"...starports are necessary." (For the reference, see the above link.)
Reasons
(i) It is necessary to make up energy differentials in stages because:
the relative velocity of remote galaxies is a large fraction of light speed;
it would consume too much fuel to match even the variation between the inner and outer parts of a single spiral arm in just one jump.
(ii) An observation base is necessary to identify the location and velocity of the next destination.
(iii) Docks, yards, supply depots and recreation areas are also necessary and it is therefore convenient to locate them also at the advanced bases.
City, the starport orbiting the colonized planet Landomar, has grown over a few centuries from a metal shell into towers, parapets, domes and the Ramakan memorial. A returning spaceman sees:
"...ships in dock and boats aswarm..." (p. 9)
- and feels at home. Imagine living like that.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I think and hope I would like that kind of life! Albeit, I'm more skeptical as regards the antithanatic of WORLD WITHOUT STARS. That is, I don't think that kind of indefinite life extending (absent deaths caused by accidents or violence) to be plausible.
Sean
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