New planet could possibly contain life!
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"What began as a conlict over the transfer of consciousness from flesh to machine..."Comp1337 wrote:as long as it works through stopping aging, it will be a greater technological advance than the transistor.Felix the Cat wrote:Personally I think that we'll have the technology to indefinitely extend the human lifetime within 50 years.
If/When that happens, we will be facing global mass sterilization though. I wonder how that will affect humanity..
Even if we gained the capability to extend life indefinitely, eventually everyone would die of accidents. Plus, if people can live forever, reaching other solar systems should become relatively simple, as knowledge isn't lost due to death at such a rapid pace. But uh, can we focus on Europa and Titan for the moment? If what is believed about Europa is true, black smoker organisms should be able to survive there, and by extension everything else. Titan has more methane than we know what to do with. Geysers and lakes of fuel, just waiting to be claimed. :)
Isn't there a way to harvest the iron oxide from Mars? Ahhh, shit, its gunna be just like the story of Fallen Haven/Liberation day (Fallen Haven 2)
A corrupt super powered monster that controls all space programs and colonizing and we are gunna have aliens detected, and a planet wiped out, they are gunna cover it up by cutting comunications and killing as many survivors retreating to Earth as possible, then an aggrieved survivor is gunna drop an avalanche class super heavy tank on their corporate offices
A corrupt super powered monster that controls all space programs and colonizing and we are gunna have aliens detected, and a planet wiped out, they are gunna cover it up by cutting comunications and killing as many survivors retreating to Earth as possible, then an aggrieved survivor is gunna drop an avalanche class super heavy tank on their corporate offices
It ended as a gaetor spaem.Zpock wrote:"What began as a conlict over the transfer of consciousness from flesh to machine..."Comp1337 wrote:as long as it works through stopping aging, it will be a greater technological advance than the transistor.Felix the Cat wrote:Personally I think that we'll have the technology to indefinitely extend the human lifetime within 50 years.
If/When that happens, we will be facing global mass sterilization though. I wonder how that will affect humanity..
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Felix the Cat
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I'm sure there's a way, it's just not economical due to the low price of iron and the high price of transporting large masses of iron to the Earth.Snipawolf wrote:Isn't there a way to harvest the iron oxide from Mars? Ahhh, shit, its gunna be just like the story of Fallen Haven/Liberation day (Fallen Haven 2)
A corrupt super powered monster that controls all space programs and colonizing and we are gunna have aliens detected, and a planet wiped out, they are gunna cover it up by cutting comunications and killing as many survivors retreating to Earth as possible, then an aggrieved survivor is gunna drop an avalanche class super heavy tank on their corporate offices
We have more than enough iron here on Earth for our needs here on Earth... Mars will probably mine iron for itself.
The iron oxide over the bulk of mars is too spread out to extract and refine economically, even for mars, and nothing is economical enough to mine and ship back to earth, even if you postuluate the existence of a space elevator at one end to reduce launch costs. The one exception I've heard is lunar deuterium - with a space elevator it becomes economical, or so they say.
Of course, since Mars is fairly similar to earth in terms of composition, there are veins and deposites of minable material underground, that any martian collonists would definetely be using.
Of course, since Mars is fairly similar to earth in terms of composition, there are veins and deposites of minable material underground, that any martian collonists would definetely be using.
Space elevators are easy, once you have unobtanium!neddiedrow wrote:Construction of a space elevator is simply not going to happen. There is no way to shield such from material impact while in space, and no way to anchor one end of it cost-effectively.
I agree, there is no proof carbon nanotubes will have the bulk properties necessary for space elevator construction, and nothing else we're ever seen comes anywhere close. Spider web is the runner up, I think, and that's not tough enough either. PLUS there is the as-of-yet unsolved problem of getting power to the "climber".
That said, the plans I have heard involve material impacts going right through the thing, but designing the strip of nanotubes to be more like a wide, curved band (think like a window shade) that can get some holes in it without failing, and would degrade over time, with a total lifetime of about a decade before it would need to be replaced.
As for the ground station, I liked the idea of anchoring it to an oceavessel, so the earth end can be bent out of the way of storm, ect. Computer models have shown this to be fairly workable.
Summary: I agree with you that space elevators are a pipe dream, but for different reasons.
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Felix the Cat
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Justin Case
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It would be cool if Mars was colonised, and then after a while they started to see themselves as Marsians rather than Earthians and break away from earth just like the US did from GB. Just dreaming a bit...
Furthermore, the idea of another planet, or moon (it shouldnt be too far away), that resembles earth with people on it is very exciting.
Imagine chatting on msn with a girl on mars for example
Furthermore, the idea of another planet, or moon (it shouldnt be too far away), that resembles earth with people on it is very exciting.
Imagine chatting on msn with a girl on mars for example
I would find justin case has been watching too many hollywood "omg the USA wins again!! *lead character has sex in a boat and sails into the sunset only to be found in hilarious predicament, side character (token black guy) gets embarassed and humiliated*".
However the space elevator is not something we can predict like that neddie. There are too many unknowns and people have a habit of prooving these things wrong and doing them anyway. Look at virgin galactica, and other commercial space flight companies which were supposed to be unfeasable.
However the space elevator is not something we can predict like that neddie. There are too many unknowns and people have a habit of prooving these things wrong and doing them anyway. Look at virgin galactica, and other commercial space flight companies which were supposed to be unfeasable.
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Felix the Cat
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I have done some research. I would extend the same invitation to you.neddiedrow wrote:No, but you can go do some research.Felix the Cat wrote:Can I please have your crystal ball.neddiedrow wrote:Construction of a space elevator is simply not going to happen. There is no way to shield such from material impact while in space, and no way to anchor one end of it cost-effectively.
Talk about otimism! :)neddiedrow wrote:I don't believe we will ever have the opportunity to extend the human lifespan beyond about one hundred and sixty years, due to external forces. It is unlikely our species will avoid extinction for a long enough period to accomplish that minor feat, however.
Dont worry, we will be visiting alien planets and kidnapping inferior lifeforms to open then and put/remove stuff inside before we can notice!
Only two things would motivate us to _really_ explore space, enough to find your "aliens", at least in the short term:
1) A real and credible threat to our existence if we do not.
2) A way to make money from it.
If (1) happens, I can see a multinational body formed to organize collective efforts to address whatever problem exists. I find this to be unlikely.
If (2) happens, we will not only remain separate nations, it will almost certainly be a private corporation who contacts your hypothetical aliens first, not a country. Seriously, what nation would give up it's sovereigty because it's more convenient for the aliens?
1) A real and credible threat to our existence if we do not.
2) A way to make money from it.
If (1) happens, I can see a multinational body formed to organize collective efforts to address whatever problem exists. I find this to be unlikely.
If (2) happens, we will not only remain separate nations, it will almost certainly be a private corporation who contacts your hypothetical aliens first, not a country. Seriously, what nation would give up it's sovereigty because it's more convenient for the aliens?