by Rashid Ahmed
Lýsi’s most pressing wicked problems, all Global Catastrophic Risk scenarios, required vast resources to counter. The global economy had too much wastage, greed, hoarding and corruption. With an assortment of economic and political models in play, the growing need for resources were beginning to hamper The Lýsi Group’s very steep progress graph. The group’s leadership team, which now admitted the physically seven-year-old but mentally twenty-one-year-old transhuman twins Jón and Ásta, as well as the remotely attending AI Shun; gathered at a rare face-to-face road-mapping and review meeting at the group’s Iceland facility in 1990. While the group’s myriad investments and income streams were superlatively high, global economic models and even the physical resources available for massive scale projects, were limiting. The leadership team decided to gradually unplug the group from the economy. To become independent of it.
Asteroid mining
The group was already repurposing and recycling space junk to build its first small, disguised space station. Robotic furnace and forge satellites used solar concentrators to melt metals and composites. Interlocking frames and panels for external sections, were manufactured using injection molding techniques, allowing assorted materials to form each massive component. In the four years since the first self-replicating manufacturing robot satellite was launched, it and others like it had managed to build even more, totaling eighteen in all. The robotic satellites had also collected and manufactured enough parts, all tagged and left in orbit, which could be quickly assembled into connected hexagonal modules. The disguised space station would be the first staging platform, for Lýsi’s forays into space. Its silhouette was occasionally spotted, only as a shadow, and provided fuel for conspiracy theories. Since the acquisition and reverse engineering of the now better understood extra-terrestrial artifact acquired by the group ten years ago, a decision was made to rapidly expand Earth life and knowledge, to in-system bodies within the next decade.
Getting additional resources and raw material into space was an issue. The limiting nature of the planet’s economy, the conflicting use of available resources, the pressing needs of Earth’s population and ecosystem; all nudged the group’s leadership team to look at alternate sources. At this time, slightly over eight thousand near earth asteroids and objects were being tracked by various governments and by the group; primarily because they posed a risk to life on Earth. These were acknowledged as a rich resource, especially since the space-based robot satellites with the help of Shun, had been able to develop new vibrating centrifuges to separate minutely ground particles or even molten metal. Used in conjunction with molecular assembly nano-manufacturing, a system of rapid molding and fabrication techniques were established. In an experiment, a layered mix of metals and dust binder was molded into high density paneling, which successfully absorbed electromagnetic and cosmic radiation.
A decision was taken to develop a set of ‘Asteroid Mining and Construction Autonomous Robots’ (AMCARs), with the goal of assembling habitable jump platforms from which to occupy the solar system. Asteroid mining would make resources abundantly available, overcoming Earth sourced raw material hurdles.
Concepts of technological singularity, space travel and alternative economic models were publicly seeded. These concepts were complementary to each other, and envisaged to gradually reduce human impact on Earth, which Lýsi already considered as irreversible.
Anomalous space object
This was when a medium sized asteroid-like object was discovered, slowly creeping forward, north of the solar system’s ecliptic. What was strange was that the object seemed to have stopped in space. It was designated as AL-I, using Lýsi’s internal codes instead of conventional asteroid naming conventions. The object was not a comet otherwise astronomers would have become aware of it. A decision was made to keep an eye on this anomalous space object. Interest peaked when a small portion of the object separated and moved toward the Sun. It was tracked as it conducted a solar orbit and went below the solar system’s ecliptic, where it disappeared at forty astronomical units (AUs) from the Sun. Lýsi leadership determined that the anomalous space object required investigation.
New space technologies
The next five years until 1995, were dedicated to practical implementation of previous research, aimed at overcoming global catastrophic risk. Task groups were furiously working on long duration space travel for humans, transhumans and robotic AI. The issues of shielding against cosmic rays in space was a critical matter as cosmic-ray-induced errors were now becoming an issue even on ground-based micro and nano-electronics. Early shields overseen by the AI Shun, and the transhuman twins Jón and Ásta, were manufactured on fabrication platforms orbiting Earth. The shield panels were made with dense layers of ceramic, metal and fiber-composites that absorbed primary and secondary cosmic rays.
A sandwich of multiple composites with materials of low atomic weight and high yield strength were arranged towards the outside of the hull panel and were sequentially injected under an outer section of high-heat and impact resistant sheets. These were then centrifuge-molded inside a half centimeter thick outer sheet of linked double bonded nano-carbon interwoven with graphene, that was tough as diamond yet allowed high electrical conductivity for an additional EM shield outside the hull. The panel layer could absorb a hypervelocity impact from a twenty-centimeter piece of space debris or projectile. Four sets of physical shielding with polyethene, xenon and gel filled interspacing were found to provide exceptional heat, impact and radiation resistance.
