Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

The ISS is not long for this world, metaphorically speaking.

Long ago, there was a proposal to build an electric launch system in the Andes that would propel something to about 3,000 mph up to 17,000 feet, then rockets would boost the rest of the way.

It's a mass issue.  In order to get something big enough into space that would be able to do something meaningful you would have to expend a whole lot of energy simultaneously to get it to the point where it would have enough velocity to activate a small upper stage to get into orbit.  

There is something out there called spin launch that is seeking to do exactly that.  They will spin around in a vacuum centrifuge until they reach a certain speed, where they will be "let go" and launched almost to the edge of space where another upper stage takes over.  How it goes from a vacuum chamber into the atmosphere is anybody's guess.  It's also a very small object they are launching, but hope to scale up.  

There is a grimy block near us about to be whooshed.  Fencing is up.  It's going to be a pretty substantial project.

This is a rendering of what is intended. Much of that is office space, which is curious to me these days.

How many trees, and what kind?

These timber buildings are all using Glulam columns.  Not certain of species,  id guess western woods and possibly southern pines.    From videos and reading seems like solving the fire testing question was the impediment along with being able to produce materials cost effectively for purposes of building 1A structures.

Structure strength not the issue.   

Appears we will start seeing more of these.  I saw the Ascent in Milwaukee last week.  It's beautiful. 

Critics may have spent last two decades arguing over Paul Verhoeven’s message, but they’ve missed some of the more interesting military components to 'Starship Troopers' — details that might even be news an eagle-eyed film buff (taskandpurpose.com)
Critics may have spent last two decades arguing over Paul Verhoeven’s message, but they’ve missed some of the more interesting military components to 'Starship Troopers' — details that might even be news an eagle-eyed film buff (taskandpurpose.com)

Sending up some duct tape and baling wire?

Nubbz has a thread for that