Can you explain this diagram?

[Rob Lang]

Is it obvious or is it impossible to see what is going on here?


Naturally, it will have an explanation in Version 4 but I was wondering if it was obvious anyway.

[Thought]

Well lets see... the gel-caplet can move towards or away from volleyball, the AT&T bars can travel between the volleyball and the grape (passing an insect along the way) or it can travel to the University of Texas logo-like thingy (as long as it doesn't skewer itself on the pointy line) and robotic fingers can move to and from the volleyball (specifically, to or from the locations of the AT&T Bars or the UT Logo).

So it looks like the diagram commenting on how certain craft can interact with a planet. Some can orbit, some can a land, some can shuttle individuals between two locations on the planet, or from the planet to a moon/spacestation. Etc. Is that right?

[Rob Lang]

An excellent Thought. However, I'm going to hang fire before putting in my description.

[Chainsaw Aardvark]

I'll second the idea its an illustration of spacecraft control in near orbit. It appears we have Space Elevator to orbit, then off planet, lunar jaunts, direct orbital access, and lunar to deep space. The little Ant thing might be either an orbital transfer vehicle, or an O'Neil Colony - though for the latter, it probably should be scaled up. The little spines on ships might indicate fuel use, low power or sub-light speed as opposed to the clean lined ship for long distance/galactic transport.

Of course, with a space elevator, anything other than other means of getting off the planet seem a little redundant. Admittedly, there are non-trivial costs in getting things to the base station if its far away, and the beanstalk is disturbingly expensive initially compared to a standard rocket port - so some planets might not have one.

Would there be sub-orbital hypersonic transport aircraft? If so, they should be illustrated on this diagram as well.

[misterecho]

I think it shows the overland transport of goods to the stack of bars (warehouse?) shows that a shuttle takes goods to moon for capital ship. also shows smaller ships going directly to warehouse or producer.

urm thats my best guess

[Rob Lang]

My diagram seems to be better than I thought!

[misterecho]

No the diagrams rubbish. it's cos we have a super massive collective intellect


nah, must be a good drawing

[misterecho]

could **YOU** please explain this diagram?

[Rob Lang]