Which is more viable for space colonization? (poll)

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

The real problem with discussions like this, is that we can have no idea what major, game-changing discoveries we'll make in the years ahead.

For example, if some form of quantum communications were to be developed (note - it almost certainly won't be, this is just an example), which meant we had faster than light comms, then it changes things drastically. As it stands, communication between interstellar colonies would be, to all intents and purposes, completely impossible. It would take decades to send and receive messages. Each colony would be on their own. But if they could communicate on workable timescales, and share info and ideas, then things become very different.

Even more important, is the possibility that we might find a way to travel faster than light. Now, it won't ever be possible to travel faster than light, but there are possible workarounds. Pretty unlikely to come off, I admit, but there is still much about the fundamentals of the universe that we are yet to work out. If something along these lines is possible, then all bets are off, and we can colonise the galaxy in no time (literally!).

Problem is, if such things are at all possible, then why hasn't our galaxy already been colonised by a civilisation using them? It doesn't look promising.

It's funny that you mention the latter bit. There's a thread on 4chan called 'Humanity F*** Yeah!' (basically, it subverts the idea in general science fiction that humans are generally inferior to other alien species), and one idea is that the Milky Way is basically surrounded by a roiling barrier of chaos that other space faring species can't get through, so they just avoid us.
Probably highly unlikely, but it does sound quite cool though.

 

[Oafman]

It's funny that you mention the latter bit. There's a thread on 4chan called 'Humanity F*** Yeah!' (basically, it subverts the idea in general science fiction that humans are generally inferior to other alien species), and one idea is that the Milky Way is basically surrounded by a roiling barrier of chaos that other space faring species can't get through, so they just avoid us.
Probably highly unlikely, but it does sound quite cool though.

It's not inconceivable that we're the first civilisation in the Milky Way to make it this far. But it seems unlikely, given how big the Milky Way is.

Much more likely is that civilisations tend to destroy themselves.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

It's not inconceivable that we're the first civilisation in the Milky Way to make it this far. But it seems unlikely, given how big the Milky Way is.

Much more likely is that civilisations tend to destroy themselves.

I don't think that anyone can say anything about other space faring civilisations just because... well, nothing can be said with any certainty.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Ever since the earliest days of science fiction, people have dreamed of going in to space. After the Space Race and the resultant moon landings, the idea that man would eventually leave Earth and settle on to distant moons and planets in colonies of giant Plexiglas domes, underground cities or terra-formed planets.

Now, unfortunately, these sorts of dreams were put on to the far back-burner after the Cold War when no-one basically cared about going in to space anymore, even though this idea still permeates modern science-fiction (Battlestar Galactica, Halo, Star Trek, to name a few), and is very much the talk of scientists and engineers who dream of man going back in to space.

So I'd like to ask: which do you think, of the options given above, is more viable for space colonization?
Personally, I think the best idea would be some form of colony ship that could, upon arrival at a suitable planet, become the start of a planetary colony.

Please note: this whole thread is based on hypothetical ideas/wishful thinking. Please do not take it as attempts to bash science, preach your religious beliefs or just be a generally annoying person. I want this thread to be something fun.

I think once AI becomes developed more fully, there should be a construction site on the moon, where nuclear powered ships can launch AI bots with human embryos in incubators. Multiple ships can depart in different directions, eventually using the gravitational pull of planets to reach the outer limits of space, where the robots can eventually detect earth-like planets to begin hatching the life.

...the AI robots are important here, because they need no oxygen, and can live for hundreds or a thousand years, with all the information stored to restart life and to teach history.

During the voyage, satellites would be sparatically placed, so that after time, and after the hatchlings grow and begin to develop, communication can begin between intergalactic colonies.

...the human race would have picked up where it left off from earth, and knowledge would then continue to grow via our new extraterrestrial cousins.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Indeed. Especially considering that it'll take several generations to reach any planet capable of having an Earth-like atmosphere.

With a ship full of Artificially intelligent robots, there would need to be no food, water, waste... Just human embryos, eggs and such to be born once the time is right.

AI can also build infastructure, and can plant food. It can teach language, and care for young, etc.

 

[Oafman]

I think once AI becomes developed more fully, there should be a construction site on the moon, where nuclear powered ships can launch AI bots with human embryos in incubators. Multiple ships can depart in different directions, eventually using the gravitational pull of planets to reach the outer limits of space, where the robots can eventually detect earth-like planets to begin hatching the life.

