Space Colonization Options (Orbiting Stations, planets/moons)

[XCV330]

Interesting...

Buuuut... Putting on my tinfoil hat for a moment what if signals like WOW were just carrier waves from travelling ships sending out a "we're ok don't worry" signal back home to let people know they were ok.

I refuse to believe that in the billions and billions of light years of our galaxy that Earth is the single only planet with intelligent life. That's just way too arrogant to think that.

Intelligent life like dolphins, neanderthals and mantis shrimp might be not compeltely uncommon. But spacefaring life? It must be incredibly rare. We should have seen some definitive signs of stellar engineering by now. Unless that's what cosmic expansion is, and if so, that's less than reassuring. Tabby's's star was looking like what we were hoping for but doesn't seem likely now.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Interesting...

Buuuut... Putting on my tinfoil hat for a moment what if signals like WOW were just carrier waves from travelling ships sending out a "we're ok don't worry" signal back home to let people know they were ok.

I refuse to believe that in the billions and billions of light years of our galaxy that Earth is the single only planet with intelligent life. That's just way too arrogant to think that.

What if all the Aliens are using a form of "FTL Radio Communication", equivalent to ST SubSpace Radiowaves?

Something where the Radio or EM Signals travels at FTL speeds in a domain we don't understand how to access?

A requirement to join the "InterStellar Community to make First Contact" is to figure out the FTL Radio, otherwise, we're too primitive to even talk to?

We're stuck with Primitive STL Radio Waves, which don't travel fast enough to be "Useful" at Long Distance InterStellar communications?

 

[Candleicious Ghost]

What if all the Aliens are using a form of "FTL Radio Communication", equivalent to ST SubSpace Radiowaves?

Something where the Radio or EM Signals travels at FTL speeds in a domain we don't understand how to access?

A requirement to join the "InterStellar Community to make First Contact" is to figure out the FTL Radio, otherwise, we're too primitive to even talk to?

We're stuck with Primitive STL Radio Waves, which don't travel fast enough to be "Useful" at Long Distance InterStellar communications?

Hey who knows? Maybe cracking interstellar communication is the sign of entry for a species. I'd love to see a story from that point of view

 

[publiusr]

At the risk of sounding like Avi…there might be a chance of encountering an extraterrestrial probe—here is a paper on what to look for:

Technosignature Searches of Interstellar Objects

With the discovery of the third confirmed interstellar object (ISO), 3I/ATLAS, we have entered a new phase in the exploration of these long-predicted objects. Though confirmed discovery of ISOs is quite recent, their utility as targets in the search for technosignatures (historically known as...

arxiv.org

Kryptos

Info to decipher secret message in Kryptos sculpture at CIA headquarters sells for close to $1M

The information needed to decipher the last remaining unsolved secret message embedded within a sculpture at CIA headquarters in Virginia sold at auction for nearly $1 million, the auction house announced Friday.

phys.org

Wargaming: The surprisingly effective tool that can help us prepare for modern crises

Consider the following scenario. There's a ransomware attack, enhanced by AI, which paralyzes NHS systems—delaying medical care across the country.

techxplore.com

 

[publiusr]

More research has given us insights on ignition for fusion:

The hidden rule behind ignition: An analytic law governing multi-shock implosions for ultrahigh compression

Physicists at the University of Osaka have unveiled a breakthrough theoretical framework that uncovers the hidden physical rule behind one of the most powerful compression methods in laser fusion science—the stacked-shock implosion.

phys.org

Drop-to-deploy

Drop-to-deploy: How bistable mechanics unfold structures in under a second

Traditional deployable systems—relying on pneumatic pumps, electric motors, magnets, or manual assembly—often require bulky power systems or multiple steps. We began exploring whether a simpler, non-electronic alternative was possible using only geometric and material intelligence.

techxplore.com

AI and aerospace

Large language models and research progress: Q&A with an aerospace engineer

The rapid expansion of large language models' (LLMs) capabilities—including web search, code execution, data analysis and even hypothesis generation and experimental design—is outpacing critical reflection of how the technology fits into academic research.

techxplore.com

Diamond coatings

Lab-grown diamond coatings shown to prevent mineral scale in industrial pipes

In industrial pipes, mineral deposits build up the way limescale collects inside a kettle ⎯ only on a far larger and more expensive scale. Mineral scaling is a major issue in water and energy systems, where it slows flow, strains equipment and drives up costs.

phys.org

Hibernation switch

Scientists pinpoint single gene responsible for initiating winter behavior of mammals

As the days continue to get shorter, scientists have made a significant discovery in understanding exactly what makes mammals exhibit seasonal behaviors like hibernation and migration.

phys.org

 

[camdudetenger2018]

well if nasa kept going to the moon since the 1970s we would have had many space travels to the moon then in the 1980s we would have had many cities towns and colonies on the moon along with many space stations in outer space then in the 1990s nasa would have started many space explorations to mars then have many cities towns and colonies on mars in the 2000s

like on the streaming tv show for all mankind

in other words by now we should have had life forms living not only on just earth but also on many space stations in outer space and also on the moon and on mars

 

[Candleicious Ghost]

well if nasa kept going to the moon since the 1970s we would have had many space travels to the moon then in the 1980s we would have had many cities towns and colonies on the moon along with many space stations in outer space then in the 1990s nasa would have started many space explorations to mars then have many cities towns and colonies on mars in the 2000s

like on the streaming tv show for all mankind

in other words by now we should have had life forms living not only on just earth but also on many space stations in outer space and also on the moon and on mars

Politics......... People lost interest and politicians saw no benefit to THEMSELVES from keeping programs going. So short sighted..

