Semi-OT: We will go to Stars.

geoschmo · #1 July 22nd, 2004, 03:59 AM

If we accept the assumption that FTL travel and communication is absolutly impossible (I don't, but you obviously don't want to argue about it.

) then I highly doubt that we as a species will ever travel beyond our solar system. The distances are just too great. And what reason would we have to go? There is plenty of things right here in our solar system to explore and plenty or room for colonies. Why spend decades or centuries travelling to another system when you can spend months or years and stay close by.

Even if you could expand the human life span to thousands of years, who wants to spend hundreds of years in the void between the stars? Very boring. And it would be an astronomical risk to go that far out with no hope of rescue if your ship broke down. And it hard to keep a complex mechanical device like a spaceship functioning that long while carrying everything with you you need to make repairs.

Perhaps if we make long distance contact with some alien race we'll want to meet them up close. But the distances would be so great it just wouldn't be practical.

astruskustuvas · #2 July 22nd, 2004, 04:41 AM

who said that FTL travel must be in real space Star Trek, Star Wars or B5 FTL trevel is possible

if i only could find that damn book..........

Suicide Junkie · #3 July 22nd, 2004, 05:05 AM

You sound pretty pessimistic, Geo...

Given all the people in the world, I'm sure there are enough that are willing to spend the rest of their life on the ship, especially if its big enough to be somewhat comfortable.

At the very least, you could fill it with a load of criminals, as an alternative to death row or life in prison...

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As for the mechanicals... if you hollowed out an asteroid, you wouldn't have to worry so much about mechanical problems...
Just keep the power plants running (fusion?), so you have light for your plants and the rest of the ecosystem. Backups, technically trained people, and a small custom parts factory should do it.
You could use Earth power to get boosted on your course, and then the colony needs only to deploy an engine to stop at the end. An ion drive and/or a magnetic sail would be fairly easy to do.
You could even build them just before you arrive, using the latest designs from Earth.

You don't actually need to do anything on the outside of the "ship" until you arrive, except perhaps the occasional telescope observations, and radio/lasered communications with earth.
And the rock will protect you from just about everything.

Paul1980au · #4 July 22nd, 2004, 10:50 AM

Ok i dont think human technology is at the point yet of even considering FTL based spaceships - who knows what the future holds. Human technology is come a long way - and another 20 years will almost surley see a mars mission and possibly permanent moon and mars settlement within 50 years.

geoschmo · #5 July 23rd, 2004, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
You sound pretty pessimistic, Geo...

Given all the people in the world, I'm sure there are enough that are willing to spend the rest of their life on the ship, especially if its big enough to be somewhat comfortable.

I don't see it as pessimism as much as realism. Personally I think I'm optimistic as I still hold out some chance that the underlying assumption is wrong and we will discover a faster method of travel.

Your idea about hollowing out asteroids is interesting, and I'm sure it will be done at some point for inter system ships and habitats. But I don't see how it makes it any more practical for deep space travel. For one thing all that complicated manufacturing technology just means more things to break down.

primitive · #6 July 23rd, 2004, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
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At the very least, you could fill it with a load of criminals, as an alternative to death row or life in prison...

Carefull, you might end up with a whole solar system filled up with Aussies. Scaaaary

Suicide Junkie · #7 July 22nd, 2004, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by geoschmo:
For one thing all that complicated manufacturing technology just means more things to break down.

Well, the point is that the population of the colony can fix things on their own.

If your manufacturing plant breaks down, you break out the wrenches and hammers and dig into your pile of spare parts. Then you make replacements for the spare parts and everything is ok again.