One of the unique aspects of writing science fiction is not just imagining the future, but also imagining the history of that future. This is extremely important to the flavor of your universe.
Think about our own history. How would our social or political attitudes be different if the Holocaust had never happened? Now I am not suggesting you invent a holocaust (unless you want to), but understanding major events and how they shaped your current world are key to the authenticity of your world and can also provide plot ideas.
So, what does this have to do with Cosmic Sling Shots? Well, I am glad you asked. Check out this article. SpinLaunch, a U.S. startup, is testing the viability of catapulting payloads into space. Payloads spin around a 33-meter-diameter contraption called a “Suborbital Mass Accelerator” until they reach 10,000 g and 5,000 mph, then releasing the payload into orbit. The idea is this method of launch can decrease costs by reducing 70 percent of fuel and infrastructure requirements of a traditional launch.
Still wondering what this has to do with history? Well, I know I don’t want to try this contraption. So, when I think of where this technology might land us in the future, I don’t think it ends with slinging humans into space. Although I could think of a few one-off story lines…
Anyway, SpinLaunch, or cosmic sling shots, have the potential to be used for entering satellites and other items into orbit (perhaps ballistics?). This could also be a transportation method, where you shoot payloads into space, catch them, and then sling again onto another trajectory. Think resupply packages for colonies on distant planets. Without a need to pilot the packages, the cost of this resupply is relatively affordable. Of course, it creates the problem set of calculating and tracking trajectories to ensure no collisions occur. Also, how do you catch the payloads? Space is vast, but in the right framework, we could easily clutter it up.
This is where the history comes in. “Remember the early days of the space age when we flung things through space? Earth’s planetary defenses comprised slinging metal poles into space! Stars, what primitives we were.” Can you imagine the media commentary on this? Perhaps there were accidents in the early years of sling shot transport that led to protests or particular space regulations that still govern in your story’s timeline. Maybe some shipments got lost… I smell a conspiracy!
This is just one example of how future tech can craft history that hasn’t happened… yet. 🙂 It is just as important to consider the social and economic ramifications of imaginary technology as how it changes the individual’s experience. I will follow up with additional examples in the next few weeks.
Until then, May Imagination Reign!