NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.vipinfo.com/star_chronicles/images/belt.jpg
The VD-SI_104 space probe has revealed a large cluster of small asteroids rich in copper and iron ore and bauxite. Rich deposits of carbon and titanium have also been dicovered.
The probe's inital mission was to examine a large asteroid about the size of Manhattan for possible coloinization. Now with the discovery of the mineral field the possibitly of Islamisbad sending a manned expediton is even greater now that we have found substances to sustain the colony's construction.
A lander will be dispatched from the probe to investigate signs of frozen water just beneath the surface of the large asteroid and then we will know for certain wheter or not we can survive in the asteroid belt.
A colony ship dubbed the Damasucks is being designed to transport the people and materials for the colony construction. Eventually we hope to supply our moon colony with resources from the asteroid belt.

OOC: I used that pic as a flag once.

OOC: Yeah it is a cool pic

Evil Overlord Enterprises has assets in place on several asteroids, and would be happy to mine, process, and deliver ore to Lunar orbit for you. Alternatively, your government can agree to share costs for exploration and exploitation of the Belt for a proportional share of the ore.

Darth Norm
Chief Scientist for EOE

Exactly which asteroid belt is this that you speak of. We have several mining installations in the Great Asteroid Belt just past Mars, and would not appreciate 'claim jumpers'.

Exactly which asteroid belt is this that you speak of. We have several mining installations in the Great Asteroid Belt just past Mars, and would not appreciate 'claim jumpers'.

Obviously, you are completely unaware of the idiotic nature of your statement. The Asteroid Belt (commonly agreed to be restricted to the area between Mars and Jupiter) contains several million asteroids of various sizes fom small rocks to moon-sized bodies. All of these are moving at different speeds in frequently eccentric orbits through roughly hundreds of millions of cubic kilometers of mostly empty space (this number is probably far too small).

Assuming you've distributed your entire population (one person per asteroid) across the Belt, you still could not have claim to the entire Belt. Anyone can land on any rock in the Belt that is not currently occupied or otherwise marked as claimed territory and do whatever they wish. Anyone can pass through the Belt, survey and explore the asteroids there, colonize larger bodies, or anything else they wish without asking your permission.

In most cases you would probably be unaware of other nations' presence. Space is vast, even the relatively constricted (by astronomical standards only) space of the Belt. Standard reaction motors would be (at best) tiny lights dimly seen only by powerful telescopes. A radar system powerful enough to pick up infinitesimally tiny (in comparison to the space involved) spacecraft scattered around such a vast area would require more energy than RL Earth's entire power output for 10 years.

Any rocks you have actual colonies or mining operations on will be considered your territory- as far as Evil Overlord Enterprises is concerned. Any rocks bearing EOE installations are likewise considered sovereign territory of the Dominion. There is so much space to cover, and so many potential ore-bearing bodies in the Belt, that there is plenty of both to go around for everyone.

For the record, any nation wishing to exploit the assets of the Belt are welcome to contact Evil Overlord Enterprises. EOE will be happy to sell raw materials, and just as happy to share assets with partners willing to share the expenses.

Darth Norm
Chief Scientist for Evil Overlord Enterprises

The idiotic nature of my statement? You overstep the bounds of diplomacy, sir! But I digress....

Be that as it may, there are areas of the Belt that seem quite popular due to their proximity to terraformed planets. As such, it is only reasonable for the above statement to be made. And there are smaller asteroid clusters about you know. And some have made use of those.

The idiotic nature of my statement? You overstep the bounds of diplomacy, sir!

Agreed. As a scientist, statements of such an obviously fallacious nature as your "claim jumping" message create an instant reaction of scorn and ridicule. My apologies.

Be that as it may, there are areas of the Belt that seem quite popular due to their proximity to terraformed planets. As such, it is only reasonable for the above statement to be made. And there are smaller asteroid clusters about you know. And some have made use of those.

The main thrust of my response is repeated below. This is also His Omniferocity's policy.

Any rocks you have actual colonies or mining operations on will be considered your territory- as far as Evil Overlord Enterprises is concerned. Any rocks bearing EOE installations are likewise considered sovereign territory of the Dominion. There is so much space to cover, and so many potential ore-bearing bodies in the Belt, that there are plenty of both to go around for everyone.

Darth Norm
Chief Scientist for Evil Overlord Enterprises

We mine Neptunes rocky core-beneath the gassy surface.

