Why does Earth need water in the Expanse?Why is water so rare in The Expanse?How much fuel does a ship use in the Expanse?Does the first season of The Expanse cover the entire first book?In “The Expanse”, why is ice collected with large freighter ships, not drones?Why divert the missiles?Could the original executive officer in The Expanse (s1e1) be referencing Mark Watney in The Martian?Earth living standards in the light of the “Cascade”In The Expanse, how high did the water rise on Earth?When does The Expanse take place?What's the gravity maintained in Ceres?
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Why does Earth need water in the Expanse?
Why is water so rare in The Expanse?How much fuel does a ship use in the Expanse?Does the first season of The Expanse cover the entire first book?In “The Expanse”, why is ice collected with large freighter ships, not drones?Why divert the missiles?Could the original executive officer in The Expanse (s1e1) be referencing Mark Watney in The Martian?Earth living standards in the light of the “Cascade”In The Expanse, how high did the water rise on Earth?When does The Expanse take place?What's the gravity maintained in Ceres?
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I've just started watching the show and haven't read the books, so perhaps this is answered later than episode 4. There is a discussion in the very first episode where it's mentioned that Ceres used to be full of water and Earth and Mars took it. Why would Earth need water?
the-expanse-2015
asked 10 hours ago
Michael StachowskyMichael Stachowsky
5862 silver badges14 bronze badges
add a comment |
I've just started watching the show and haven't read the books, so perhaps this is answered later than episode 4. There is a discussion in the very first episode where it's mentioned that Ceres used to be full of water and Earth and Mars took it. Why would Earth need water?
the-expanse-2015
asked 10 hours ago
Michael StachowskyMichael Stachowsky
5862 silver badges14 bronze badges
3
If nothing else it probably costs less to get water to Earth orbit from the asteroid belt than from the surface of Earth.
– DavidW
10 hours ago
Was Ceres full of fresh water?
– drewbenn
10 hours ago
1
@drewbenn: actually it's probably not freshwater but briney water. I assume that either the original author didn't know that or assumed that water distillation technologies were advanced enough for it not to matter. However, if distillation were possible on such a large scale for Cerean water then why not just desalination ocean water?
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
1
Haven’t read the novels, but seeing the series I got the impression oceans and others sources were so polluted they actually needed to import for human consumption, no desalination or viable mass-decontamination possible anymore.
– Seretba
3 hours ago
add a comment |
I've just started watching the show and haven't read the books, so perhaps this is answered later than episode 4. There is a discussion in the very first episode where it's mentioned that Ceres used to be full of water and Earth and Mars took it. Why would Earth need water?
the-expanse-2015
asked 10 hours ago
Michael StachowskyMichael Stachowsky
5862 silver badges14 bronze badges
I've just started watching the show and haven't read the books, so perhaps this is answered later than episode 4. There is a discussion in the very first episode where it's mentioned that Ceres used to be full of water and Earth and Mars took it. Why would Earth need water?
the-expanse-2015
the-expanse-2015
asked 10 hours ago
Michael StachowskyMichael Stachowsky
5862 silver badges14 bronze badges
asked 10 hours ago
Michael StachowskyMichael Stachowsky
5862 silver badges14 bronze badges
asked 10 hours ago
Michael StachowskyMichael Stachowsky
5862 silver badges14 bronze badges
asked 10 hours ago
Michael StachowskyMichael Stachowsky
5862 silver badges14 bronze badges
asked 10 hours ago
Michael StachowskyMichael Stachowsky
5862 silver badges14 bronze badges
5862 silver badges14 bronze badges
3
If nothing else it probably costs less to get water to Earth orbit from the asteroid belt than from the surface of Earth.
– DavidW
10 hours ago
Was Ceres full of fresh water?
– drewbenn
10 hours ago
1
@drewbenn: actually it's probably not freshwater but briney water. I assume that either the original author didn't know that or assumed that water distillation technologies were advanced enough for it not to matter. However, if distillation were possible on such a large scale for Cerean water then why not just desalination ocean water?
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
1
Haven’t read the novels, but seeing the series I got the impression oceans and others sources were so polluted they actually needed to import for human consumption, no desalination or viable mass-decontamination possible anymore.
– Seretba
3 hours ago
add a comment |
3
If nothing else it probably costs less to get water to Earth orbit from the asteroid belt than from the surface of Earth.
– DavidW
10 hours ago
Was Ceres full of fresh water?
– drewbenn
10 hours ago
1
@drewbenn: actually it's probably not freshwater but briney water. I assume that either the original author didn't know that or assumed that water distillation technologies were advanced enough for it not to matter. However, if distillation were possible on such a large scale for Cerean water then why not just desalination ocean water?
