How will humans reach the planets?

[Nyarlathotep]

What ?? Star trek ain't real ?? *now understands why his e-mails to Pickard never got answered*...

Seriously, I think nations should consider spending more money to space agencies/researches. I think it's important to develop ourselfs in that direction. I have no clue how things will be in a couple of years, but I hope they've advanced much further then they are now.

I do believe we will colonialize other planets. I do however have no clue as to when, how or what.

[Anathema]

Edric, we could colonise neighbouring systems. But transporting vessels with people (probably in stasis) to neighbouring system would take dozens of millenia! We could spread out, like seed, but mass migration will never be possible. Why would you want to put the human stamp on the entire galaxy?

[Caid Ivik]

In universe is much of dark matter, useless junk from star creation, also there are much asteroids, cosmical dust... If we can't go to a new planet, we should make one from that.

[Edric O]

Why would you want to put the human stamp on the entire galaxy?

Because a galaxy filled with human beings is INFINITELY better than a galaxy devoid of life. Humans will carry forth the miracle of Life to the stars.

In all likelyhood, aliens do not exist. We are alone, and thus a heavy burden falls on our shoulders. We MUST sow the seeds of life across the galaxy. Life is far too precious to be restricted to a single planet!

[Nyarlathotep]

I have serious doubts that we're alone in the galaxy...

[The_Sadukar]

I have serious doubts that we're alone in the galaxy...

So have I

[Edric O]

We see no evidence of the existence of other lifeforms in our galaxy. All our data points to the fact that we are very much alone. Believing otherwise is just wishful thinking.

[Falconius]

i suppose i'm one of those realy evil people -> i don't think all nations should work together -> we need competition. Our generation doesn't have enough motivation to colonise other planets yet. The scientists working on this isn't all lazy or anything -> they just don't have enough competition or funds. Launching communication satelites might well come to an end in the near future -> they are about to become obsolete (can't say why->it's classified :-X). So the scientists might also be somewhat dishearted because of government strategy ect.

Lets suppose the solar system are divided among the five co-operating regions of earth ;) on a contract bid basis. Say the Far-Eastern Coalition bid most for Venus, the North American Federation gets Mars and the European Union gets Saturn and all it's moons. What would be the economic impact of such a space race? And on a more individual basis -> would you be willing to contribute to see your region succesfully achieve a 'sustainable hold' on its contractual celestial body before the contract expire? What kind of contributuion?

[nemafakei]

Edric, though we have found no-one yet, evidence points to the idea that we are not alone. Our sun is an average-sized star; there are many like it. It is not infeasible that a planet formed oughly like ours exists in a few of these stars' systems. Of these, it is likely that some have life on them.

[Digital Guerrilla]

All of the things that have been mentioned about space exploration could be acheived but only when we as humankind put aside our differences. I know some believe that we are alone in the universe but what if what we are not. My question is how can we have evidence of humans being alone in the universe when we have not been past the moon in any manned space flight? We do not yet know if we are alone or not.

[Edric O]

Nema, we have yet to discover a single rocky planet outside our Solar System, much less one with life on it.

My point was that you can't run from responsibility by saying there are aliens out there who will do our job for us.

Before we find actual proof of extra-terrestrial life, we must assume the worst: that we are alone. And we must act accordingly, by spreading the precious gift of Life to other worlds.

[TMA_1]

"Edric, though we have found no-one yet, evidence points to the idea that we are not alone. Our sun is an average-sized star; there are many like it. It is not infeasible that a planet formed oughly like ours exists in a few of these stars' systems. Of these, it is likely that some have life on them."

For many people, the idea of Alien life fills the void of those who have no religion. Others who I respect more than the ones that feel empty, just like the idea of Alien life and gives them a lot of insight and hope. Frankly, just for the sake of argument, if life does exist it is highly improbable that sentient life would exist. Life doesnt have a key evolution of raising to consciousness, it is rather just one of those accidents that happened to workreally well in evolutionary theory. People have the wrong idea on how evolution works. Though I just dont believe in macro evolution at all.

back to the subject though please. About how to travel to other places in the universe. Keep the alien stuff a secondary subject. thanks :)

[Falconius]

Yeah -> i knew the topic would go haywire as soon as someone mention aliens. Lets rather talk about spesific planets. i find it distastefull that as soon as colonising our backyard solar system is mentioned someone always start worrying over aliens (i don't wanna leave earth cause them aliens gonna bite me! :'()

i like Mars. How about you?

