How could someone ground a breathable synthetic atmosphere onto a small asteroid?

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Let's say there are billions of asteroids in the galaxy, varying in size from baseballs to hunks of rock almost big enough to be dwarf planets. If someone wanted to set up a habitable location on one of the larger ones (house-sized or bigger), what kind of device and/or materials would be needed to give one of these asteroids a breathable synthetic atmosphere?



Here are some things to note:



  • These asteroids will be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from small pawn shops to gigantic shopping malls to apartment complexes to maximum security prisons.

  • Faster-than-light travel is used in this universe, allowing people and supplies to be moved across the galaxy in weeks rather than millions of years.

  • Atmosphere must be similar to Earth. Earth-like gravity can be left up to handwavium.









share|improve this question



















  • 2




    "Domes" is the first answer that comes to mind. Is that a valid answer in and of itself, or is that your assumption and you are wondering what device or materials to use in such dome construction?
    – Aaron
    2 hours ago










  • @Aaron I was kind of wondering what materials would go into any possible solution (i.e. domes).
    – The Weasel Sagas
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    domes are for the rich. poor will use habitation modules converted from shipping containers. Actual windows will be a sign of middle-class. Also, you will never get earth-like gravity on a natural body that is much smaller than earth. But is OK., low gravity makes it easier to move stuff around, and some people actually prefer it.
    – Bald Bear
    2 hours ago










  • Actually, I was talking about spectacular glass domes. A metal dome filled with tiny cramped cubbyholes will work just fine for the large number of low-skill workers. You can also have inflatable domes as (semi-) temporary housing.
    – Bald Bear
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    "Gravity must be similar to Earth" is a much bigger issue than the atmosphere; solve that one and you more-or-less get the atmosphere for free.
    – Roger
    2 hours ago














up vote
1
down vote

favorite












Let's say there are billions of asteroids in the galaxy, varying in size from baseballs to hunks of rock almost big enough to be dwarf planets. If someone wanted to set up a habitable location on one of the larger ones (house-sized or bigger), what kind of device and/or materials would be needed to give one of these asteroids a breathable synthetic atmosphere?



Here are some things to note:



  • These asteroids will be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from small pawn shops to gigantic shopping malls to apartment complexes to maximum security prisons.

  • Faster-than-light travel is used in this universe, allowing people and supplies to be moved across the galaxy in weeks rather than millions of years.

  • Atmosphere must be similar to Earth. Earth-like gravity can be left up to handwavium.









share|improve this question



















  • 2




    "Domes" is the first answer that comes to mind. Is that a valid answer in and of itself, or is that your assumption and you are wondering what device or materials to use in such dome construction?
    – Aaron
    2 hours ago










  • @Aaron I was kind of wondering what materials would go into any possible solution (i.e. domes).
    – The Weasel Sagas
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    domes are for the rich. poor will use habitation modules converted from shipping containers. Actual windows will be a sign of middle-class. Also, you will never get earth-like gravity on a natural body that is much smaller than earth. But is OK., low gravity makes it easier to move stuff around, and some people actually prefer it.
    – Bald Bear
    2 hours ago










  • Actually, I was talking about spectacular glass domes. A metal dome filled with tiny cramped cubbyholes will work just fine for the large number of low-skill workers. You can also have inflatable domes as (semi-) temporary housing.
    – Bald Bear
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    "Gravity must be similar to Earth" is a much bigger issue than the atmosphere; solve that one and you more-or-less get the atmosphere for free.
    – Roger
    2 hours ago












up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











Let's say there are billions of asteroids in the galaxy, varying in size from baseballs to hunks of rock almost big enough to be dwarf planets. If someone wanted to set up a habitable location on one of the larger ones (house-sized or bigger), what kind of device and/or materials would be needed to give one of these asteroids a breathable synthetic atmosphere?



Here are some things to note:



  • These asteroids will be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from small pawn shops to gigantic shopping malls to apartment complexes to maximum security prisons.

  • Faster-than-light travel is used in this universe, allowing people and supplies to be moved across the galaxy in weeks rather than millions of years.

  • Atmosphere must be similar to Earth. Earth-like gravity can be left up to handwavium.









share|improve this question















Let's say there are billions of asteroids in the galaxy, varying in size from baseballs to hunks of rock almost big enough to be dwarf planets. If someone wanted to set up a habitable location on one of the larger ones (house-sized or bigger), what kind of device and/or materials would be needed to give one of these asteroids a breathable synthetic atmosphere?



