AQUATER PAPER 3.3 PRACTICAL LIVING ON ORBIT AND THE UNITED AQUATER ORBITERS

The Problem

There must be some kind of organization for satellites on orbit when large numbers are launched, or there would be navigational and interpersonal chaos. Furthermore, people like to live together in groups for companionship and to obtain specialized services. Finally, when people live together in groups, there are certain functions that must exist, namely:

  • Group government
  • Schools
  • Fire suppression
  • Police
  • Health care
  • Satellite repair
  • Merchant services

It is natural to ask how orbiting groups can operate successfully on orbit by providing these functions.

The Solution

It is expected that in space, people will gravitate together into groups like other mammals that operate on the land and on the oceans do, and the people in each group will tend to have common interests like religion, government, engineering, art, science, etc. In this and other Aquater Papers on this site, the people who live on orbit will be called Aquater Orbiters or just orbiters, and groups of orbiters “swimming” together in space will be called space pods, as with ocean mammals.

There are two primary ways to colonize space. One is by using a few large satellites carrying hundreds to thousands of colonists. The second is by using many small satellites operating in groups, each carrying two to ten colonists. The second way is easier to construct, and provides more safety for the group. A single incident can wipe out a large satellite and its thousands, but one incident can only wipe out one small satellite and its ten or less. Also, and incident on a small satellite leaves another small satellite close by to help. However a group must learn how to communicate and visit from satellite to satellite in the group. In this paper, many satellites operating in groups will be investigated 

Here, as with ocean going Aquaters, each satellite operator must choose at least one way to make a living (see AP3.1 THE FINAL SOLUTION TO MAN’S POPULATION PROBLEM). This will be the primary occupation of the people in that satellite. Also, the people in each satellite can also specialize in one of the basic functions needed by the satellite group as an avocation. How these functions might operate on orbit is as follows:

  • Visiting. Each satellite will have a viewing room where a six-foot TV panel allows for a full-scale visit with neighbors via UHF communication equipment. By dividing the screen, a group can also meet and have a discussion. In addition, each satellite will have a runabout for physical visits.
  • Government. TV allows for campaigning, voting and meeting of governing bodies as well as communicating laws and decisions on disputes to members of space pods.
  • Schools. TV makes possible both computerized classes and TV classrooms with a teacher chosen by the parents.
  • Fire suppression, Police, Health care and SEMAN repair require physical visits from other satellites that specialize in these functions, so each satellite should have a small space runabout for Evacuation and special functions.
  • Merchant services. One or more of the satellites in a space pod will maintain physical communication with the surface of the earth via the momentum beam and have a momentum beam connection with the other satellites in a space pod to allow for items to be purchased and delivered from earth to any satellite.

Each of these workers will be provided special pay from the space pod for their work.

There should be an elected, overall governing body for all Space Aquaters to deal with surface nations and other space/surface matters. This body would rule a group of pods, which will be called the United Space Aquaters. It would decide and legislate on overall Space Aquater matters and supervise and direct an United Space Aquater armed force to keep the peace among the pods, and defend against infringements by surface nations. In addition, the United Space Aquater armed force would defend against practices that are destructive of the space environment

Conclusions

It has been shown how certain basic functions can be provided for people who live on orbit (Space Aquaters) to avoid navigational and interpersonal chaos. The primary basic functions of interest are:

  • Group Government
  • Schools
  • Fire suppression
  • Police
  • Hospitals
  • SEMAN repair
  • Merchant services

In addition, an overall governing body for all Space Aquaters to deal with surface nations and other space/surface matters is proposed. This body would rule a group of pods, which will be called the United Space Aquaters. It would decide and legislate on overall Space Aquater matters and supervise and direct a United Space Aquater armed force to keep the peace among the pods, and defend against infringements by surface nations. In addition, the United Space Aquater armed force would defend against practices that are destructive of the space environment.