Better Worlds II:

Space Systems Engineering

Fundamentals, Technologies, and Projects for the 21st Century

From the Introduction:

This is the second volume of a two-volume set about building a better life for ourselves, our community, and the world. Building is meant in both the literal sense of construction and production, and in the social sense of how people work together to reach our goals. The core ideas behind our approach can be summarized as follows:

Resources and energy are abundant on Earth and in space.
With enough knowledge and tools they can be used to build a better life.
With planning this can be sustainable with minimal side effects.
Cooperation makes it affordable. Exponential self-improvement makes it scalable.
Smart tools can do most of the work and make it easier.

Volume I on Seed Factories and Self-Improving Systems covered the basics of those topics, including their history, elements of design, and a design process. It then presents several examples of such designs for use on Earth. This volume explores the very different conditions and locations in space, the transport and engineering technologies used for space, then additional projects and programs that can apply the seed factory and self-improvement approach.

Better Worlds II:

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part 1: Science and Engineering Fundamentals

Part 2: Transport Technologies

Part 3: Engineering Technologies

Part 4: Projects and Programs

Part 5: Design Studies

References and Sources