Here are some things to note:



  • These asteroids will be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from small pawn shops to gigantic shopping malls to apartment complexes to maximum security prisons.

  • Faster-than-light travel is used in this universe, allowing people and supplies to be moved across the galaxy in weeks rather than millions of years.

  • Atmosphere must be similar to Earth. Earth-like gravity can be left up to handwavium.






science-based space atmosphere asteroids galactic






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 1 hour ago

























asked 2 hours ago









The Weasel Sagas

982118




982118







  • 2




    "Domes" is the first answer that comes to mind. Is that a valid answer in and of itself, or is that your assumption and you are wondering what device or materials to use in such dome construction?
    – Aaron
    2 hours ago










  • @Aaron I was kind of wondering what materials would go into any possible solution (i.e. domes).
    – The Weasel Sagas
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    domes are for the rich. poor will use habitation modules converted from shipping containers. Actual windows will be a sign of middle-class. Also, you will never get earth-like gravity on a natural body that is much smaller than earth. But is OK., low gravity makes it easier to move stuff around, and some people actually prefer it.
    – Bald Bear
    2 hours ago










  • Actually, I was talking about spectacular glass domes. A metal dome filled with tiny cramped cubbyholes will work just fine for the large number of low-skill workers. You can also have inflatable domes as (semi-) temporary housing.
    – Bald Bear
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    "Gravity must be similar to Earth" is a much bigger issue than the atmosphere; solve that one and you more-or-less get the atmosphere for free.
    – Roger
    2 hours ago












  • 2




    "Domes" is the first answer that comes to mind. Is that a valid answer in and of itself, or is that your assumption and you are wondering what device or materials to use in such dome construction?
    – Aaron
    2 hours ago










  • @Aaron I was kind of wondering what materials would go into any possible solution (i.e. domes).
    – The Weasel Sagas
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    domes are for the rich. poor will use habitation modules converted from shipping containers. Actual windows will be a sign of middle-class. Also, you will never get earth-like gravity on a natural body that is much smaller than earth. But is OK., low gravity makes it easier to move stuff around, and some people actually prefer it.
    – Bald Bear
    2 hours ago










  • Actually, I was talking about spectacular glass domes. A metal dome filled with tiny cramped cubbyholes will work just fine for the large number of low-skill workers. You can also have inflatable domes as (semi-) temporary housing.
    – Bald Bear
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    "Gravity must be similar to Earth" is a much bigger issue than the atmosphere; solve that one and you more-or-less get the atmosphere for free.
    – Roger
    2 hours ago







2




2




"Domes" is the first answer that comes to mind. Is that a valid answer in and of itself, or is that your assumption and you are wondering what device or materials to use in such dome construction?
– Aaron
2 hours ago




"Domes" is the first answer that comes to mind. Is that a valid answer in and of itself, or is that your assumption and you are wondering what device or materials to use in such dome construction?
– Aaron
2 hours ago












@Aaron I was kind of wondering what materials would go into any possible solution (i.e. domes).
– The Weasel Sagas
2 hours ago




@Aaron I was kind of wondering what materials would go into any possible solution (i.e. domes).
– The Weasel Sagas
2 hours ago




1




1




domes are for the rich. poor will use habitation modules converted from shipping containers. Actual windows will be a sign of middle-class. Also, you will never get earth-like gravity on a natural body that is much smaller than earth. But is OK., low gravity makes it easier to move stuff around, and some people actually prefer it.
– Bald Bear
2 hours ago




domes are for the rich. poor will use habitation modules converted from shipping containers. Actual windows will be a sign of middle-class. Also, you will never get earth-like gravity on a natural body that is much smaller than earth. But is OK., low gravity makes it easier to move stuff around, and some people actually prefer it.
– Bald Bear
2 hours ago












Actually, I was talking about spectacular glass domes. A metal dome filled with tiny cramped cubbyholes will work just fine for the large number of low-skill workers. You can also have inflatable domes as (semi-) temporary housing.
– Bald Bear
2 hours ago




Actually, I was talking about spectacular glass domes. A metal dome filled with tiny cramped cubbyholes will work just fine for the large number of low-skill workers. You can also have inflatable domes as (semi-) temporary housing.
– Bald Bear
2 hours ago




2




2




"Gravity must be similar to Earth" is a much bigger issue than the atmosphere; solve that one and you more-or-less get the atmosphere for free.
– Roger
2 hours ago




"Gravity must be similar to Earth" is a much bigger issue than the atmosphere; solve that one and you more-or-less get the atmosphere for free.
– Roger
2 hours ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
2
down vote



accepted










You need to build a very robust greenhouse all around the asteroid, practically wrapping it (or the area you want to provide with atmosphere) into the structure.



