Comments on: Saturn’s wonderful rings

By: wodun

wodun — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 22:08:50 +0000

I am not sure how I feel about it Gealon but the reason I brought up the moons as well is that they create some of Saturn’s rings.

Mining the moons for water while leaving the rings alone sounds like a good compromise but would people try and stop mining if it meant less, or no, new ring material?

Also, mining some of the rings for water would be akin to a renewable resource because the rings would regenerate as the moons eject material.

22nd century problems :)

By: Gealon

Gealon — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 14:35:20 +0000

I would think when we get there, the rings themselves would be considered in the same line as nature preserves. If we start flying craft in and out and removing great quantities of material, it will inevitably disrupt the ring system. Mining the moons though I would see no problem with, but the rings are what make Saturn an icon among the planets and I can’t see them being used in that fashion.

By: wodun

wodun — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 22:29:03 +0000

So how would people feel about mining the rings of Saturn or capturing the ejecta from its moon’s geysers?

By: C Cecil

C Cecil — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 20:36:51 +0000

Nature’s display of orbital mechanics, weight and speed separating the ring materials. Looks like grooves in a vinyl record. Can you imagine if played, what a grand story it would tell. I wonder what force keeps the rings inclination flat?