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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sytek!blk
From: blk@sytek.UUCP (Brian L. Kahn)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: space mopeds
Message-ID: <342@sytek.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Jan-84 13:59:57 EST
Article-I.D.: sytek.342
Posted: Tue Jan 10 13:59:57 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Jan-84 06:40:39 EST
References: ucf-cs.1126
Lines: 19


I see no reason a space moped needs to be any larger than a very small car.
The astronaut wears his suit, of course!  We may want to carry extra oxygen,
and often some cargo and tools, but this is your basic EVA taken another
step, NOT commuter traffic.  The purpose is dash off to service a few 
satellites, where 'service' means anything from repair to exchanging raw
materials for finished goods.

Since they only need to search and locate, all they really need for navigation
is telemetry signals from the mother ship.  If there is a concern for safety,
the astronauts can go out in pairs, like motorcycle cops.

And once they are up there, they can be parked for future use!  Just take
the keys, so the russians don't go hot-rodding around, using up all our gas.

As for radiation problems - how about shielding the bottom of the craft but
leaving the top open?  In case of trouble, put the sun 'underneath' you!

B<