If it is limited to hosting humans, you can make the greenhouse just a couple of meters high above the surface, provide adequate protection against micrometeorites and space radiation (a couple of meters of air won't stop any energetic radiation coming from space, like instead our earthly atmosphere does) and ensure that there is something providing air circulation (with very low gravity also convective motion will be limited, and you don't want to suffocate just because you were not moving and a bubble of CO2 formed around your head) and regeneration.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    3
    down vote













    1. Hollow out asteroid.

    2. Pump asteroid interior full of your favorite breathables until at your favorite pressure.

    This could be done with our own tech and it is a good idea. Asteroids are already up there. They are fine radiation shielding. You could hollow them out with focused sunlight, letting the molten metal spill into space or have people with explosives and hammers do it 1800s style. It is not a particularly novel idea. https://www.earth.com/news/hollow-asteroids-generation-ships/






    share|improve this answer




















    • Presumably one could spin the hollowed-out asteroid to simulate gravity towards certain sections of the walls as well
      – ben
      31 mins ago

















    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.



    FTL implies a high tech level. It is not a big stretch to assume that possessing FTL technology also means you have gravity control. With gravity control, you can retain atmosphere even on a small asteroid.



    So, whatever unobtanium you use use for FTL can also be the key to gravity control and atmospheric engineering. Or you may simply assume that you also have gravity control via an unrelated technology and possibly a separate unobtanium.






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      1
      down vote













      Expanding on some of the comments: if you are bestowing Earth-like gravity on these asteroids anyway, then your problem is more or less solved. Just dump an appropriate amount of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, etc. into your weirdly heavy asteroid and the gravity will retain the atmosphere. If there is a strong radiation environment (e.g. from a nearby star) you will want to consider having a magnetic field or other radiation shielding, as an atmosphere won't cut it for high-energy particles.



      If you want this to be remotely science-based you should probably focus on the "handwavium" that provides the gravity you are looking for. Not that you have to fully flesh it out, but it could be made to believably solve most of the issues in creating the setting you want. In addition, if you are considering an asteroid belt or field where there are various small settlements/facilities, you should consider the increased gravitational force between the asteroids. If a decent amount of the asteroids in the solar system's asteroid belt all of a sudden became Earth-like in mass, the belt would probably accrete into one large body (and have major interaction with Jupiter, possibly colliding).






      share|improve this answer




















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        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes








        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        2
        down vote



        accepted










        You need to build a very robust greenhouse all around the asteroid, practically wrapping it (or the area you want to provide with atmosphere) into the structure.



        If it is limited to hosting humans, you can make the greenhouse just a couple of meters high above the surface, provide adequate protection against micrometeorites and space radiation (a couple of meters of air won't stop any energetic radiation coming from space, like instead our earthly atmosphere does) and ensure that there is something providing air circulation (with very low gravity also convective motion will be limited, and you don't want to suffocate just because you were not moving and a bubble of CO2 formed around your head) and regeneration.






        share|improve this answer
























          up vote
          2
          down vote



          accepted










          You need to build a very robust greenhouse all around the asteroid, practically wrapping it (or the area you want to provide with atmosphere) into the structure.



          If it is limited to hosting humans, you can make the greenhouse just a couple of meters high above the surface, provide adequate protection against micrometeorites and space radiation (a couple of meters of air won't stop any energetic radiation coming from space, like instead our earthly atmosphere does) and ensure that there is something providing air circulation (with very low gravity also convective motion will be limited, and you don't want to suffocate just because you were not moving and a bubble of CO2 formed around your head) and regeneration.






          share|improve this answer






















            up vote
            2
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            2
            down vote



            accepted






            You need to build a very robust greenhouse all around the asteroid, practically wrapping it (or the area you want to provide with atmosphere) into the structure.



            If it is limited to hosting humans, you can make the greenhouse just a couple of meters high above the surface, provide adequate protection against micrometeorites and space radiation (a couple of meters of air won't stop any energetic radiation coming from space, like instead our earthly atmosphere does) and ensure that there is something providing air circulation (with very low gravity also convective motion will be limited, and you don't want to suffocate just because you were not moving and a bubble of CO2 formed around your head) and regeneration.






            share|improve this answer












            You need to build a very robust greenhouse all around the asteroid, practically wrapping it (or the area you want to provide with atmosphere) into the structure.



