Design Considerations For Carbonaceous Asteroid Assemblers

T. McKendree. (1998), JBIS, 51, pp.153-160

Refcode: 1998.51.153

Abstract:

Molecular nanotechnology (MNT), a general ability to design and build to atomic precision, seems likely to be developed in less than 25 years, well within the time-frames of many plans for space operations. Once developed, MNT should provide dramatic capabilities for space operations. To prepare for this future involves developing an understanding of potential future space operations, which can be furthered by developing and analysing concepts for space systems designed to exploit the capabilities of MNT.