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Orbital Rings

Isaac Arthur · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Space exploration & spaceflightCivil engineering & construction

What it is

Isaac Arthur explains the orbital ring, a megastructure launch-assist system that could move bulk cargo cheaply to orbit and beyond. He compares it with space elevators and discusses power transmission.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN commenters offer it as the likely future of cheap access to space, feasible without exotic materials.

  • 4 people recommended it
  • 6 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2017, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “He really inspired me to think bigger, now.”

    Inspiring Isaac Arthur series on orbital rings and megastructures.

    K0SM0S, 2019-10 · Strong recommendation · in “NASA aims for first manned SpaceX mission in first-quarter 2020”

  2. “Isaac Arthur thinks an orbital ring is a better idea”

    Argues orbital rings beat space elevators for cheap access to space.

    mtgx, 2018-09 · Recommendation · in “Japan starts space elevator experiments”

  3. “we can build an orbital ring around Earth with today's technology, and it'd be much better than space elevators.”

    Orbital rings feasible with today's technology and better than elevators.

    mLuby, 2019-09 · Recommendation · in “A Lunar Space Elevator Is Feasible and Inexpensive, Scientists Find”

  4. “What could well reduce that from $thousands/kg to <$10/kg is an orbital ring [2]”

    Orbital ring could cut launch costs without new physics.

    cletus, 2020-05 · Recommendation · in “Why We Don't Shoot Earth's Garbage into the Sun (2019)”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: megastructures, launch costs, space elevator, isaac arthur, space infrastructure

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