            If it is limited to hosting humans, you can make the greenhouse just a couple of meters high above the surface, provide adequate protection against micrometeorites and space radiation (a couple of meters of air won't stop any energetic radiation coming from space, like instead our earthly atmosphere does) and ensure that there is something providing air circulation (with very low gravity also convective motion will be limited, and you don't want to suffocate just because you were not moving and a bubble of CO2 formed around your head) and regeneration.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 1 hour ago









            L.Dutch♦

            66.1k20159311




            66.1k20159311




















                up vote
                3
                down vote













                1. Hollow out asteroid.

                2. Pump asteroid interior full of your favorite breathables until at your favorite pressure.

                This could be done with our own tech and it is a good idea. Asteroids are already up there. They are fine radiation shielding. You could hollow them out with focused sunlight, letting the molten metal spill into space or have people with explosives and hammers do it 1800s style. It is not a particularly novel idea. https://www.earth.com/news/hollow-asteroids-generation-ships/






                share|improve this answer




















                • Presumably one could spin the hollowed-out asteroid to simulate gravity towards certain sections of the walls as well
                  – ben
                  31 mins ago














                up vote
                3
                down vote













                1. Hollow out asteroid.

                2. Pump asteroid interior full of your favorite breathables until at your favorite pressure.

                This could be done with our own tech and it is a good idea. Asteroids are already up there. They are fine radiation shielding. You could hollow them out with focused sunlight, letting the molten metal spill into space or have people with explosives and hammers do it 1800s style. It is not a particularly novel idea. https://www.earth.com/news/hollow-asteroids-generation-ships/






                share|improve this answer




















                • Presumably one could spin the hollowed-out asteroid to simulate gravity towards certain sections of the walls as well
                  – ben
                  31 mins ago












                up vote
                3
                down vote










                up vote
                3
                down vote









                1. Hollow out asteroid.

                2. Pump asteroid interior full of your favorite breathables until at your favorite pressure.

                This could be done with our own tech and it is a good idea. Asteroids are already up there. They are fine radiation shielding. You could hollow them out with focused sunlight, letting the molten metal spill into space or have people with explosives and hammers do it 1800s style. It is not a particularly novel idea. https://www.earth.com/news/hollow-asteroids-generation-ships/






                share|improve this answer












                1. Hollow out asteroid.

                2. Pump asteroid interior full of your favorite breathables until at your favorite pressure.

                This could be done with our own tech and it is a good idea. Asteroids are already up there. They are fine radiation shielding. You could hollow them out with focused sunlight, letting the molten metal spill into space or have people with explosives and hammers do it 1800s style. It is not a particularly novel idea. https://www.earth.com/news/hollow-asteroids-generation-ships/







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 48 mins ago









                Willk

                93.2k22179397




                93.2k22179397











                • Presumably one could spin the hollowed-out asteroid to simulate gravity towards certain sections of the walls as well
                  – ben
                  31 mins ago
















                • Presumably one could spin the hollowed-out asteroid to simulate gravity towards certain sections of the walls as well
                  – ben
                  31 mins ago















                Presumably one could spin the hollowed-out asteroid to simulate gravity towards certain sections of the walls as well
                – ben
                31 mins ago




                Presumably one could spin the hollowed-out asteroid to simulate gravity towards certain sections of the walls as well
                – ben
                31 mins ago










                up vote
                2
                down vote













                Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.



                FTL implies a high tech level. It is not a big stretch to assume that possessing FTL technology also means you have gravity control. With gravity control, you can retain atmosphere even on a small asteroid.



                So, whatever unobtanium you use use for FTL can also be the key to gravity control and atmospheric engineering. Or you may simply assume that you also have gravity control via an unrelated technology and possibly a separate unobtanium.






                share|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote













                  Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.



                  FTL implies a high tech level. It is not a big stretch to assume that possessing FTL technology also means you have gravity control. With gravity control, you can retain atmosphere even on a small asteroid.



                  So, whatever unobtanium you use use for FTL can also be the key to gravity control and atmospheric engineering. Or you may simply assume that you also have gravity control via an unrelated technology and possibly a separate unobtanium.






                  share|improve this answer






















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote









                    Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.



                    FTL implies a high tech level. It is not a big stretch to assume that possessing FTL technology also means you have gravity control. With gravity control, you can retain atmosphere even on a small asteroid.



