A project I am just beginning came about as a result of doing an extended
world generation of Glisten.
As you'all probably know, Glisten is an asteroid belt. I assumed that the
large population would be distributed in many small habitats around the belt
(miners, shipbuilders being the main occupants) The dice did not favor my
guess however and I rolled that there was one large city (9 billion people!)
with most of the system's pop in it.
Not being one to cheat the gods I began to devise an outer space habitat to
house this vast number of people (with some provision for their children, as
well).
I envision a huge, disk-shaped habitat. Spinning very slowly (physics doesn't
allow it not to spin, but I want grav generators to do most of the work of
making the inside 1G). Habitation areas would be modulular and arrayed around
the disk, oriented so that 'up' is toward the center of the disk (dont want to
fight w/centrifugal(sp?) force).
At the center of the disk are several immense structures (oriented
perpendicular to the disk) housing the industrial base of the system; metal
refineries and shipyards. Several large corporations compete here in both
industries, as well as pharmaceutical mfgrng, a thriving health service ind.
("live out your remaining days in zero-G comfort") etc. (I would love help with
the 'etc').
The modular habtats are shaped like an arc. Size depends on how close to the
center the section is, but generally hold about 8 million people each (this will
bring things into scale; 8 million is the size of greater Chicago, I need about
71 of these modules to match the pop. assuming all mods of roughly equal size).
Each module is really a habitat unto itself. I envision the inside to resemble
a long, green valley with steep sides. People live everywhere, but the upper
class live high up the cliffs and along the thickly vegitated valley (providing
food and air recycling in a closed system), while middle and lower class live
"underground" in the areas away from the valley.
To give you an idea of what I'm talking about; One habitat
would be a slightly curved cube. An area has been "scooped out" down the
center, much like a halved watermelon with all the flesh removed. "Undergound"
is the area within the cube but not in contact with the vegitated area in the
middle. Underground will become the home of the neglected, full of crime, the
poor laboring lower class, not a place for 'nice people' to go. This is, of
course, a generalization; some Undergrounds will be quite livable. Always though
they will be artificially ventilated areas with maze-like corridor structures and few "taxpayer services".
Transport within modules is by private vehicle, moving 'fast' walkways, 'subway'
or commuter train. Movement between modules is by centrally controlled Tube
Transports. Large railmounted 'trains' that move through vacuum at high speeds.
Propelled by frictionless magnetic rails which hold their course, they are the
ultimate electromagnetic-repelling train. They move through tubes (to protect
from accident or sabotage) with no air friction or rail friction to hold their
speed down.
The whole habitat would be located just inside the orbit of the asteroid belt
which provides the life's-blood of this system. (In fact, without the belt a
structure in space the size of this one would be quite impossible to build).
I have been wondering what will (or has) happen when the belt runs dry. The
habitat had to be a tremendous drain on the natural resources of the belt. Is
it, in fact, possible to build such a structure? what volume of metal and ore
would be required?
The outside of the habitat would be covered with solar panels, antennae/comm
equipment, the occasional observation lounge window, and hundreds of airlocks
and mainanence panels. Robotic or small-craft mounted sentries would patrol from
a distance using sensors for safety and to prevent saboteurs/troublemakers.
`The outer layer would be stronger than a ships hull (armor factor 50 or so) and
be in two layers. Primarily to prevent large asteroid impacts from penetrating
(such an impact would be a disaster anyway). Some defenses may be mounted (meson
guns place deep in the middle of a habitat), but mostly they would depend on the
fleet facilities (does the City of Los Angeles have missile defenses? no, they
have fighters 'nearby' to chase bombers and ships at sea to prosecute submarines)
This is a civilian facility, although I was thinking a navy base/yard in the
center would be appropriate.
OK, thats what I've got for now. I'm looking for other engineering
considerations, concepts for starport access (must have one per habitat?), ideas
to add color, flavor, and a sense of Scope to this idea. How is the environment
maintained or recharged? Ice from the asteroid belt? Remember this is a seedy
place; lots of crime, terrorism, elitism/class distinctions. A city this large
should be as mixed and varied as the largest city on Earth (esp. since it has
a pop bigger than ALL of Earth).
Other questions; How old is the habitat? what is the history of construction (I
though each ring of habitats would have been built outside the previous ones).
What abnormalities of everyday life do the people living there face? Could
this have given rise to some odd customs or habits?
A final note; I plan to eventually put this all together in a organized fashion
and submit it for the archives. I also entertain the idea of submitting a
(boiled down) version of the posting to GDW or DGP for consideration. I have
no qualms about using small details from others, but if this pans out and if
I use someone elses major concepts or ideas I will happily share credit and,
of course, payment, with any collaborators.
Yours,
Pete
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"There are two kinds of people in
the world; those who divide people
into two kinds, and those who don't."
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