SPS Hearings, 94th Congress January 1976

Dr. O'Neill' During the next year, that is correct, sir. And when I refer to that % million to 1 million, I am referring to research specifically in the area of the construction in space from lunar materials of satellite power stations. The additional research pushing the frontiers in lift vehicles and powerplant technology and so on, that is, contributing to what we might call the frontal assault, is the matter for Dr. Glaser, Mr. Woodcock and others who have been in favor of that approach. And I would not discourage the additional support that they have asked for. Senator Ford. So your testimony, then, was limited to one specific area and not the total effort in generation of solar energy? Dr. O'Neill. That is correct, sir. Senator Ford. NASA, I believe, has stated that there will be problems with radiation in high Earth orbit. Do you think there is a serious obstacle in your plan? Dr. O'Neill. I believe that only in our approach does there seem to be a straightforward solution to that problem, sir. I believe the problem is serious, because the radiation intensity in free space, that is, in geosynchronous orbit or higher, is about 10R per year—10 Roentgen per year—which is substantially above the level that is now considered to be appropriate continuously for radiation workers for ERDA. In the approach that we are interested in, there would be arriving in the vicinity of the space manufacturing facility considerable tonnage of material continuously. And a lot of that material would not be essential to the construction of power satellites—it would be in the form of industrial slag. So in our plan so far we have assumed that within a period of 2 or 3 years after the bare skeleton of a space manufacturing facility is put in place, one would accumulate around it a shield sufficiently thick to make the cosmic ray intensity inside about as low as it is here on the surface of the Earth. Senator Ford. Professor, I believe that is all the questions I have. And I want to compliment you on your imagination and particularly your dedication to this field. I think it is very commendable. And stay in touch with us, will you, and we will try to work as closely as we can with you. Dr. O'Neill. Thank you, sir. Senator Ford. Thank you very much for coming today. The next witness will be Mr. G. Harry Stine, Phoenix, Ariz. Mr. Stine, you may proceed—and if you have any additional information you would like to submit, we would be delighted to have it. If you want to brief your statement, we would be glad for you to do so. [Biography of G. Harry Stine follows:] Biography of G. Harry Stink G. Harry Stine is an engineer, a futurist, and a science writer. He received his B.A. in physics from Colorado College in 1952 and went immediately to work at White Sands, New Mexico. Thus, he has been associated with rockets and the space program for nearly a quarter of a century. He is the author of twelve books on science and space flight, the most recent being “The Third Industrial Revolution,” published by Putnam a few months ago. As early as 1957, he was involved with forecasting and planning of future space programs. He has engaged in studies of the future for the Hudson Institute, the Institute for the Future, the Franklin

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