If I recall correctly, getting something from orbit to splashdown really only requires a heatshield and a parachute -- no need for a launch mechanism and tons and tons of fuel, right? Assuming requisite materials are present on the asteroid(s), why couldn't an appropriate heat shield be constructed en site for the transport? If you're using the materials in orbit, then you don't even need to worry about _that_ -- throw a (large) pellet into an appropriate orbit, catch it, and voilla.. or heck, use a mobile factory to build components on site at the asteroid..
..I'm rambling..
To sum -- use the materials in orbit, and you don't need to worry about the costs you're worrying about. If you can build drop-transports of some sort from orbit, then you don't have to have a transport launched from earth..
It doesn't sound like as much of a financial nightmare as you're saying.. (though I'm not about to boldly state that it's a wonderful idea to drop-transport raw iron)
Agreed that we need the ISS, though. It's a step in the right direction..
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If I recall correctly, getting something from orbit to splashdown really only requires a heatshield and a parachute -- no need for a launch mechanism and tons and tons of fuel, right? Assuming requisite materials are present on the asteroid(s), why couldn't an appropriate heat shield be constructed en site for the transport? If you're using the materials in orbit, then you don't even need to worry about _that_ -- throw a (large) pellet into an appropriate orbit, catch it, and voilla.. or heck, use a mobile factory to build components on site at the asteroid..
..I'm rambling..
To sum -- use the materials in orbit, and you don't need to worry about the costs you're worrying about. If you can build drop-transports of some sort from orbit, then you don't have to have a transport launched from earth..
It doesn't sound like as much of a financial nightmare as you're saying.. (though I'm not about to boldly state that it's a wonderful idea to drop-transport raw iron)
Agreed that we need the ISS, though. It's a step in the right direction..
Hehehe.. Nice troll. Sad thing about it, though, is that there are plenty of people out there who _do_ think like that.