🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <ewright.725060424@convex.convex.com> ewright@convex.com (Edward V. Wright) writes:
>In <1992Dec20.195520.3587@ke4zv.uucp> gary@ke4zv.uucp (Gary Coffman) writes:
>
>>It'll still be more cost effective to assemble and test
>>the bulk of space payloads on the ground and boost them to orbit
>>on larger capacity launchers, especially if some effort is put into
>>designing a heavy lifter for low labor costs.
>
>Just as it's more cost-effective to assemble and test
>office buildings at a central factory, then ship them
>to the worksite.  Especially if some effort is put into
>designing a heavy freighter for low costs. ;-)

Indeed, modular housing units *are* cheaper than stick built
housing. Most industrial construction utilizes modular building
systems. Some builders are now using modular sections for
multi-story office structures. The problems with widespread
adoption of these methods isn't technical or economic, it's
archaic building codes. Would you prefer that UAW workers
show up in your driveway and build your new Buick, or would
you rather pay a hundred times less for one from a factory?

Gary

-- 
Gary Coffman KE4ZV          |    You make it,     | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary
Destructive Testing Systems |    we break it.     | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary
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Lawrenceville, GA 30244     |                     | emory!ke4zv!gary@gatech.edu