I've come to the conclusion that space colonization just won't happen

[micrometers]

I have come to the conclusion that we COULD colonise space, however I don't believe we can manage it before we kill ourselves or before some world ending event (asteroid etc.)

Technologically it is possible. Politically impossible. Even if it were possible, what you're getting in reward is just not worth it. If there were another Earth-like planet within the solar system, hell yes. But what you're getting in Mars is a desolate and cold place that is pretty miserable overall. not worth it.

 

[Red Storm]

Once we discover the Mass Relays we'll be fine.

 

[JulesMaximus]

OK, so one of the potential problems of FTL has been covered - inertial dampeners need to be invented. However the other problem (not the only other problem just the obvious one) depends on what kind of FTL we invent. If it's FTL in realspace, there will have to be some kind of shielding otherwise anything you hit, even tiny objects, will cut thru your ship. I imagine even hitting a pocket of barely perceptible low pressure gas at FTL could destroy your ship.

One way to avoid that, and having to invent shields, would be to invent FTL that takes you into an hyperspace, ie an alternate dimension. But then, that has its own problems, as in, there will of course be demons and stuff in that other dimension that you have to be protected from.

Maybe my idea of a zombie deflector dish isn't such a bad idea?

 

[irishScott]

And you're in such auspicious company as those who said colonizing America was a doomed venture and wouldn't amount to anything. Good for you!

The rest of us are going to at least hope for if not actively contribute to developing the technologies we need to do it. May take a century or two, but it'll happen, and your great-great grandchildren will laugh at your short-sighted whining.

 

[glenn1]

Lol, I just figured why stop at FTL drives. :biggrin:

Yeah, we need to skip past those straight to Ludicrous Speed Drives.

 

[micrometers]

And you're in such auspicious company as those who said colonizing America was a doomed venture and wouldn't amount to anything. Good for you!

The rest of us are going to at least hope for if not actively contribute to developing the technologies we need to do it. May take a century or two, but it'll happen, and your great-great grandchildren will laugh at your short-sighted whining.

it's not the same obviously. The Americas were a temperate land.

Colonizing Mars would be akin to colonizing antarctica. WOuld be fairly miserable.

 

[irishScott]

Technologically it is possible. Politically impossible. Even if it were possible, what you're getting in reward is just not worth it. If there were another Earth-like planet within the solar system, hell yes. But what you're getting in Mars is a desolate and cold place that is pretty miserable overall. not worth it.

So the vast material resources of the solar system aren't worth it? That's how it'll start. We'll develop cost-efficient interplanetary travel to mine the other planets/moons/asteroids. Then we'll develop the tech to go to other solar systems, where there will be habitable planets.

 

[JTsyo]

Just think if we created a FTL drive from the research being done at CERN. That would be effing awesome. It would only take 15 mins to get to Mars.

I don't think you're taking into account the security check at the space port.

 

[Patranus]

The problem is we are wasting a TON of money on irrelevant space programs and not spending any on the advancement of practical space programs.

Instead of planning manned space flight that pushes current technology and spurs massive amounts of innovation we are spending 8 billion dollars to replace the Hubble Space Telescope.

Finding planets 100 light years away that may support life or be "earth like" is a 100% irrelevant endeavor.

 

[dawp]

If we can overcome the current energy challenges and get to the next level in energy utilization, and create propulsion systems that can harness the new energy sources, then I think exploitation of our solar system will eventually be possible. A drive capable of 1g constant acceleration would do nicely. At this point I'm inclined to think the stars will be out of reach forever, but I'm also cognizant of how long forever is. Even if we do get out there I think it's unlikely we'll ever discover another intelligent species, but just another habitable planet or two would be reason enough to go.

if we can get to a large percentage of the speed of light, say 75% or greater, we will leave the solar system. it's in our nature to explore. After all the closest star system to us is only 4 light years away.

 

[micrometers]

So the vast material resources of the solar system aren't worth it? That's how it'll start. We'll develop cost-efficient interplanetary travel to mine the other planets/moons/asteroids. Then we'll develop the tech to go to other solar systems, where there will be habitable planets.