You are welcome to mine the asteroid belt and it's 'lesser' harvest of minerals.

We mine Neptunes rocky core-beneath the gassy surface.

You are welcome to mine the asteroid belt and it's 'lesser' harvest of minerals.

"Lesser"? Possibly. Far more cost-effective, certainly.

Darth Norm
Chief Scientist for EOE

Cost depends on how advanced you are.

Cost depends on how advanced you are.

<OOC>
True. I run Modern and Near-Modern tech only. Using reaction engines, only the inner worlds and the Belt are cost-effective.
</OOC>

Overlord, What is the minium cost to take a stake in your operations?

Cost depends on how advanced you are.

<OOC>
True. I run Modern and Near-Modern tech only. Using reaction engines, only the inner worlds and the Belt are cost-effective.
</OOC>

Hmm... I was going to take some land on mars-but it's got 70+ nations living on it.

Overlord, What is the minium cost to take a stake in your operations?

There is no minimum. The value of your contribution- as a percentage of the operating budget- will be repayed with raw materials with the same production value (i.e. wholesale prices. If you sell the raw materials at market value, you'll make a serious profit). The more you contribute, the larger your share of the raw materials.

Darth Norm
Chief Scientist for EOE

Cost depends on how advanced you are.

<OOC>
True. I run Modern and Near-Modern tech only. Using reaction engines, only the inner worlds and the Belt are cost-effective.
</OOC>

Hmm... I was going to take some land on mars-but it's got 70+ nations living on it.

I'll sell you some land on Pluto

We eventually are going to move a significant amount of our population to the asteroid belt(between mars and jupiter), and intend to directly process much of the ore for construction of habitation and other structures. The primary mission is colonization, not mining. We see the minerals as a bonus. The Damasucks will carry over 400 colonists and many tons of supplies. We we build an identical vessel and together we expect them to transfer aprox. 1,000 people to the asteroid we have found every 18 months. The reason for this colonization is because the moon is so crowded, and we are exhausting our supplies on earth. Not to mention alot of our neighbors would like to see us leave.

We are now sending the modified shuttle EL-29-001B on a long range mission with a 5 man crew now. They will arrive a few weeks after unmanned cargo pods reach the asteroid, the cargo pods have been launched from the surface of the moon and are on thier way now.

The Damasucks is nearly 70% completed and the EL-29-001B is one week from reaching thier destination.

The El-29 has landed and the damasucks will be 100% completed as soon as the EL-29 starts the journey home!

As for thier mission, the inital survey has revealed at least 504 gallons of frozen, subsurface water on the asteroid. This news has caused much excitement among the Space Command. Also a very large crater on the asteroid seems to be a good foundation and has been selected as a prime building site.
Back on earth a competion is underway between mining companies to see who can develop the best drill/ extractor tunnelr etc. The winner will be allowed to send a mining team on the first flight of the Damasucks.

ONE COMMENT ON YOU "Chief Scientist of EOE" You may type smart, ye you sound a bit dim while typing. Since you'd know of such knowledge you'd be spenting it on rather more important stuff. Well im just 9 so dont go picking on me. Im a bit dim to but at least I know it, no offense mister, or miss, or whatever you is/are. Hopefully not are...I dont like conversing with many people...it creeps me...I want my teddy...

The Head Council Member of Zarlo looks through to purchasing some ships and outer space mining equipment...for a cheap price...very cheap...lets say banana cheap?

Overlord, What is the minium cost to take a stake in your operations?

There is no minimum. The value of your contribution- as a percentage of the operating budget- will be repayed with raw materials with the same production value (i.e. wholesale prices. If you sell the raw materials at market value, you'll make a serious profit). The more you contribute, the larger your share of the raw materials.

Darth Norm
Chief Scientist for EOE

erm.... I.E.=?
dont bother saying what OOC and IC means...i may be 9, but i spend my days on a computer...like the moronic youngster i am.
OOC= out of character
IC= in character

erm.... I.E.=?

Loosely translated from Latin, "for example"

erm.... I.E.=?

Loosely translated from Latin, "for example"

Er, no...that's be "e.g.". "i.e." translates to "that is".

blah!

Mallberta will be sending assets to the asteroid belt within a decade, should all go well.

I'll sell you some land on Pluto
No you won't. The Crana's pissed enough at having them in Neptune.