[Digital Guerrilla]

TMA-2 are you making a reference to Brahe Tycho the Danish astronomer in your signature of the acronym of your name?

And come on guys no one said they were worried about aliens we just mentioned them well because if we talk of leaving earth the alien factor would be a part of the discussion. I understand evolution but it is still a possibility, existence of aliens, that man just does not have an answer to at the moment after all humans are here in the universe. But as you said TMA-2 the focus is how we as a race of beings will travel through this solar system.

[TMA_1]

No, though he was an amazing astronomer and helped much with our descovery of how our solar system works. TMA 1, the monolith found on the moon in the book and movie 2001 was descovered on a range of the moon called Tycho (Named after the astronomer you are talking about). It was descovered from massive magnetic signatures and was dug up from deep underground. Hense the name "Tycho Magnetic Anomaly."

[Dude_Doc]

Maybe the aliens live so far away, that both them and us never meet each other. Maybe both of us think that "we are alone", and never meet each other. Personally, I believe in God, I also believe in alien life-forms, intelligent or not. It's like finding a needle in an ocean, it's 99.9% inprobable of ever finding it, and maybe our chanses of alien contact are the same, who knows?

[Acriku]

When humanity reaches the stars, then the population issue is non-existant if we get big enough ships to transport so many people. In fact, a lot of things would become non-existant, for example the homeless, why just colonize your own planet and make your home! Or the hungry, just find a planet with vegetation! So many things can happen when we colonize other planets. But other problems might take place of them, such as interstellar wars (no i'm not gonna say star wars).

[Apollyon]

there are many problems with colonisation of other planets,

for instance, say we were to inhabit a planet with very weak gravity and humans lived there for several generations. In a relatively short period of time these colonists would adapt to life with this gravity force. If they were then to go to Earth they would likely be crushed or have very major physical difficulties due to the much stronger gravity. On the issue of aliens, it is not existence of life outside our planet that is contested it is the existence of intelligent life. Perhaps we are the most advanced life form in the universe? Although this is unlikely (or even impossible due to the assumed infinite nature of the universe, meaning there MUST be a more advanced race)it may well be so.

[VigilVirus]

When humanity reaches the stars, then the population issue is non-existant if we get big enough ships to transport so many people. In fact, a lot of things would become non-existant, for example the homeless, why just colonize your own planet and make your home! Or the hungry, just find a planet with vegetation! So many things can happen when we colonize other planets. But other problems might take place of them, such as interstellar wars (no i'm not gonna say star wars).

You need a spaceship, provisions, etc. to colonize a planet. It cost a whole lot of money. How would the homeless have money to buy a spaceship if they don't even have money to buy a home?

[Acriku]

Become a mercenary :D

[Apollyon]

I think that folding space using gravity manupulation is the best chance we have for long distance travelling, either that or wormholes as FTL is impossible.

[Anathema]

We see no evidence of the existence of other lifeforms in our galaxy. All our data points to the fact that we are very much alone. Believing otherwise is just wishful thinking.

All data? What data suggests there is no life on other planets? The vast majority (and I mean vast- like all except a single grain of sand in the sahara desert) is unpopulated, but the universe is quite large.

[Caid Ivik]

So it isn't sure we have no evidence. I know some astronomers from Stara Lesna observatory, and they showed me a list of "undefinied" objects. There were dozens since 50's, when they started observation. And they said me it's "usual on every station". I'm not saying all of these were alien UFOs, but at least one... what if...

[Apollyon]

oh I think that it is a certainty that there are lifeforms on other planets in out galaxy. however I also believe they will be little more than bacteria and similar micro-organisms.

[Acriku]

Well the universe has been here for a while, so random mutations could have been done by now.