...the AI robots are important here, because they need no oxygen, and can live for hundreds or a thousand years, with all the information stored to restart life and to teach history.

During the voyage, satellites would be sparatically placed, so that after time, and after the hatchlings grow and begin to develop, communication can begin between intergalactic colonies.

...the human race would have picked up where it left off from earth, and knowledge would then continue to grow via our new extraterrestrial cousins.

Which all raises the question, why bother to send embryos at all?

Why not just send out a bunch of robots to continue our legacy?!

 

[Landon Caeli]

Which all raises the question, why bother to send embryos at all?

Why not just send out a bunch of robots to continue our legacy?!

Because as the creators of robots, we living creatures have the adaptable advantage. We evolve. We learn. We care... Robots are our tools.

...And we want our species to live forever (its in our nature).

 

[Oafman]

Because as the creators of robots, we living creatures have the adaptable advantage. We evolve. We learn. We care... Robots are our tools.

Robots can 'evolve', in the sense that they can adapt and discover/develop new ways of faint things. And of course they offer many advantages over living things.

They would still be our legacy, albeit not a biological one.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Robots can 'evolve', in the sense that they can adapt and discover/develop new ways of faint things. And of course they offer many advantages over living things.

They would still be our legacy, albeit not a biological one.

What if the possibility of gaining new knowledge were possible though? Robots can only analyze what they are programmed to know. People can go farther.

 

[Landon Caeli]

AI exploration would be a optimal starting point though.

 

[Oafman]

What if the possibility of gaining new knowledge were possible though? Robots can only analyze what they are programmed to know. People can go farther.

AI is already learning to learn. It will soon be better at it than us.

 

[Landon Caeli]

AI is already learning to learn. It will soon be better at it than us.

Still, our species is a gem. Life is a gem... We've been given the greatest gift imaginable to be able to witness 'what is' and 'what is not'.

It must be preserved should this rock we call home fail us.

 

[doubtingmerle]

I don't think I've ever met anyone who has as much negativity as you do.

That is an attack on the person. Please refrain from attacks on the person. We are here to discuss ideas, not attack people.

 

[doubtingmerle]

I reckon it's more likely we'll load up a ship with a bunch of embryos. Then it can delay fertilising them until it reaches a suitable system, or even until after 1000 years of terraforming. Then create the humans, raise them, and start populating the planet!

Complete with robotic parents to raise the children? It is difficult to see how 50 infants suddenly coming to life on a strange planet could create a civilization.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

That is an attack on the person. Please refrain from attacks on the person. We are here to discuss ideas, not attack people.

I wasn't saying that as attack. I was just stating my opinion. I also didn't say it was a bad thing.

 

[Oafman]

Complete with robotic parents to raise the children? It is difficult to see how 50 infants suddenly coming to life on a strange planet could create a civilization.

Yes, robotic parents.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

Yes, robotic parents.

Less chance of abuse.

 

[doubtingmerle]

I wasn't saying that as attack. I was just stating my opinion. I also didn't say it was a bad thing.

You were stating an opinion about the character of another person. Please do not do that. We are not here to address the character of people. We are here to discuss ideas. If you don't understand that, please read the forum rules.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

You were stating an opinion about the character of another person. Please do not do that. We are not here to address the character of people. We are here to discuss ideas. If you don't understand that, please read the forum rules.

Do you want me to go back and 'delete' the post? (Obviously, I can't delete posts but only edit them but still)

 

[doubtingmerle]

Because you're essentially dictating what a person can do with their body, a dictatorship.

OK, but if I tell you that you cannot do #2 in the river, that is also dictating what you can do with your body. It seems to me that if doing something with our bodies harms others, then we have the right to make laws prohibiting that. So if overpopulation became a problem, democracies should be able to discuss laws to solve the problem.

Although if wars over resources happen, then we'd have a better form of population control right there.

Better? Wars over resources are a better form of population control? They are?

I can think of methods of population control that, in my mind, are better than having wars over resources.

I honestly see this whole thing as character attack. You're trying to make me out as a person who is a loon (as most doomsday preppers are) and also an elitist.

Wait. A person who builds a fully stocked shelter on earth just in case he needs it is a loon, but one who does it on Mars is not? That's odd. I would have thought the shelter on earth was more rational.