Mind you on top of that we had other events like Vietnam which could have been avoided by not bloody getting involved

 

[camdudetenger2018]

Politics......... People lost interest and politicians saw no benefit to THEMSELVES from keeping programs going. So short sighted..

Mind you on top of that we had other events like Vietnam which could have been avoided by not bloody getting involved

the dark side of the 60s and 70s in usa

 

[XCV330]

Politics......... People lost interest and politicians saw no benefit to THEMSELVES from keeping programs going. So short sighted..

Mind you on top of that we had other events like Vietnam which could have been avoided by not bloody getting involved

during that same period the UK walked away from having any kind of space program whatsoever. It was a pity. The Black Arrow was a really interesting launch vehicle and could have been developed further, launching from Woomera.

 

[Santaman]

Moon and Mars colonies will only be possible if their gravity is enough to not mess up humans beyond repair, as long that's not clear it will remain a big nope in my opinion, space habitats like the Stanford Torus, O'Neil cylinder, Bernal sphere etc have 1G and a suitable atmosphere, to me planets are just there to mine and extract materials from to be able to build more and better space habitats.
Also, you can move a space habitat around if needed to avoid collisions etc so better for the all eggs in one (fragile) basket problem.

 

[camdudetenger2018]

imagine thought

having many cities towns and colonies on the moon and on mars plus having many space stations in outer space

it would be like star trek doctor who and star wars expect without the aliens yet

 

[Candleicious Ghost]

Yeah it really is interesting. I wonder what the space program would be like had the manned space program continued right through the 70s and 80s. But it is what it is I guess and politics prevailed.

 

[Charlie Xmas]

One thing that came to mind is that if we decide to construct a habitable ring around the Sun, it will need to be moveable as Sol expands into her Red Giant phase. A small ring should be sufficient if enough of the sunlight hitting it was captured by solar cells. Don't forget the inverse-square law.

I suppose we then start using the sections as solar sails to get as far away as possible before Nova. One last surf ride for humanity!

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

I'd argue smaller sized Ring Worlds would be the most popular choice for long term habitation.

Something smaller than a Banks Orbital, but larger than the Halo Rings.

 

[Candleicious Ghost]

What about a group of spinning ring stations orbiting the earth?

Each could be a self contained city or such

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

What about a group of spinning ring stations orbiting the earth?

Each could be a self contained city or such

How large of a Ring Station are you thinking of?

Cause I wouldn't want something too large orbiting Earth if possible.

The Worse Case scenario if something too large fell into Earth could be catastrophic.

 

[Candleicious Ghost]

How large of a Ring Station are you thinking of?

Cause I wouldn't want something too large orbiting Earth if possible.

The Worse Case scenario if something too large fell into Earth could be catastrophic.

I'm thinking a ring station about three or four times the size of the ISS

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

I'm thinking a ring station about three or four times the size of the ISS

That should be fine.

My Ring World idea, I would want to park it at Sun-Earth's L3 Point.

Nice & Far Away from Earth on the other side of Earth's Orbit.

 

[Santaman]

Stanford torus - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

We've could have this one with 60's tech...

Another possible one would have been the O'Neill cylinder

O'Neill cylinder - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Also with 60's tech..

Bernal sphere - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I actually prefer this one since a sphere is of course quite sturdy.

There's been design based on these three which use carbon nanotube as a building material which is of course much stronger than steel so these designs have been scaled up a bunch.

Also a suitable asteroid would be fine, hollow it out and you already have your radiation shield ready.

Space settlement - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Quite a good article, deals with things like construction, control, food, heat rejection, attitude control and so on.

As for size, according to the article:
"Centrifuge studies show that people get motion-sick in habitats with a rotational radius of less than 100 metres, or with a rotation rate above 3 rotations per minute. However, the same studies and statistical inference indicate that almost all people should be able to live comfortably in habitats with a rotational radius larger than 500 meters and below 1 RPM. Experienced persons were not merely more resistant to motion sickness, but could also use the effect to determine "spinward" and "antispinward" directions in the centrifuges."

So small rotating habitats are kinda a no no then I guess..

 

[Paul Weaver]

Two dragon capsules on a 1km tether would be an interesting experiment. Not sure if they could hold the weight of each other at the mounting point but it’s not exactly against our material science.