How many rockets would it take....

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the hypothetical scenario of launching a massive number of rockets from Earth in response to an impending global catastrophe. Participants explore the logistics, implications, and narrative possibilities of such a scenario, including the feasibility of supporting a vastly overpopulated Earth and the conditions necessary for survival in space.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the limiting factors for launching rockets include the number of rockets that can be built and the availability of rocket fuel within a given timeframe.
  • One participant suggests a narrative timeline of 6-10 years leading up to the launch, involving global chaos and resource allocation towards building rockets amidst a war.
  • Concerns are raised about the feasibility of supporting 150 billion people on Earth, with one participant noting that current consumption rates cannot sustain even 7 billion.
  • Questions are posed regarding the destination of the rockets, including whether Mars has been terraformed or if there are other habitats available for human survival.
  • Another participant emphasizes the need for a sustainable ecosystem and infrastructure in space, suggesting the inclusion of a space habitat city-state in the narrative.
  • Some participants mention advanced technologies, such as 'Laser Launchers' and the potential funding of companies like Reaction Engines Ltd., as part of the discussion on rocket launch capabilities.
  • Humor is introduced with a comment about the aftermath of societal collapse, referencing a scenario involving cannibals and survival in a post-apocalyptic setting.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of supporting a population of 150 billion and the implications of launching rockets in such a scenario. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the practicalities of the proposed narrative elements and the conditions necessary for survival in space.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include unresolved assumptions about resource availability, the sustainability of life in space, and the technological advancements required for such a mass exodus. The discussion also reflects a speculative timeline that may not align with current projections of population growth and resource management.

wetlander
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The world is ending bla bla bla. :) The core question is, how many rockets can launch at the same time around the entire earth. Doesn’t matter if the atmosphere is destroyed after, anyone left behind is already dead. What matters is getting as many people off the planet at the same time. I can give more details if you wish but not really ready to release details of my story quiet yet.
 
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wetlander said:
The world is ending bla bla bla. :) The core question is, how many rockets can launch at the same time around the entire earth. Doesn’t matter if the atmosphere is destroyed after, anyone left behind is already dead. What matters is getting as many people off the planet at the same time. I can give more details if you wish but not really ready to release details of my story quiet yet.
Welcome to the PF. :smile:

It would seem that the limiting factor is how many rockets can you build and how much rocket fuel can you make in your time window. That will determine how many you can launch...
 
TY TY. So happy i found this place. Was trying to find an answer to this question and just kinda stumbled in here. Plan on reading a bunch through here when I'm not sitting at work. :D

Ok, so my timeframes here are flexible as this is just a small section of the overall storyline. more history than anything. i think the current time frame is set to 6-10 years from 'news' to 'impact' (no not an asteroid). After some time of chaos, with lots of chaos still ensuing around the planet, governments get control and people start working together. The goverments are busy fighting a war in which lots of resources are being devoted.

Every possible resource not devoted to the war is devoted to buliding ships. Their plan is to all launch at once as the incoming doom cannot be avoided. I imagain things like, NYC deconstructing skyscrapers for the steel.

This is also some time in the future, i did a rough population projection based on my timeline and there would be something like 150 billion people on the planet at the time. Space is just starting to become colonized by humans in any sort of real numbers, less than a million, several million soldiers fighting a war (no not aliens either).
 
I am more than reasonably confident that the planet cannot support 150 billion people. (It can't support 7 billion at present consumption rates for natural resources.)

Moreover, many projections see growth levelling out by the end of this century at around 11 billion.

I presume you have somewhere for all these rockets to go? Has Mars been terraformed? Are their O'Neill habitats in orbit? Something else?
 
I'm still floating numbers in my head. again that part is just backstory. (this is 200-300 years from now)

and no, the only habitat that was being constructed is destroyed. You can maybe sift through the pieces.

Mars is in the hands of the enemy.

on here i'll just call this; "Oh **** we went and destroyed earth... now what." :D lol
 
wetlander said:
and no, the only habitat that was being constructed is destroyed. You can maybe sift through the pieces.

Mars is in the hands of the enemy.

In this case everyone is dead. It's not enough to simply be in space, anymore than it's enough to escape conflict by driving into the middle of the desert. You need to bring along a sustainable ecosystem, infrastructure, an economy capable of producing all the parts needed to maintain your habitat etc.

I'd suggest working in some sort of space habitat city state into the story, whether it be in orbit of Earth or elsewhere in the system. Mass exodus off Earth as it slides into total war and how the habitat deals with hordes of refugees (particularly given the strain that would put on a mostly closed ecosystem) would be an interesting story.
 
Check implications and extrapolations of your tech. 'Laser Launchers' may have a chance. Do 'Reaction Engines Ltd' get their funding ? Worst case, 'Orion Shall Rise'...
 
Ryan_m_b said:
In this case everyone is dead. ..
The marauding cannibals will have plenty of food for a few years. You just need mohawks and S&M leather outfits.
 

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