The 2149ers
Architecture Competition - “Outer Space” by Blank Space
Competition Team: Matthew Stutzke
Christian Boling
Daniel Quintanilla-Rico
Similar to the 49ers of the 19th century that set out on a treacherous journey to California in search of riches during the Gold Rush, the 2149ers are a second wave of pioneers in the 22nd century Their mission: to discover wealth beyond their wildest dreams amongst the millions of asteroids that orbit in Saturn's Rings. When Voyager 3, Saturn's last probe, provided evidence of a new element, word spread around the world fast. Only a few hundred million kilometers from Earth, the abundance of asteroids that float adrift could contain trillions of dollars’ worth of Nebulum. The Gold Rush of 1849 saw thousands of migrants’ travel from all around the world to seek wealth. Some traveled thousands of miles for many months in uncomfortable conditions. This same drive and passion are seen amongst the 2149ers as they travel by spacecraft at tens of thousands of km/h for years at times to reach their claims. Nebulum has an atomic weight twice that of gold at 158 with properties previously unbeknownst to man. Its genesis led to the founding of ASTER; an asteroid mining corporation dedicated to the goal of mining Nebulum to provide an energy source to power cutting edge space travel technology.
Asteroid mining is the spark of space colonization, it serves as the cash crop for future expansion into intergalactic development. The true value of asteroid mining lies in the resources Nebulum provides for building the infrastructure for deep space travel. Like the Boom Towns in the 1850’s created by the Gold Rush, colonies will emerge around these asteroid claims. New cities and economies will surge through outer space as technology advances. The spirit of adventure and legacy serve as the driving force for these individuals. We will follow the journal of Dean Wallace, an asteroid mining pioneer, as he documents his journey.
Log 1
February 17th, 2149
”Voyage”
On the morning of February 17th, 2149, at Launch Bay No. 4, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, where our vessel lay, a crowd had gathered— families, journalists, nondescript onlookers, and friends who had come to take a last view and bid us farewell. We buckled into our seats amid hundreds of voyagers who sought the same dreams of space exploration. Around us gathered the brotherhood, who from hasty greetings turned their anxious faces toward friends on the western launch head. There were wives and children, sons and daughters, friends and loved ones, venting their pent-up grief at parting. The trembling voices, tearful eyes, and saddened faces were not only on land. Passing through the clouds was never more beautiful. Many were occupied by maintaining consciousness under the immense pressures of lift off. On either side was the beautifully gentle curve of the Earth, as vibrant blues turn to colorless nothing as our home soon faded away to the deep abyss of space. Forward, the spaceship Panama, moved to the “Golden Gate” of our own destined port, while the diminishing planet was fading away behind us. The feelings of weightlessness began as we exited Earth's orbit and I felt the realities of my decisions weigh down on me. This would be my fate for the next 38 months. I will have plenty of time to reflect on the opportunities of wealth that Saturn's rings hold for us.
Log 2
February 10th, 2153
”DISCOVERY”
This is human nature, here and everywhere—human weakness and human selfishness. As we lay stake to our claims amongst the rings and millions of asteroids, the company divided into parties of men, each cataloging the asteroids to commence prospecting. We are told to search for S-Type asteroids as they contain the most silicon and highest likelihood of containing Nebulum. These S-Type asteroids make up less than 0.0003 percent of the rings. The success of one person in a hundred is applauded, exciting the multitudes into hope. While the failure of the ninety-nine is not printed or even reported. The ninety-nine generally choose to say nothing, and the world takes no note of their disappointments. We searched for months with no luck in the outer rings, often contemplating the existence of value in any of these flying rocks. It's when you reach your all time low that you strive the hardest. It was February 10th, 2153 when we caught our first glimpse of fortune. We decided to search in the inner rings where the gravitational pull is dangerously strong and risks seizing our mining pods. It served as a tremendous risk but rewarded us monumentally. The asteroid was five and a half miles across, and estimated 215 billion tons, which means it could hold up to 100 trillion dollars of Nebulum. The feelings of eureka overwhelmed me.
Log 3
September 17th, 2156
“EXCAVATION”
I've never felt so small in my life. The Bagger 289 was built to mine whole asteroids. It seemed that the hardest part of this endeavor was at first the voyage as it took perseverance and patience, then it seemed the greatest struggle was the daunting, and at times hopeless task of discovering Nebulum. Now I'm enlightened to the laborious nature of the day to day task of excavation. The days grow long and tired, yet I never lose sight of my visions. The mines grow deeper each day and fortunes outweigh the expense tenfold. Now, with the discovery of Nebulum, the deployment of excavation teams has become a daily routine. And with that, certain cautions have begun to show up. Faulty asteroid collision alert equipment has led to the loss of five of our best prospectors. That is why the utmost care is taken when we mine. If I’ve learned anything, it's that “If you are going to the mines for Nebulum —1st, you will find it hard work to tell where it is; 2nd, it will be harder still to get it; and 3rd, it will be the hardest thing in your life to keep it after you have got it.”
Log 4
January 6th, 2164
“BOOMTOWN”
They always seem to disappear as quickly as they pop-up. Boomtowns turn to ghost towns as the mines run dry. Not one mining pod could handle a discovery load of this size. When word got out that inner ring XA7 was pay rock, the company launched all its mining efforts. With our discovery, Earth launched 12 more voyages en route full of eager prospectors and heavy equipment. We would need to start now if we want to be able to provide shelter for the new arrivals. We built docking stations, landing sites, underground encampments, and all the necessary preparations for the new heavy mining machinery. Large pods, spherical in shape and 60 feet in diameter, easily fit within large craters. From there, we excavated tunnels and linked up to other craters, eventually overtaking ravines and shaping them to our desire. These towns were built sub-asteroidean to protect us from harsh space radiation. And because our pods were equipped for the task, soon after operations began to run like clockwork.
Log 4
January 6th, 2164
“BOOMTOWN”
They always seem to disappear as quickly as they pop-up. Boomtowns turn to ghost towns as the mines run dry. Not one mining pod could handle a discovery load of this size. When word got out that inner ring XA7 was pay rock, the company launched all its mining efforts. With our discovery, Earth launched 12 more voyages en route full of eager prospectors and heavy equipment. We would need to start now if we want to be able to provide shelter for the new arrivals. We built docking stations, landing sites, underground encampments, and all the necessary preparations for the new heavy mining machinery. Large pods, spherical in shape and 60 feet in diameter, easily fit within large craters. From there, we excavated tunnels and linked up to other craters, eventually overtaking ravines and shaping them to our desire. These towns were built sub-asteroidean to protect us from harsh space radiation. And because our pods were equipped for the task, soon after operations began to run like clockwork.