NationStates Jolt Archive

Do you think that human technology will ever reach a point that enables us to traverse great distances in space and colonize other planets? Or will we simply die with this planet?

No

depends how you define "human" and "ever"...

this society? not for quite sometime yet, i think.

Eventually yes

but I dont think it will be any time soon

We'll probably have to at some point. Having to do something is a pretty good motivator.

Yes, not for a while still but definitely by 2100. I'd say that humanity will have a permanent presence on another planet or at least on the moon/in orbit within this century. Space technology is progressing rapidly and our knowledge of its effects is growing; also, space provides unique advantages for efficient production incertain types of advanced manufacturing and it's also a controlled environment for research.

I think we'll be considering space and the planets beyond for economic and social reasons fairly soon. Whether for manufacturing, raw materials, scientific research or simply the drive to explore space is going to feature prominently in the 21st century and beyond.

Yes, we will. And, in all probability, we'll have to.

I suspect we'll have permanent inhabited structures on the moon and Mars pretty quickly - within the century - but interstaller travel still poses significant challenges.

For the other planets sake hopefully not. I doubt it'll happen but it's not impossible....

I fervently hope so! I'm just a little sad that I'll either be dead or drooling by the time the first permanent structure is established. :(

People thought that a network capable of performing instantaneous worldwide communication of complex data was impossible back in the 19th century and still doubted it up to the 1940's when the first vacuum-tube computers were developed; just because we can't do it now doesn't mean it won't be achieved in the distant future. Interstellar travel still has huge barriers to its feasibility, but we can only speculate as to the potential of technology centuries from now.

Let's take over Neptune, I hear the gas over there is great.

Let's take over Neptune, I hear the gas over there is great.
Or what about Pluto? I love snowboarding.

Already have the technology to creat a colony on mars? In a hundred years terreforming projects will probably be seriously considered (ie the use of microorganisms to begin developing a oxygen atmosphere) think long term guys.

For galactic travel, current physics indicates that the only pratical way would be generation ships. Most trips on them would probably be suicide, they certainly arn;t likely to be used in the forseeable future

Depends on how long we manage to survive on this one without poisoning ourselves or blowing ourselves to pieces.
Long enough to develop the necessary technology?

It depends upon how fast the opportunity cost for getting into space drops. Right now, the only way we can put a man into space is to strap him to a giant rocket and hurl him there, a process which is labor and resource-intensive, difficult if not impossible to make into a mass-scale production, and can only move a comparatively tiny amount of goods relative to fuel costs. As such, it's spectacularly inefficient from an economic standpoint to put people into space. The reason why we still do it is largely because we aren't expecting any real material gain out of it, but we like to pretend we're studying zero-g while we put up spy sats. That goal, however, isn't going to cut it for genuine space exploration. For that to become a reality, it needs to be both 1) cheap for people to get into space, 2) not prohibitively detrimental to the body to stay in space for a while as it currently is, and 3) a reason for them to leave. Right now, aside from some abstract notion of overpopulation, we don't even have #3, much less 1 and 2.

I'm the first to vote for "No, Never We're doomed"? COOL!

We'll never make it.

Who can tell? Only time will tell................................................................ I think its only possible if mankind is REALLY REALLY REALLY willing to spend more money to actually make this technology possible. I personally think this technology will be possible in maybe another 1000 years or maybe more...

I recommend The Case for Mars by Robert Zubrin.

Who can tell? Only time will tell................................................................ I think its only possible if mankind is REALLY REALLY REALLY willing to spend more money to actually make this technology possible. I personally think this technology will be possible in maybe another 1000 years or maybe more...
It took less than a century for us to get flying to the time it took us to get to space. Unless something really bad happens, I'd guess technology would move a bit faster than that.

nope....too many wars...people won't get along, and don't want to. This species has a finite lifetime...we'll be extinct soon enough.

Why not? As others said, I think it's a high possibility that there'd be some colonies within our solar system within this century. However colonies in other star systems? I think not for a very long time. But I also hope that happens before UN becomes a world government (if it ever happens). I want a planet(s) just for Norway...

nope....too many wars...people won't get along, and don't want to. This species has a finite lifetime...we'll be extinct soon enough.
Remember that war is the mother of invention.

Naaah.... maybe the Moon but that's as far as we'll get in the foreseeable future - i.e. within the next 150 years.

Don't forget, people have been predicting hover cars and personal jetpacks for decades now, but still no sign of THEM, let alone colonising other plaents.

Depends on how long we manage to survive on this one without poisoning ourselves or blowing ourselves to pieces.
Long enough to develop the necessary technology?

We survived the Cold War and managed to advance technologically at an ever-increasing rate...I think we could survive the challenges of the 21st century. Human society has been getting less volatile and more peaceful with each passing century so I think we're pretty well guaranteed to last long enough to develop such technology.

If there would be enough return on such a project, yes, I think we will go into space and colonize.

Eventually yes

but I dont think it will be any time soon

I agree, another question that should come up is who will it be?:confused:

I agree, another question that should come up is who will it be?:confused:
And what planet would it be?

I agree, another question that should come up is who will it be?:confused:

Well, I imagine that the Scano/Slavic Union will be the first to establish a permantally manned base on Mars. After that, and their controversial move of claiming the entire planet, war will break out, and end with the Austroasian Alliance as the dominant power. However, due to the money and resources expended in the war, it will be thirty years before a base is built on Io. They Austroasians will also be the first to leave the Solar System.

Well, I imagine that the Scano/Slavic Union will be the first to establish a permantally manned base on Mars. After that, and their controversial move of claiming the entire planet, war will break out, and end with the Austroasian Alliance as the dominant power. However, due to the money and resources expended in the war, it will be thirty years before a base is built on Io. They Austroasians will also be the first to leave the Solar System.

This post doesnt belong in NSG. Go to RPG forums....

Well, I imagine that the Scano/Slavic Union will be the first to establish a permantally manned base on Mars. After that, and their controversial move of claiming the entire planet, war will break out, and end with the Austroasian Alliance as the dominant power. However, due to the money and resources expended in the war, it will be thirty years before a base is built on Io. They Austroasians will also be the first to leave the Solar System.

Why Io? It's covered with volcanoes man. Then again, they're all pretty unsuitable. So yeah, I go with No. Again.

And what planet would it be?

Isnt it very obvious? Either Mars or Moon. And I think It'll be by some international effort, due to really high costs. After technology improves and costs go down maybe countries would start individual programs...

IAnd I think It'll be by some international effort, due to really high costs.

I don't think so. The high costs will mean the participants will want to maximise their return on the project. Some powerful state will turn rogue and go it alone.

Why Io? It's covered with volcanoes man. Then again, they're all pretty unsuitable. So yeah, I go with No. Again.


The volcanoes are why we'd want to be there. Massive, easy to get at mineral resources.

I have no doubt that, if we don't exterminate ourselves, we'll conquer this system and nearby systems using slowboats. Beyond that is more iffy.

The volcanoes are why we'd want to be there. Massive, easy to get at mineral resources.


Well yeah but I wouldn't want to live next to one.

perhaps one day with an intergalactic gate

perhaps one day with an intergalactic gate
Like in Freelancer?

Remember that war is the mother of invention.
Only if there are inventors left alive after the bombs stop dropping....