Post by: Erik L on June 15, 2009, 03:39:38 PM
So I put forth to the Aurora community this survey question: Will extra-solar colonization be feasible within the next 100 years?
Please answer and post a response with expanded information if you choose. This poll will only be open for 7 days.
Post by: Beersatron on June 15, 2009, 10:49:20 PM
Also, I think it could be feasible, but wether or not you could get somebody to foot the bill is another thing
Post by: Erik L on June 15, 2009, 11:07:43 PM
Of course, I've got no idea where I will find a political cartoon on this subject... (some teachers)
Post by: welchbloke on June 16, 2009, 05:07:02 AM
.I think that what would be needed to launch as expedition is a combination of political will, technological know how and, perhaps most importantly, a sutable target planet. I can see the last 2 being acheived within 100 yrs, given the state of the current crop of nest feathering, self-serving, money grabbing politicians at present I don't hold out that much hope for the first criteria.
Post by: James Patten on June 16, 2009, 06:09:23 AM
.
Post by: Charlie Beeler on June 16, 2009, 07:50:49 AM
Within the scientific community and fandom the will exists to develope the techonology for extra solar travel. The problem that must be overcome is the will within the government and business communities to fund the research. Without the the effort is effectively dead in the water.
I remember as a kid watching the moon landings. The plan back then was to follow Apollo with some sort of manned installation on the moon, multiple orbital stations and a manned mission to Mars by the mid 80's. Here it is now almost 2010 and theres talk of a new manned mission to the moon, a single primative orbital station (by comparison to the grand plans of the 60's & early 70's), and a couple remote rovers on Mars.
If it hadn't been for the Cold War arms race the moon landings would not have happened when they did.
It's going to take something new to push the will again.
Post by: sloanjh on June 16, 2009, 08:34:40 AM
The energy cost is just too big to get a ship up to a reasonable fraction of lightspeed, and everything we know about physics indicates that a practical superluminal drive is impossible.
John
Post by: Hawkeye on June 16, 2009, 09:29:44 AM
Technological, it might be possible, but, as others allready said, the political will just isn´t there.
It would take a real revolution of society to make a project happen that will cost billions (and I am talking about european billions* without a large majority of people screaming bloody murder and pointing to all their pet peeves that should get at least a part of that money.
Only way I can see this happening is a major event (think the movie contact, for example), that would unite the people of earth behind a "vision" or "dream"
*this means trillions in US-english (is this in british english too?)
Edit:
As welchbloke said, we are not exactely a represantative sample. On the other hand, if you asked a representive sample, I´d guess 90% of the people wouldn´t know what the hell you are talking about.
Post by: Erik L on June 16, 2009, 09:53:11 AM
Post by: mikew on June 16, 2009, 09:08:19 PM
I believe that one or more extra-TERRESTRIAL colonies will be feasible (first that comes to mind as possibly being an almost self-sufficient colony would be Mars), though I'm not all that confident that any will actually BE founded within 100 years. If NOT done within 100 years, I have little confidence that any off-planet colonies of any type would be founded at all after that. The longer we wait the less likely we are to ever do it. In fact, I'd put the number at 50 years or lower for at least a manned, long-duration stay. Not a colony at first- these folks would go out to do a job for a few years and then come home, but rotating crews would provide a permanent presence as in the ISS today. The urge to explore does not seem to be something that is pent up in a population and builds over time- rather I believe it is more akin to a perishable skill- curiosity may be there, but the urge to physically challenge the cosmos seems to fade the farther we leave Apollo in the past.
Mike
Post by: Sotak246 on June 16, 2009, 11:49:03 PM
Post by: Kurt on June 17, 2009, 04:30:19 PM
Kurt
Post by: welchbloke on June 17, 2009, 05:03:15 PM
The survey has completely changed direction and the No vote is in the ascendancy.
Post by: Tregonsee on June 18, 2009, 05:41:43 PM