Could We Really Colonize Earth 2?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the hypothetical colonization of an Earth-like planet located 50 light years away, considering advanced materials and propulsion systems. Participants explore various aspects of this scenario, including the number of people to send, the design of the spaceship, and the risks involved in such a venture.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest sending a large number of people, such as 10,000, to maintain genetic diversity, while others argue that the journey would be too long for survival.
  • There are differing opinions on who should be sent, with some humorously proposing to send people they do not like, while others express a desire to take those they care about.
  • One participant emphasizes the need for advanced technology on the spaceship, including efficient recycling systems, nuclear power, and radiation shielding.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential hostility of the new planet and the implications of risking offspring in such a mission.
  • Some participants question the feasibility of determining if the planet has water or other necessary elements for life.
  • There is speculation about the possibility of constant acceleration using a Bussard ramjet drive, with some participants challenging the practicality of such a concept.
  • Others highlight the dangers of cosmic radiation at high speeds and the need for effective shielding.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the feasibility and implications of colonizing the planet, with no consensus reached on the number of people to send or the technology required. The discussion remains unresolved, with competing ideas and humorous suggestions coexisting.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge various engineering constraints and the speculative nature of the discussion, indicating that assumptions about technology and conditions on the new planet are not settled.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in speculative discussions about space colonization, advanced propulsion technologies, and the social implications of interstellar travel may find this thread engaging.

wolram
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Imagine we have found a planet that is as far as we can tell Earth like, it is relatively close to us ,say 50 light years away.
Imagine we have materials 50% stronger than any we have now
Imagine we have a propulsion system 50% more powerful/efficient than any we have now

If we sent humans to colonize this planet.

How many would you send.

What would your spaceship consist of.

Would you go on it, knowing there is a possibility the planet may in some way be hostile to human life.

Of course it will be your offspring you would have to risk.
 
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I'd send everyone I don't like and leave Earth for those that I do like.
 
I'd take everyone I do like, and leave Earth for those that I don't like.
 
Cyrus said:
I'd send everyone I don't like and leave Earth for those that I do like.

Earth would be a lonely place =(
 
wolram said:
How many would you send.
Hopefully at least 10,000 to maintain genetic diversity.
wolram said:
What would your spaceship consist of.
It would require 100% efficient recycling, nuclear power (+enough fuel to power it for the hundreds of years it will take to get there), state of the art hydroponics with 0 run-off, and air recycling (perhaps if the hydroponics system was large enough, this could be accomplished by plants, otherwise would need some other form of CO2 -> O2 conversion, with the carbon being returned to the hydroponics system). We'd also need some exercise equipment to keep our muscles from atrophying. Oh yeah, and we would need better radiation shields as well, or an empty ship will be all that would get there.
Edit: And radios, to maintain contact with Earth for as long as possible.
wolram said:
Would you go on it, knowing there is a possibility the planet may in some way be hostile to human life.
In a heartbeat.
wolram said:
Of course it will be your offspring you would have to risk.
I would take him too.
 
Id send bombs. I don't want no pushy Earth clone.
 
You've landed. Enjoy!

800px-AntarcticaDomeCSnow.jpg
 
I guess the planet could be barren, how good are we at determining if a planet has water?
 
wolram said:
I guess the planet could be barren, how good are we at determining if a planet has water?

Or at least the hydrogen and oxygen (and other elements for life) in some extractable form, which could be used to create an indoor ecosystem, and then gradually grow it larger.
 
  • #10
I'd send Abi Titmuss and 10 Footballers to collonise the planet, then put myself in suspended animation for 10,000 years, then pop back to see how things turned out
 
  • #11
wolram said:
Imagine we have found a planet that is as far as we can tell Earth like, it is relatively close to us ,say 50 light years away.
Imagine we have materials 50% stronger than any we have now
Imagine we have a propulsion system 50% more powerful/efficient than any we have now

If we sent humans to colonize this planet.

How many would you send.
With those engineering constraints, I wouldn't send anyone since they'd all be dead eons before the ship got there. It wouldn't' even work as an attempt to propagate the species unless you could have an enormous number of people since inbreeding destroys the gene pool.
 
  • #12
russ_watters said:
With those engineering constraints, I wouldn't send anyone since they'd all be dead eons before the ship got there. It wouldn't' even work as an attempt to propagate the species unless you could have an enormous number of people since inbreeding destroys the gene pool.

While you have a point, do you not think that given the number of ifs in the OP one might forgo these additional constraints for fear of pointing out the bleeding obvious.

In which case my Abi Titmuss suggestion is wholly sensible
 
  • #13
neu said:
I'd send Abi Titmuss and 10 Footballers to collonise the planet, then put myself in suspended animation for 10,000 years, then pop back to see how things turned out

Nuff said.
 
  • #14
russ_watters said:
With those engineering constraints, I wouldn't send anyone since they'd all be dead eons before the ship got there. It wouldn't' even work as an attempt to propagate the species unless you could have an enormous number of people since inbreeding destroys the gene pool.


So russ we agree, even the relatively short 50 light year trip is beyond reason in the near future.
 
  • #15
Something to consider:

Can we speculate a constant acceleration of 1g if we assume a Bussard ramjet drive?

Say we arrive there and immediately send a scout back to Earth to let them know what's up. How much time has passed on Earth?
 
  • #16
DaveC426913 said:
Something to consider:

Can we speculate a constant acceleration of 1g if we assume a Bussard ramjet drive?

Say we arrive there and immediately send a scout back to Earth to let them know what's up. How much time has passed on Earth?

From the Baez rocket site.

One major problem you would have to solve is the need for shielding. As you approach the speed of light you will be heading into an increasingly energetic and intense bombardment of cosmic rays and other particles. After only a few years of 1g acceleration even the cosmic background radiation is Doppler shifted into a lethal heat bath hot enough to melt all known materials.
 
  • #17
DaveC426913 said:
Can we speculate a constant acceleration of 1g if we assume a Bussard ramjet drive?
Certainly not. They need to be accelerated conventionally for quite a while before you can even start them and even then wouldn't provide anywhere near that kind of acceleration unless they were already going extremely fast. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bussard_ramjet

[edit] Well - since this is GD, I guess we can speculate whatever we want, but it is up to the OP whether this was supposed to be a realistic question.
 
Last edited:
  • #18
russ_watters said:
It wouldn't' even work as an attempt to propagate the species unless you could have an enormous number of people since inbreeding destroys the gene pool.
At least in that case we can tell what the landing vehicle will look like:

beverlyhillbillies.jpg
 
  • #19
russ_watters said:
[edit] Well - since this is GD, I guess we can speculate whatever we want, but it is up to the OP whether this was supposed to be a realistic question.


Well as serious as the limit to plausibility.
 

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