a planet or other significant object, but which themselves are not large enough to support significant human habitation. Thus most also lack atmospheres and noticeable gravity. Thus they can only support Minor On-Planet Stations on the surface, but Near-Planet Stations can be of any size and scope depending on the needs of the area and operations on the Asteroid itself.
  • D. Planet Stations for Moons - Moons are distinguished by the fact that they orbit Planets, which orbit their Stars. Otherwise, Moons vary completely in their size and atmospheric conditions, and thus have to be assessed individually in terms of what kind of Station facilities they can support or endure and require.
• 3. STAR STATIONS - Star Stations travel near a star, and are distinguished from Planet Stations because of the very distinctive conditions found near Stars, which industry can take advantage of, and would require special mechanics to make life bearable in that area.
  • A. On-Star Stations - these Stations would require special features to preserve life and itself. They might be necessary for industrial and recreational purposes we cannont currently imagine, but their value for research is endless.
  • B. Major Near-Star Stations - are distinguished primarily by industry which takes advantage of the extremes of energy and pressures that are possible near the sun.

    But of course they would still have the All-Stations Facilities, and all the other functions of the Near-Planet Stations to make long-term life there bearable.

    An additional special function of the Major Near-Star Stations could be the trash processing stations, where trash is compacted in huge containers which are then sent into the sun. This could include nuclear waste. I believe this would be a great way to dispose of trash.

  • C. Minor Near-Star Stations - would contain only the All-Planet Facilities (Communications, Transportation, Law Enforcement Surveillance/ Reconnaissance, minor automated industrial machinery, and Scientific Research), and would not need to be staffed full-time.
• 4. INTER-SOLAR STATIONS - these Stations are between planets, but are in orbit around their star. InterSolar Stations would contain all All-Station Facilities, and come in Major or Minor Station versions according to the need.
• 5. INTER-STELLAR STATIONS - these stations travel outside the orbits of planets, moons and asteroids which orbit a relatively near-by star. They would include All-Station Facilities and come in Major and Minor Station versions as required by the needs in that area.

B. Chart Summarizing Space Station Categories:

GOTO: (Intro) (Life in Space) (Space Launch & Travel) (Stages of Development) (Conclusion)

COMMENTS: All comments are welcomed. Please email them to [email protected].

(C) David A. Kirshbaum (2005)