Ethan Heilman

Comment Threads

• scentofviolets commented on A deceptively simple question
  So, well, limiting things to smaller satellites disintegrating into quite small particles might be another option. call it sustainable satellites... I hear all the time about how tech that couldn't function without a satellite in the loop being is being replaced by tech that can, due to some new development or other. In fact, it's been discussed here more than once, cf. using solar-powered planes able to stay aloft for months on end replacing communications satellites. My question is, just how far could plausible technological advances take you in this direction? Conversely, what applications are by their very nature unable...
• heteromeles commented on A deceptively simple question
  The only thing I can think of that really depends on satellites is space weather monitoring, because getting a satellite way out beyond the Earth (at the L4 or L5) makes it easier to see the backside of the sun and forecast problematic sunspots. Absent them, we can expect some nightmare solar flares to mess up our power grids a bit more often. That said, there are a bunch of things that are easier with space: GPS (can be replaced by inertial navigation or cellular networks, so long as there's not a disaster), intercontinental communications (can be partially replaced with...
• Vanzetti commented on A deceptively simple question
  Another advantage of larger (and so more powerful) satellites: you can put them farther away, avoiding the junk on lower orbit. Nothing really prevents us from implementing a new GPS beyong GSO, for example....
• https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkN0SsDNhDSuuZRNvB58JCZjk-1lak4b7w commented on A deceptively simple question
  Nose to tail 'trains' of self-drive vehicles will do more than just improve fuel efficiency. The effective capacity of a road section will be doubled or trippled. At least. Everybody has probably experienced the weird stop-go effect on overcrowded major roads, like a pressure wave propagating down the traffic lane. A co-ordinated train of self drive vehicles could avoid that, just rolling along at the speed limit. Accidents could be met with co-ordinated lane merging to filter round the blockage while allowing rapid access to emergency vehicles. Of course, this is predicated on banning manually directed cars, but you no...
• zhochaka commented on A deceptively simple question
  A bank robbery can no longer depend on a car and a getaway driver....