Guest: Al Globus; Topics: Space settlement in LEO and radiation over the equator. Please direct all comments and questions regarding Space Show programs/guest(s) to the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm. For those listening to archives using live365.com and rating the programs, please email me as to why you assign a specific rating to the show. This will help me bring better programming to the audience. We welcomed back Al Globus to discuss his plan for LEO space settlement about 500 km above the equator to minimize radiation, shielding, and to improve the mass ratios to make settlement easier than in other locations. During the first segment of our 1 hour 49 minute program, Al put forth his hypothesis that radiation over the equator was very light meaning that any space settlement would need minimal shielding or possibly no shielding. This vastly improved the economics of developing and resupplying the settlement given its close proximity to Earth and the lower mass needed for the settlement and transportation. This would be a "free space settlement" meaning it would be in orbit. During this segment and the entire program, Al explained the radiation issues but you should read his paper on the subject, "Space Settlement the Easy Way." You can find this paper at http://space.alglobus.net/presentations/Easy.pdf. Al spent lots of time explaining the radiation issues and talking about the initial settlements which may not have an economic purpose. Al did go into the technical side of the radiation issues and his analysis for this location so don't miss what he had to say about it plus as I suggested above, be sure to read his paper. Later in the segment, he brought up space tourism and space hotels as a type of initial space settlement but one that would pave the way for actual settlements in LEO. In the end, Al said that a LEO settlement is an easier way to get started with space settlement but stated many times that even a LEO space settlement above the equator would be challenging. He did get several listener emails, some of which challenged his radiation analysis and the idea that little or no shielding would be necessary. Al was also asked about space exploration but he was very clear that he was focused on space settlement. In the second segment, we talked space policy, the U.S. congress and even the issue of space debris removal. Marshal called to talk about radiation shelters from solar storms, Alexander wanted to know more about space solar power. Adrian sent in a series of notes challenging Al and using the December 2004 Magnetar event. Al was not familiar with it. I inquired of the listeners to tell us what happened to the ISS during the event. After the show, I got a follow up note from Adrian regarding the event and the ISS: "Thanks to the magnetar's great distance, the super flare posed no threat to humanity or Earth's biosphere. The International Space Station was on the opposite side of Earth when the flare hit our planet, but even if the astronauts had faced the full fury of the blast, they would have received a radiation dose less than a dental X-ray. An SGR super flare's pulse of high-energy radiation could seriously damage a planet's atmosphere only if it occurred within about 6 light-years, according to Adrian L. Melott (University of Kansas)" See more at: www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/the-brightest-blast/#sthash.Vvmrt... & www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/the-brightest-blast. I believe the point Adrian was trying to make was that no shielding even for a LEO settlement above the equator leaves the occupants w/o protection in case of an unexpected radiation related event. To this point, Al spent some time talking about risk and risk taking. Toward the end of the program, Al brought up the subject of space mining, Biosphere 2, and the size of the space station. During the show he also talked about artificial gravity and increased spin rates for people at 4-6 RPMs. Please post your comments/questions on TSS blog above. You can reach Al through his website, www.alglobus.net.