For deep-space exploration vessels, portions of the interlocking hull sections were made to be retractable so that transparent ceramic windows, could be exposed to space. This enabled visual and sensor data collection. The hull panels were overengineered to be suitable for interstellar space travel. They were tough enough to come within, two diameters of the sun, withstand atmospheric entry uses and deal with sustained twelve thousand bar pressure for gas-planet exploration needs. With these gains came a new discovery.
Cosmic Ray Energy Generators (CREGs)
The energy requirements in space for each project was growing. So far, most systems deployed in space used solar panels for electricity generation and solar concentrators for heat. A pair of researchers who were reverse engineering components from the extra-terrestrial artifact, realized that kinetic energy might be captured from both primary and secondary cosmic rays as they decayed through the layers of shielding. The concept was similar to how electricity was generated using solar panels. Given the abundance of cosmic rays throughout the galaxy and in interstellar space, if the theory could be implemented, it would mean unlimited energy could be generated anywhere.
By November 1993, the technology was developed, tested and incorporated into the designs of a space platform, which was to be deployed at the L2 Earth-Moon Lagrangian point on the far side of the Moon. The platform would be invisible from Earth and remain in a stable point in space. This energy generation design was also incorporated into Standardized Space Exploration Vessels (SSEVs), suitable for deep and interstellar space exploration.
Cosmic Ray Energy Generators (CREGs) were embedded into multiple layers of hull paneling. These panels were used on spacecraft, platforms or robotic satellites. Newly developed gel battery banks were designed into structural beams and formed a part of each vessel. Extendable solar panels were retained for backup. Nuclear fuel generators were also available as a final redundant power source on some vessels. The CREGs were to prove pivotal in expanding Earth’s footprint into the solar system and beyond.
Graviton Focusing Devices (GFDs)
In the same year, just as it seemed like all the excitement was dissipating, the team working on reverse engineering the acquired extra-terrestrial artifact (from 1980), developed a Graviton Focusing Device (GFD) which could place and manipulate gravity at a point, in any direction.
The first GFD test was a spectacular disaster but leapfrogged Earth, eons ahead in space propulsion, and other gravity related appl
ications. So far, gravity research was limited to detecting and studying gravity waves in outer space. The disaster occurred after a section of the extra-terrestrial artifact’s internal design was replicated at a WWII bunker, on a remote Kuril Islands facility, operated by The Lýsi Group. The design was augmented and integrated with the advanced AI Shun. Before the test, all personnel were airlifted to the merchant ship Kuji Maru, from where the AI Shun was linked in via satellite, to the bunker facility and to its Tokyo hub.
The bunker was inundated with sensors to measure all kinds of energy and radiation. Sensor barges were placed in concentric circles around the bunker location. Some of these were placed as far as three hundred kilometers out to sea.
At first miniscule amounts of electricity were allowed into the device through electrical contacts (identified in earlier artifact experiments). Variations were attempted, until the device became active. Immediately, there was a weak increase in the gravity field, detected thirty kilometers to the north of the island. Incremental increases in electricity to the contacts, increased the intensity of gravity. The top of the unit had a set of six inputs. Combinations of electrical input moved a focused point of gravity, in three-dimensional space. Another four contacts on the side of the GFD, seemed to elongate, flatten or condense the shape of the gravity field.
Finally, after numerous experiments, a distance test was conducted. The gravity field was gradually pushed outward. It was followed by sensor barges. At approximately three hundred and fifty kilometers out and completely without warning, there was a massive earthquake. It measured over eight on the seismic magnitude scale and was located just off Shikotan island in Japan.
The experiment was immediately stopped and the designs of the component including a new control mechanism was scheduled for fabrication in space. Completed by the end of 1994, the GFD was mounted on one of the larger fabrication robot satellites. Six smaller sensor satellites formed up around it, at five hundred kilometers. Experimentation was reinitiated.
Gravity propulsion
All the initial experiments were carried out again. Immediately into the first experiment, which was directed towards a sensor satellite on the Earth-side of the GFD, both satellites began moving towards the point of focused gravity. The experiment was stopped, and the satellites repositioned themselves using conventional ion propulsion systems.
The experiment was tried again, this time with focused gravity directed in the opposite direction. A sensor satellite near the gravity point moved towards the GFD, which itself moved slowly away from Earth.
The implications of this were immediately clear and fantastic. Gravity could be used to propel the craft the device was on. It could also be used on another stationary object in space. When focused gravity was maintained a fixed distance ahead of the GFD, the satellite continuously fell towards it. This meant that the craft or any other object, could be propelled or attracted towards the gravity point. Following the accident at the Kuril Islands bunker, it was decided to restrict the device’s use to outer space, until the technology was refined.
Versions of the GFD or ‘gravid’ as it was soon nicknamed, were manufactured in space and fitted onto all Lýsi spacecraft. The device was used for propulsion and object attraction. Most importantly, compact gravids were used to create minute fields of gravity within spacecraft or inside platforms.