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
1
Haven’t read the novels, but seeing the series I got the impression oceans and others sources were so polluted they actually needed to import for human consumption, no desalination or viable mass-decontamination possible anymore.
– Seretba
3 hours ago
3
3
If nothing else it probably costs less to get water to Earth orbit from the asteroid belt than from the surface of Earth.
– DavidW
10 hours ago
If nothing else it probably costs less to get water to Earth orbit from the asteroid belt than from the surface of Earth.
– DavidW
10 hours ago
Was Ceres full of fresh water?
– drewbenn
10 hours ago
Was Ceres full of fresh water?
– drewbenn
10 hours ago
1
1
@drewbenn: actually it's probably not freshwater but briney water. I assume that either the original author didn't know that or assumed that water distillation technologies were advanced enough for it not to matter. However, if distillation were possible on such a large scale for Cerean water then why not just desalination ocean water?
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
@drewbenn: actually it's probably not freshwater but briney water. I assume that either the original author didn't know that or assumed that water distillation technologies were advanced enough for it not to matter. However, if distillation were possible on such a large scale for Cerean water then why not just desalination ocean water?
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
1
1
Haven’t read the novels, but seeing the series I got the impression oceans and others sources were so polluted they actually needed to import for human consumption, no desalination or viable mass-decontamination possible anymore.
– Seretba
3 hours ago
Haven’t read the novels, but seeing the series I got the impression oceans and others sources were so polluted they actually needed to import for human consumption, no desalination or viable mass-decontamination possible anymore.
– Seretba
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
As long as you don't need it fast, it's much cheaper to ship water (or any other bulk material that's available) from the asteroid belt to Earth orbit than from the surface of the Earth. Just to get to LEO (200km) from Earth's surface is a minimum of 9.4km/s of delta-v, more if you're in a higher (more stable) orbit. LEO to Ceres averages around 9.5km/s of delta-v, also from a 200km LEO.
If you're in a higher orbit, or even moreso at one of the Lagrange points (I believe there suggestions of stations at L4 and/or L5) then the cost shifts; you're looking at a delta-v requirement of >12km/s from Earth's surface, but <7km/s from the Belt.
(Note that those are strictly delta-v requirements; losses due to atmospheric drag aren't included, nor is the cost of a rocket body/fairing to hold the water. From the Belt to L4/L5/GEO you just need to freeze a ball of water, wrap it in mylar and stick a small ion drive on it. Also, launching from the Earth requires being able to accelerate at least 15m/s^2 just to overcome gravity, whereas from the asteroid belt the required accelerations are a couple of orders of magnitude smaller. Smaller accelerations means less mass required for motors, and more efficient use of fuel.)
answered 9 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
11.1k4 gold badges49 silver badges94 bronze badges
I love the answer but I'm not immediately convinced (unless, of course, the original author of the books simply needed a plot device). They have extremely high thrust engines, so much so that they need special technologies to avoid dying while using them, and fuel is never mentioned as an important resource. Also, they burn their engines constantly at high thrust, implying that they have extremely fuel efficient engines...
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
They did not always had it. Epstein drives were invented when Mars was already partially colonized. Mars has water deposits, but probably not enough for full terraforming.
– b.Lorenz
9 hours ago
@MichaelStachowsky I'll admit I'm not super familiar with the technological background of The Expanse so I just assumed they weren't firing off a fusion drive in an atmosphere. My bad if I'm wrong, but just in case I'll be watching from over there. Way over there. :)
– DavidW
8 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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As long as you don't need it fast, it's much cheaper to ship water (or any other bulk material that's available) from the asteroid belt to Earth orbit than from the surface of the Earth. Just to get to LEO (200km) from Earth's surface is a minimum of 9.4km/s of delta-v, more if you're in a higher (more stable) orbit. LEO to Ceres averages around 9.5km/s of delta-v, also from a 200km LEO.
If you're in a higher orbit, or even moreso at one of the Lagrange points (I believe there suggestions of stations at L4 and/or L5) then the cost shifts; you're looking at a delta-v requirement of >12km/s from Earth's surface, but <7km/s from the Belt.
(Note that those are strictly delta-v requirements; losses due to atmospheric drag aren't included, nor is the cost of a rocket body/fairing to hold the water. From the Belt to L4/L5/GEO you just need to freeze a ball of water, wrap it in mylar and stick a small ion drive on it. Also, launching from the Earth requires being able to accelerate at least 15m/s^2 just to overcome gravity, whereas from the asteroid belt the required accelerations are a couple of orders of magnitude smaller. Smaller accelerations means less mass required for motors, and more efficient use of fuel.)
answered 9 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
11.1k4 gold badges49 silver badges94 bronze badges
I love the answer but I'm not immediately convinced (unless, of course, the original author of the books simply needed a plot device). They have extremely high thrust engines, so much so that they need special technologies to avoid dying while using them, and fuel is never mentioned as an important resource. Also, they burn their engines constantly at high thrust, implying that they have extremely fuel efficient engines...