The only one that I"ve heard of is helium 3 on the moon for nuclear fusion.

Otherwise, the earth has plenty of minerals. The one thing we might run out of is oil, and that is definitely no in the solar system.

 

[JTsyo]

How about we splice some human DNA into some bacteria and seed Mars with it. Give it a few million years and wait for intelligent life. They'll be sort or our descendents.

 

[dank69]

if we can get to a large percentage of the speed of light, say 75% or greater, we will leave the solar system. it's in our nature to explore. After all the closest star system to us is only 4 light years away.

 

[Markbnj]

if we can get to a large percentage of the speed of light, say 75% or greater, we will leave the solar system. it's in our nature to explore. After all the closest star system to us is only 4 light years away.

Agreed, but that is a hugely formidable challenge. Just basic things like how you dissipate all the heat created in generating those speeds is completely science fiction at this point.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

How about we splice some human DNA into some bacteria and seed Mars with it. Give it a few million years and wait for intelligent life. They'll be sort or our descendents.

Actually, this topic reminds me of one thing and your comment makes me think of another:
1. You know how in some sci fi series, like Babylon 5, Earth residents are known to colonies as "Earthers", in others "Terrans", etc. If there was space colonization in reality, what would Earth come to be called, and its residents? Terra Prime?

2. What if we colonized a planet with no life, including no bacteria? Would humans have to be sterilized to the maximum extent possible to go there? Or do the reverse and load the travelers up with the "good" bacteria in the gut, but sterilize them outside the gut? Or would being in such an environment free of bacteria result in poor digestion due to no automatic replenishment of gut bacteria?

Does this affect current astronauts in space, or is their food supplemented with probiotics?

 

[Locut0s]

Yeah, we need to skip past those straight to Ludicrous Speed Drives.

They've gone to plaid!

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

if we can get to a large percentage of the speed of light, say 75% or greater, we will leave the solar system. it's in our nature to explore. After all the closest star system to us is only 4 light years away.

Easier said than done mate.

 

[micrometers]

How about we splice some human DNA into some bacteria and seed Mars with it. Give it a few million years and wait for intelligent life. They'll be sort or our descendents.

actually, not human DNA, but if we could somehow create a bacteria and send it to say Venus that chomped down on the toxic gases and made the atmosphere habitable, I would certainly be on board with that.

 

[Locut0s]

The problem is we are wasting a TON of money on irrelevant space programs and not spending any on the advancement of practical space programs.

Instead of planning manned space flight that pushes current technology and spurs massive amounts of innovation we are spending 8 billion dollars to replace the Hubble Space Telescope.

Finding planets 100 light years away that may support life or be "earth like" is a 100% irrelevant endeavor.

I see it the other way round. There's little of scientific value to be gained in the short or even long run with manned missions. On the other hand the bang for the buck for unmanned space probes is HUGE. Hubble and other space probes have expanded our understanding of the universe immensely!

 

[Yongsta]

Not anytime soon but it's going to eventually happen if humanity is still around thousands and thousands of years (maybe hundreds of thousands of years) from now.

 

[Puppies04]

And you're in such auspicious company as those who said colonizing America was a doomed venture and wouldn't amount to anything. Good for you!

I don't understand? There are several million people on this planet right now that still think colonizing America wasn't a particularly good idea...

JOKE!!!

 

[HardcoreRobot]

forever is a long time. basically the only way space colonization wont happen is if our species is wiped out beforehand. and that will be VERY hard to accomplish. (it sounds easier than it actually is)

 

[PliotronX]

At the way this planet is run, I'd agree with the OP.

 

[Paul98]

we will colonize space, it 100 years I am sure we will have already started. If we come up with advanced propulsion system in the next 30 it will be even quicker. I actually would be surprised if we didn't have a base on another planet or moon in the next 50 years.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

Another question, for colonizing our own solar system, is how would we get materials in bulk to Earth? Obviously mining of materials is something we'd want to do, but how would we get it safely down through the atmosphere? Getting it off the moon or such body with a lower escape velocity would be the easy part, I imagine.

And I know how we can do it currently but current re-entry technology would be expensive wouldn't it?