The problem of gravity in space was overcome and another four multipurpose platforms were commissioned. These placed at the L1, L3, L4 and L5 Earth-Moon Lagrangian points.
Countering G-forces
To keep space-based activities secret, extra effort was taken to ensure minimum solar reflection. Designs of all modular platforms and vessels were hexagonal and long. These were always positioned so that there was a negligible profile visible from Earth. The platforms were souped-up with new communications capabilities, and with the latest in quantum computing and storage They were then equipped with extensive crew habitat modules. The AI Shun, aided the complex coordination of all space-based activities.
Soon after turning the AIs on, the vastly expanded computing capability identified a curious gravity effect on the in-vessel robots aboard the Asteroid Interception Craft (AIC), which were now being tested more aggressively and deeper into space.
While gravity was being focused outside the AICs for acceleration, other points were focused within the structure of the vessels for local gravity. This allowed autonomous robots to maneuver inside AICs. Surprisingly, the G-forces detected by various autonomous robots within an accelerating AIC, were different. These differences in G-force logs were attributed to how far the robots were from the closest in-vessel gravity point.
The localized gravity points were countering the effects of acceleration and lower G-forces were being experienced by the robots. This was communicated to Shun and the leadership team.
After a series of experiments, using compact gravids in each AIC, a set of gravity points were identified which could be manipulated to increase or decrease intensity during spacecraft acceleration, which would keep human occupants and equipment safe.
Standardized Space Exploration Vessels (SSEVs)
Designs of Standardized Space Exploration Vessels (SSEVs) were modified with the newly developed technology and to accommodate a crew of eight. Construction was accelerated for the first four vessels. Additionally, these were made interconnectable so that they could be operated as a single unit forming a large space vessel.
At this time, to get people interested in solutions that would benefit everyone globally, a special prize was established that would put specific issues into public prominence and get the larger global community involved. This was also seen as a means of getting the world’s people to catch up with technology, and fast.
By the early 1990’s, a few asteroid flybys had already been accomplished by various countries, and basic information on asteroids was being seen by the world.
Unknown to the public or various governments, by mid-1996, The Lýsi Group had already been intercepting asteroids for resource mining. Gravity was being judiciously utilized to approach asteroids, and to draw them close to the AMCARs which were carried aboard AICs and SSEVs. GFDs were used to reduce approach speed, by placing gravity points behind the asteroids and vessels. The larger gravids in SSEVs were also used to determine the mass of the asteroids based on the amount of gravity required to move them. After a learning period, asteroids were located, approached and rejected if the mass wasn’t high enough compared to its size. The early SSEVs were remotely tested as asteroid hunters, proving their toughness in deep space.
Soon with data from the SSEV tests, the asteroid rejection rate increased from afar, if a combination of size, mass, color and albedo (the diffused reflection of solar radiation), didn’t meet resource mining requirements.
Lagrangian point space platforms
The Lýsi Group was rapidly accumulating resources in space. Early construction had begun on an additional set of three Sun-Earth Lagrangian point platforms, in preparation for deep-space exploration. These were in addition to the Earth-Moon Lagrangian point platforms.
Cross specialized crews were covertly being put together and trained for space-based operations. The transhuman twins Jón and Ásta were absorbing information and skills swiftly, as expected. They were undergoing regular checkups to track physical and intellectual performance. An unplanned positive outcome of their genetic engineering was that their brains’ plasticity or the ability of their synapses to rewire themselves, was accelerated.
Covert space launch system
To get the first crew to the orbital platform, required finesse. One of the group’s initiatives in aerospace research was the development of an all-electric, light flying wing aircraft. It could achieve and hold an altitude of thirty-five kilometers. Numerous high-altitude space cargo missions had already been accomplished by a fleet of these ‘research’ aircrafts. Each had a high-velocity, large caliber roof mounted electromagnetic cannon. The cannon accelerat
ed two hundred kilogram, cylindrically shaped cargo capsules, with hemispherical ends. These were lobbed three hundred kilometers into the thermosphere, from where AMCARs latched on using focused gravity, and retrieved the capsules. This was a low cost and inconspicuous way to get critical material into space. Large quantities of water and liquefied gasses were also delivered this way.
A variation of this system was used to get the group’s first astronauts into space. The cannon fired rocket enabled capsules at nine-Gs. Before gravity reduced the acceleration, a set of compact rockets fired. This ensured escape velocity was achieved and the capsule was delivered to the exosphere. From here AMCARs pulled the astronaut capsules in and delivered them to a transport vessel. While it sounded simple, the process was complex and very stressful to the participants. The capsules themselves provided additional raw material for the space-based manufacturing initiatives.
Autonomous Cargo and Transport Vessels (ACTVs)