                    So, whatever unobtanium you use use for FTL can also be the key to gravity control and atmospheric engineering. Or you may simply assume that you also have gravity control via an unrelated technology and possibly a separate unobtanium.






                    share|improve this answer












                    Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.



                    FTL implies a high tech level. It is not a big stretch to assume that possessing FTL technology also means you have gravity control. With gravity control, you can retain atmosphere even on a small asteroid.



                    So, whatever unobtanium you use use for FTL can also be the key to gravity control and atmospheric engineering. Or you may simply assume that you also have gravity control via an unrelated technology and possibly a separate unobtanium.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 1 hour ago









                    Gary Walker

                    14.6k22754




                    14.6k22754




















                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        Expanding on some of the comments: if you are bestowing Earth-like gravity on these asteroids anyway, then your problem is more or less solved. Just dump an appropriate amount of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, etc. into your weirdly heavy asteroid and the gravity will retain the atmosphere. If there is a strong radiation environment (e.g. from a nearby star) you will want to consider having a magnetic field or other radiation shielding, as an atmosphere won't cut it for high-energy particles.



                        If you want this to be remotely science-based you should probably focus on the "handwavium" that provides the gravity you are looking for. Not that you have to fully flesh it out, but it could be made to believably solve most of the issues in creating the setting you want. In addition, if you are considering an asteroid belt or field where there are various small settlements/facilities, you should consider the increased gravitational force between the asteroids. If a decent amount of the asteroids in the solar system's asteroid belt all of a sudden became Earth-like in mass, the belt would probably accrete into one large body (and have major interaction with Jupiter, possibly colliding).






                        share|improve this answer
























                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote













                          Expanding on some of the comments: if you are bestowing Earth-like gravity on these asteroids anyway, then your problem is more or less solved. Just dump an appropriate amount of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, etc. into your weirdly heavy asteroid and the gravity will retain the atmosphere. If there is a strong radiation environment (e.g. from a nearby star) you will want to consider having a magnetic field or other radiation shielding, as an atmosphere won't cut it for high-energy particles.



                          If you want this to be remotely science-based you should probably focus on the "handwavium" that provides the gravity you are looking for. Not that you have to fully flesh it out, but it could be made to believably solve most of the issues in creating the setting you want. In addition, if you are considering an asteroid belt or field where there are various small settlements/facilities, you should consider the increased gravitational force between the asteroids. If a decent amount of the asteroids in the solar system's asteroid belt all of a sudden became Earth-like in mass, the belt would probably accrete into one large body (and have major interaction with Jupiter, possibly colliding).






                          share|improve this answer






















                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote









                            Expanding on some of the comments: if you are bestowing Earth-like gravity on these asteroids anyway, then your problem is more or less solved. Just dump an appropriate amount of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, etc. into your weirdly heavy asteroid and the gravity will retain the atmosphere. If there is a strong radiation environment (e.g. from a nearby star) you will want to consider having a magnetic field or other radiation shielding, as an atmosphere won't cut it for high-energy particles.



                            If you want this to be remotely science-based you should probably focus on the "handwavium" that provides the gravity you are looking for. Not that you have to fully flesh it out, but it could be made to believably solve most of the issues in creating the setting you want. In addition, if you are considering an asteroid belt or field where there are various small settlements/facilities, you should consider the increased gravitational force between the asteroids. If a decent amount of the asteroids in the solar system's asteroid belt all of a sudden became Earth-like in mass, the belt would probably accrete into one large body (and have major interaction with Jupiter, possibly colliding).






                            share|improve this answer












                            Expanding on some of the comments: if you are bestowing Earth-like gravity on these asteroids anyway, then your problem is more or less solved. Just dump an appropriate amount of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, etc. into your weirdly heavy asteroid and the gravity will retain the atmosphere. If there is a strong radiation environment (e.g. from a nearby star) you will want to consider having a magnetic field or other radiation shielding, as an atmosphere won't cut it for high-energy particles.



                            If you want this to be remotely science-based you should probably focus on the "handwavium" that provides the gravity you are looking for. Not that you have to fully flesh it out, but it could be made to believably solve most of the issues in creating the setting you want. In addition, if you are considering an asteroid belt or field where there are various small settlements/facilities, you should consider the increased gravitational force between the asteroids. If a decent amount of the asteroids in the solar system's asteroid belt all of a sudden became Earth-like in mass, the belt would probably accrete into one large body (and have major interaction with Jupiter, possibly colliding).







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 1 hour ago









                            ben

                            1163




                            1163



























                                 

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