argument against more space exploration based on oil depletion

[cryofan]

Article in spacedaily argues that we don't have enough oil to explore space.

Excerpts:
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Without allocating another significant amount of the earth's resources and especially energy to space endeavours there will be no settlements in space nor precious little for space enthusiasts to be happy about.
....

Yet, for example, the United States since 1970 has had a decreasing oil production. They are not an isolated case. Nonrenewable resources are being depleted all across the globe. Educated estimates for the occurrence of global peak production is somewhere between the years 2005 to 2010. At some moment during this time the amount of oil being produced worldwide will begin inexorably to shrink.

...
The estimated profit factor for extracting oil during the 1940's was about 100 (i.e. It takes one unit of energy to extract 100 units of energy of oil). The factor for oil discovered today is at or less than 10. A tiny fraction of energy comes from renewable resources yet these have a profit factor of 3 or less except for a few instances from geothermal and hydroelectric sources. With more and more energy being used just to extract energy there is relatively less and less available for use in people's daily lives.

Even though the production of oil has peaked in the United States and is nearing a peak world wide, the usage of oil/energy has not peaked. In the United States, both the per capita energy consumption and the population continues to increase.


http://www.spacedaily.com/news/oped-03zs.html


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I agree. Stop all space exploration. Only spacing should be for coomunications satellites.

[mouse7]

1. 1200 Terawatts available on the Moon

If we capture just 1% of the total available energy to collect with solar panel, we solve our total energy needs.

No ecologies ruined, no pollution.

[rman]

2. how are you going to get 1200 Terawatts from the Moon to Earth?

that's not a trivial problem.

i say we should explore space, after we'r done with all these wars, and when we've found an alternative energy source.

[mouse7]

6. Convert to microwaves and beam it

It's a pretty simple process. They've known how to do it for a while.

[Nihil]

10. Is it opening time where you are?

I saw your reply in a different thread and then re-read it while
responding and interpreted it as a joke. Are you serious?

Not sure where your figures are from but even taking them as read,
the 12 Terawatts that "we" want (is that just USA or the world?) is
not exactly next door.

"Convert to microwaves and beam it"?

Hmmm good until the .000x% error that means some part of America
has a damn big scorch mark across it? (Mind you, some people would
say that was a selling point as long as they got to choose which bit).

The process is simple but there is a serious scaling factor involved
here - both for distance and power levels.

Ecologically sound?
How much energy would this transfer into the atmosphere?
How would this affect circulatory systems? Creating a permanent storm
over the Mid-West might not be the most eco-efficient option here.

Nah, it is just a joke after all ... isn't it?

Nihil

[mouse7]

12. There's a few options

You would have satelite relays with redundant gyros to ensure stability so that Peoria didn't get defrosted. The last leg would be from a geo-synced satelite over the collection point to stabilize further. You'd collect the power in a wasteland area like the nuclear test range, the sahara, etc. It could also be wired down to Earth eventually through the actual cabling of the space elevator eventually.

[Soloflecks]

3. B*sh following Halliburton orders?

But, Mars is just full of oil...........problem solved.

http://www.petroleumnews.com/pnarch/010228-49.html

If there is life on Mars, it would probably be microorganisms in water deep below the surface of the planet. Dr. Geoffrey Briggs, director, Center for Mars Exploration at the NASA Ames Center, told “Meet Alaska” that NASA is looking at ways to drill on Mars to look for water — and the life it might contain.

Briggs said NASA has been working with Halliburton, Shell, Baker-Hughes and the Los Alamos National Laboratory to identify drilling technologies that might work on Mars.

[bryant69]

4. Think this is short sighted

I don't agree that we should wait to solve either problem. I think we need to come up with some way to fix the earth now, but that eventually we are going to need new materials and energy sources, and space is where we will find them. I don't think we will find them immediately, but we will find them eventually.

So why not do both? Particularly if a sensible revenue policy returns and we have more money coming into the pot.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[mouse7]

7. Kucinich is a big peaceful space exploration supporter.

Kucinich know peaceful space exploration makes sense as both an excellent economic development tool and as a boost to the nation's overall tech research infrastructure.

[Skidmore]

5. Explore space for oil? Are you kidding?

So now we believe that Mars had rain forests on it?

[PVnRT]

8. Yes, because who needs progress?

Let's just shut ourselves in on this planet, and never, ever again explore what's out there.

If people didn't make such a stink about using nuclear power for space exploration, we wouldn't have to worry about oil. If the government would pour more money into solar energy research, making it more efficient, we wouldn't have to worry about oil.

But, no, it's much easier just do nothing.

[CWebster]

9. more likely distraction

and weaponization of space.

[Oggy]

11. At least Peak Oil is now becoming more widely reported.

Maybe it will come out enough for action to be taken now while we can use our supplies for creating renewable energy sources before it is too late.