Which feature of space geography does Dolman say we should exploit?

• A. The dark side of the moon
• B. Gravity wells and key chokepoints, such as LEO and the Lagrange points.
• C. The sun because it is an inexhaustible source of energy.
• D. The moon and nearby planets Mars and Venus

Answer: (B)

Exploiting the natural layout of gravitational forces and orbital pathways is what Dolman emphasizes. Space geography shows that gravity wells around large bodies and the stable or semi-stable points where orbits balance create efficient routes and staging areas. He highlights gravity wells and key chokepoints—such as low Earth orbit as a convenient transfer hub and the Lagrange points where gravitational forces balance—as places to build a space infrastructure with much lower energy costs and greater control over traffic. By using gravity assists and transfers through these hubs, missions demand less delta-v, enabling scalable exploration, commerce, or security operations. The other options don’t fit this strategic view: the dark side of the Moon is a surface feature, the Sun’s energy is a resource rather than a geographic shortcut, and focusing on the Moon and nearby planets doesn’t capture the networked advantages Dolman describes.