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
They did not always had it. Epstein drives were invented when Mars was already partially colonized. Mars has water deposits, but probably not enough for full terraforming.
– b.Lorenz
9 hours ago
@MichaelStachowsky I'll admit I'm not super familiar with the technological background of The Expanse so I just assumed they weren't firing off a fusion drive in an atmosphere. My bad if I'm wrong, but just in case I'll be watching from over there. Way over there. :)
– DavidW
8 hours ago
add a comment |
As long as you don't need it fast, it's much cheaper to ship water (or any other bulk material that's available) from the asteroid belt to Earth orbit than from the surface of the Earth. Just to get to LEO (200km) from Earth's surface is a minimum of 9.4km/s of delta-v, more if you're in a higher (more stable) orbit. LEO to Ceres averages around 9.5km/s of delta-v, also from a 200km LEO.
If you're in a higher orbit, or even moreso at one of the Lagrange points (I believe there suggestions of stations at L4 and/or L5) then the cost shifts; you're looking at a delta-v requirement of >12km/s from Earth's surface, but <7km/s from the Belt.
(Note that those are strictly delta-v requirements; losses due to atmospheric drag aren't included, nor is the cost of a rocket body/fairing to hold the water. From the Belt to L4/L5/GEO you just need to freeze a ball of water, wrap it in mylar and stick a small ion drive on it. Also, launching from the Earth requires being able to accelerate at least 15m/s^2 just to overcome gravity, whereas from the asteroid belt the required accelerations are a couple of orders of magnitude smaller. Smaller accelerations means less mass required for motors, and more efficient use of fuel.)
answered 9 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
11.1k4 gold badges49 silver badges94 bronze badges
I love the answer but I'm not immediately convinced (unless, of course, the original author of the books simply needed a plot device). They have extremely high thrust engines, so much so that they need special technologies to avoid dying while using them, and fuel is never mentioned as an important resource. Also, they burn their engines constantly at high thrust, implying that they have extremely fuel efficient engines...
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
They did not always had it. Epstein drives were invented when Mars was already partially colonized. Mars has water deposits, but probably not enough for full terraforming.
– b.Lorenz
9 hours ago
@MichaelStachowsky I'll admit I'm not super familiar with the technological background of The Expanse so I just assumed they weren't firing off a fusion drive in an atmosphere. My bad if I'm wrong, but just in case I'll be watching from over there. Way over there. :)
– DavidW
8 hours ago
add a comment |
As long as you don't need it fast, it's much cheaper to ship water (or any other bulk material that's available) from the asteroid belt to Earth orbit than from the surface of the Earth. Just to get to LEO (200km) from Earth's surface is a minimum of 9.4km/s of delta-v, more if you're in a higher (more stable) orbit. LEO to Ceres averages around 9.5km/s of delta-v, also from a 200km LEO.
If you're in a higher orbit, or even moreso at one of the Lagrange points (I believe there suggestions of stations at L4 and/or L5) then the cost shifts; you're looking at a delta-v requirement of >12km/s from Earth's surface, but <7km/s from the Belt.
(Note that those are strictly delta-v requirements; losses due to atmospheric drag aren't included, nor is the cost of a rocket body/fairing to hold the water. From the Belt to L4/L5/GEO you just need to freeze a ball of water, wrap it in mylar and stick a small ion drive on it. Also, launching from the Earth requires being able to accelerate at least 15m/s^2 just to overcome gravity, whereas from the asteroid belt the required accelerations are a couple of orders of magnitude smaller. Smaller accelerations means less mass required for motors, and more efficient use of fuel.)
answered 9 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
11.1k4 gold badges49 silver badges94 bronze badges
As long as you don't need it fast, it's much cheaper to ship water (or any other bulk material that's available) from the asteroid belt to Earth orbit than from the surface of the Earth. Just to get to LEO (200km) from Earth's surface is a minimum of 9.4km/s of delta-v, more if you're in a higher (more stable) orbit. LEO to Ceres averages around 9.5km/s of delta-v, also from a 200km LEO.
If you're in a higher orbit, or even moreso at one of the Lagrange points (I believe there suggestions of stations at L4 and/or L5) then the cost shifts; you're looking at a delta-v requirement of >12km/s from Earth's surface, but <7km/s from the Belt.
