XPost: comp.theory.cell-automata   
   From: vitalmis@optusnet.com.au   
      
   Simon Hosie wrote:   
      
   > Gene P. wrote:   
      
   > Is the shell itself supposed to be weightless?  If not, can't its   
   > gravity be put to some use?   
      
   Only if you are outside. Inside it has no effect.   
      
   In any case, there is no reason to suppose that a Dyson sphere is solid. A   
   very large number of smaller habitats could be in orbit around the star,   
   each would have its own gravity system (e.g. they could spin fsat enough   
   for one gee). Biggest problem is avoiding collisions if there are enough of   
   them to absord most of the star's radiation. But you don't need to build   
   them out of unobtainium.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)