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What would be the most expeditious method to achieve space travel and colonization?

How about sophisticated distant remoted control thru networking systems . what do you think?

  • Dec 21 2012: We must develop the means to move large masses in space. To start with, this could be used to deflect asteroids from earth impact, but as the technology developed, we could use it to terraform Mars and Venus. Venus needs a moon to speed up its rotation; Mercury would do that job. Specially designed extremeophile bacteria could be injected into Venus atmosphere to soak up the sulfurs and poisons, and begin excreting a breathable air. Mars also needs a larger moon, combine Phobos and Diamos, plus bulk them up with asteroids from the nearby asteroid belt, and bulk Mars up, too, so it would have more gravity to hold on to its atmosphere. Water could be brought in from Oort cloud comets. Colonization is a pipe dream until we can actually step out of our spaceship wearing a t-shirt and jeans, take a deep breath of air, and walk over to a fountain for a drink of water. Until we can actually live on these worlds as we live on earth, and not have to be cooped up in a pressurized hut, manufacturing water from the sand by ultra-expensive means, colonization is a fraud.
  • Dec 8 2012: Nanobots that can assemble themselves and help construct the colony. Inspired by Kevin Kelly's book. Seems that labs have already achieved success in prototyping replicative robots (regular-size ones though. Not sure if nanotechnology will be that mature in the near future). Advantage: minimum care (REALLY costly to maintain humans in colonies under construction). Downside: may lose complete control over the colony --- they virtually form an ecosystem of their own. And from our experiences on Earth we know it's just a pain in the neck dealing with ecosystems & environments.
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    Dec 6 2012: I would think constructing a large space craft would be a lot better for us, after all the only thing most planets would give you is materials not an atmosphere.
    • Dec 6 2012: Thank you so much for responding. It's interesting to note that all the gold on planet earth comes from outer space. Isn't that interesting? If our endeavors in this manner take us to mars, I believe we will find vast stores of gold there which would be a phenomenal motivator for many - would it not?
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        Dec 6 2012: That is pretty cool, but I would think that it would not be likely be that we would colonize a planet such as mars. I would think that it would be inefficient for life.
        • Dec 7 2012: In fact, as I type a company SpaceX is working on that very thing - in fact Mars! They project a cost of $500,000 per participant to be a part of the vision. They are working on transports as well as setting a population goal of , I believe , 80,000 in the near future. It is to accomplish their goal and vision of colonization of Mars. Sir Richard of Virgin Mobile fame is in active consideration of this model as well ; yet , not as aggressive as he is offering only space travel at this time at a cost of , I believe, around $1,000,000.
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    Dec 6 2012: depends on what colonization. venus is okay, or you want another star? for venus, the method is: development of lightweight but very strong construction materials and balloons, enhance existing 3d printing technology, possibly invent atomic level 3d printer, increase our knowledge of closed or almost closed small biosystems, develop cheaper methods to launch stuff to LEO. these, and you are good to go.

    if you mean interstellar, we can't really tell what would be the most expeditious, as we have zero idea how to get to other stars at all. there have to be scientific breakthroughs, and nobody can predict that.
    • Dec 6 2012: I thank you so much for responding. On the subject of venus it has been forwarded that blue algae could be introduced into the venetian environment which some believe would thrive in it and in turn would create as a byproduct oxygen - wow! Some believe blue algae fundamentally catalyst to the creation of our own atmosphere.
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        Dec 6 2012: actually i was not talking about terraforming, but rather, colonizing as it is. in floating cities, high up in the air, where the temperature is normal, the air pressure is normal, the weather is nice, the sun is always shining.
  • Dec 6 2012: You don't mention why you think this is an important question, so it is difficult to provide an appropriate comment.

    As I type, there are private corporations engaged in various space travel ventures. If any of these prove to be profitable, I believe the colonization of the moon will follow because it is a much better base for launching missions throughout the solar system.

    Distant remote control of space probes has been used for many years and it will certainly continue. The trend is to make space robots smarter and more autonomous, due to the time lag involved with communications.
    • Dec 6 2012: I am extremely excited about this possibility. So much so that I am contemplating putting to action my own vision in this area. I believe it is absolutely a future reality. To realize this vision it's going to take the greatest visionaries and minds in this area to meet around the round table and brainstorm with passion.