Which is more viable for space colonization? (poll)

[[serious]]

You could move such a habitat around the solar system but interstellar travel is out. But if you populate the shell on the inside and rotate to earth gravity it should theoretically be reasonably pleasant and definitely an ark which could protect men and animals from whatever storms are waged on earth. People have said a lot about the bad economics of space exploration. But in practice colonies were often built and survived despite the economics. For example in the case of political and religious refugees.

Move around the solar system for what purpose? If the idea is to bring resources to the station, smaller, probably unmanned ships would be more efficient and quicker.

 

[mindlight]

Move around the solar system for what purpose? If the idea is to bring resources to the station, smaller, probably unmanned ships would be more efficient and quicker.

If the purpose is religious or political then it is not just about efficiency but having a home away from an earth gone wrong where a person can live freely or devoutly worship a God denied on earth. Smaller ships would not be a home. An Ark may only need to work until the colonists enemies have died out or destroyed each other

 

[[serious]]

If the purpose is religious or political then it is not just about efficiency but having a home away from an earth gone wrong where a person can live freely or devoutly worship a God denied on earth. Smaller ships would not be a home. An Ark may only need to work until the colonists enemies have died out or destroyed each other

But... why would it have to go anywhere? Why not just stay in whatever orbit it's best suited for?

 

[mindlight]

But... why would it have to go anywhere? Why not just stay in whatever orbit it's best suited for?

If earth is the problem then it would be safer to move away from it.

 

[[serious]]

If earth is the problem then it would be safer to move away from it.

1. What, exactly would go so wrong with earth that we would need to move planetary distances away?
2. wouldn't it be easier to find a rock to hollow out that was already far away rather than moving a close rock somewhere else?

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I think that might qualify as small scale terra-forming.
And I still need to see that film! And/or read the book as well.

Make sure the planet doesn't have evil aliens on it......

When Ripley's lifepod is found by a salvage crew over 50 years later, she finds that terra-formers are on the very planet they found the alien species. When the company sends a family of colonists out to investigate her story... all contact is lost with the planet and colonists. They enlist Ripley and the colonial marines to return and search for answers.

............................................

.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

Make sure the planet doesn't have evil aliens on it......

When Ripley's lifepod is found by a salvage crew over 50 years later, she finds that terra-formers are on the very planet they found the alien species. When the company sends a family of colonists out to investigate her story... all contact is lost with the planet and colonists. They enlist Ripley and the colonial marines to return and search for answers.

............................................

.

Well, to be fair, I'm of the kind that believes that, whatever extra-terrestrial life we encounter in the universe, it is incredibly more likely that we meet will be either violently hostile as a species or space faring raiders.
Unlikely, aye, but it never hurts to be prepared.

 

[Radrook]

I have some problems with the idea of interstellar colony ships.

The main one is, people always look at our neighbouring stars, and say 'cool, we only have to go 40 light years'. But this assumes that there is a suitable (terra formable?) planet orbiting one of those stars. What's much more likely is that such planets are very rare, and the closest one is much much further away.

And a journey of 40 light years would take us centuries to complete, never mind places further afield. We could, in theory, freeze people or something, so I suppose on that basis it's technically possible, but unless that becomes reality you can forget the idea that people would start their lives on earth and finish them orbiting a different star.

True, they are indeed rare. That's why such a trip would only be made if we were certain of a safe destination.
The technology to make that certainty possible is currently in its embryonic stage but in due time it will make a detailed examination of an exo-planet's life-sustaining capabilities far more accurate.

Even at this stage we can determine if an exoplanet's atmosphere is hostile or not to human life:
Atmospheric analysis reveals an exoplanet that's as alien as can be

 

[Landon Caeli]

True, they are indeed rare. That's why such a trip would only be made if we were certain of a safe destination.
The technology to make that certainty possible is currently in its embryonic stage but in due time it will make a detailed examination of an exo-planet's life-sustaining capabilities far more accurate.

Even at this stage we can determine if an exoplanet's atmosphere is hostile or not to human life:
Atmospheric analysis reveals an exoplanet that's as alien as can be

I'm still keen on the idea of AI robots transporting our 'seed' throughout space, dropping satellites along the way for communications.

...Just like they say life emerged from the oceans to land, I think the natural progress for advanced forms of life is to leave earth and spread. Like a tree drops its seeds for the wind to blow it where it will -it is our natural destiny.

 

[Shemjaza]

True, they are indeed rare. That's why such a trip would only be made if we were certain of a safe destination.
The technology to make that certainty possible is currently in its embryonic stage but in due time it will make a detailed examination of an exo-planet's life-sustaining capabilities far more accurate.

Even at this stage we can determine if an exoplanet's atmosphere is hostile or not to human life:
Atmospheric analysis reveals an exoplanet that's as alien as can be

I don't know. The know-how to make stable permanent space habitats is necessary before you get to the colony ship stage, so there's no such thing as an uncolonisable system.

Terraforming would would take centuries anyway.