(Note that those are strictly delta-v requirements; losses due to atmospheric drag aren't included, nor is the cost of a rocket body/fairing to hold the water. From the Belt to L4/L5/GEO you just need to freeze a ball of water, wrap it in mylar and stick a small ion drive on it. Also, launching from the Earth requires being able to accelerate at least 15m/s^2 just to overcome gravity, whereas from the asteroid belt the required accelerations are a couple of orders of magnitude smaller. Smaller accelerations means less mass required for motors, and more efficient use of fuel.)
answered 9 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
11.1k4 gold badges49 silver badges94 bronze badges
edited 9 hours ago
answered 9 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
11.1k4 gold badges49 silver badges94 bronze badges
answered 9 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
11.1k4 gold badges49 silver badges94 bronze badges
answered 9 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
11.1k4 gold badges49 silver badges94 bronze badges
11.1k4 gold badges49 silver badges94 bronze badges
I love the answer but I'm not immediately convinced (unless, of course, the original author of the books simply needed a plot device). They have extremely high thrust engines, so much so that they need special technologies to avoid dying while using them, and fuel is never mentioned as an important resource. Also, they burn their engines constantly at high thrust, implying that they have extremely fuel efficient engines...
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
They did not always had it. Epstein drives were invented when Mars was already partially colonized. Mars has water deposits, but probably not enough for full terraforming.
– b.Lorenz
9 hours ago
@MichaelStachowsky I'll admit I'm not super familiar with the technological background of The Expanse so I just assumed they weren't firing off a fusion drive in an atmosphere. My bad if I'm wrong, but just in case I'll be watching from over there. Way over there. :)
– DavidW
8 hours ago
add a comment |
I love the answer but I'm not immediately convinced (unless, of course, the original author of the books simply needed a plot device). They have extremely high thrust engines, so much so that they need special technologies to avoid dying while using them, and fuel is never mentioned as an important resource. Also, they burn their engines constantly at high thrust, implying that they have extremely fuel efficient engines...
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
They did not always had it. Epstein drives were invented when Mars was already partially colonized. Mars has water deposits, but probably not enough for full terraforming.
– b.Lorenz
9 hours ago
@MichaelStachowsky I'll admit I'm not super familiar with the technological background of The Expanse so I just assumed they weren't firing off a fusion drive in an atmosphere. My bad if I'm wrong, but just in case I'll be watching from over there. Way over there. :)
– DavidW
8 hours ago
I love the answer but I'm not immediately convinced (unless, of course, the original author of the books simply needed a plot device). They have extremely high thrust engines, so much so that they need special technologies to avoid dying while using them, and fuel is never mentioned as an important resource. Also, they burn their engines constantly at high thrust, implying that they have extremely fuel efficient engines...
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
I love the answer but I'm not immediately convinced (unless, of course, the original author of the books simply needed a plot device). They have extremely high thrust engines, so much so that they need special technologies to avoid dying while using them, and fuel is never mentioned as an important resource. Also, they burn their engines constantly at high thrust, implying that they have extremely fuel efficient engines...
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
They did not always had it. Epstein drives were invented when Mars was already partially colonized. Mars has water deposits, but probably not enough for full terraforming.
– b.Lorenz
9 hours ago
They did not always had it. Epstein drives were invented when Mars was already partially colonized. Mars has water deposits, but probably not enough for full terraforming.
– b.Lorenz
9 hours ago
@MichaelStachowsky I'll admit I'm not super familiar with the technological background of The Expanse so I just assumed they weren't firing off a fusion drive in an atmosphere. My bad if I'm wrong, but just in case I'll be watching from over there. Way over there. :)
– DavidW
8 hours ago
@MichaelStachowsky I'll admit I'm not super familiar with the technological background of The Expanse so I just assumed they weren't firing off a fusion drive in an atmosphere. My bad if I'm wrong, but just in case I'll be watching from over there. Way over there. :)
– DavidW
8 hours ago
add a comment |
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3
If nothing else it probably costs less to get water to Earth orbit from the asteroid belt than from the surface of Earth.
– DavidW
10 hours ago
Was Ceres full of fresh water?
– drewbenn
10 hours ago
1
@drewbenn: actually it's probably not freshwater but briney water. I assume that either the original author didn't know that or assumed that water distillation technologies were advanced enough for it not to matter. However, if distillation were possible on such a large scale for Cerean water then why not just desalination ocean water?
– Michael Stachowsky
9 hours ago
1
Haven’t read the novels, but seeing the series I got the impression oceans and others sources were so polluted they actually needed to import for human consumption, no desalination or viable mass-decontamination possible anymore.
– Seretba
3 hours ago