Space Colonies?

[Ivan the Butcher]

The Star Trek thread got me thinking about the far future.

When we colonize new planets (that don't already have some type of people already) should we broadcast all manor of food plant seed across the face of the planet? Later generations will have food growing everywhere!

OR will too much hybridization take place? For examples: wheat that is ghost pepper hot, Sweet and sour potatoes.

Next, do we designate areas to be forest, jungles and grasslands, or let broadcast seeding make a natural selection? Would the verities of bamboo take over everything and is that a good or bad thing?

Do we release animals, birds, insects and fishes into the wild to propagate like the buffalo and cattle of the old west?

Western history taught us, When the Romans built their roadways, they planted Chestnut trees along the road. They provided shade and food for travelers. That always seemed like wisdom to me.

So, this is open to discussion. There are no Right or Wrong answers, just ideas for input on the future places our descendants will live.

Ivan

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

Fact is we could have a lunar colony today.

We have the tech and the capability to do so. We just don't have the finances or interest to do so,

Prefab facilities could be designed and built in orbit, then towed to the moon where they would be landed as permanent structures that could be interlocked together to make a large base facility similar to those that can be found in Antarctica. It wouldn't be that"complicated" and would serve for years.

It actuallyt might happen eventually, but it won't be in our life time nor under our flag.

 

[SMSgt]

You'll need a Walgrens and Seven-Eleven to go with that.

 

[walkin jack]

Maybe I'm Just being pig-headed but I have no interest in going to another planet. Ever. For ANY reason. I will never leave my home state of Texas so perhaps you can imagine how determined I am not to leave this Earth.

We must all die eventually. I was born on Earth. Not many aspects of my own death I can foresee/predict but there is one that is sure. I will die on the planet Earth.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

If you don’t mind, I’ll stay here.
I want to head the Committee that decides who goes.

 

[walkin jack]

If you don’t mind, I’ll stay here.
I want to head the Committee that decides who goes.

I will happily be your assistant. I wanted to post that very sentiment but I couldn't think of a way to do it without getting dinged.

 

[Onomea]

The Star Trek thread got me thinking about the far future.

When we colonize new planets (that don't already have some type of people already) should we broadcast all manor of food plant seed across the face of the planet? Later generations will have food growing everywhere!

OR will too much hybridization take place? For examples: wheat that is ghost pepper hot, Sweet and sour potatoes.

Next, do we designate areas to be forest, jungles and grasslands, or let broadcast seeding make a natural selection? Would the verities of bamboo take over everything and is that a good or bad thing?

Do we release animals, birds, insects and fishes into the wild to propagate like the buffalo and cattle of the old west?

Western history taught us, When the Romans built their roadways, they planted Chestnut trees along the road. They provided shade and food for travelers. That always seemed like wisdom to me.

So, this is open to discussion. There are no Right or Wrong answers, just ideas for input on the future places our descendants will live.

Ivan

Don't bogart that joint, ma friend....

 

[Golddollar]

You'll need a Walgrens and Seven-Eleven to go with that.

'
Plus a Starbucks. a Dunkin' Donuts and an Ollie's.

 

[Golddollar]

If you don’t mind, I’ll stay here.
I want to head the Committee that decides who goes.

I hope they're only sending volunteers. Besides, with my weight and size they probably couldn't get the rocket off the ground.

 

[oldbrownhat]

You'll need a Walgrens and Seven-Eleven to go with that.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned The Golden Arches

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

There is a good sci-fi story "Whatever happened to the McGowans" published in Galaxy, May 1970, about the unexpected consequences of human colonization of an alien world.

 

[lkabug]

Next, do we designate areas to be forest, jungles and grasslands, or let broadcast seeding make a natural selection? Would the verities of bamboo take over everything and is that a good or bad thing?

So, this is open to discussion. There are no Right or Wrong answers, just ideas for input on the future places our descendants will live.

Ivan

What makes one think/believe such lushness isn't already there?
After all it was here when "we" arrived.

 

[johngalt]

The only planet within reach that could even be considered is Mars. Lots of problems though.

Radiation: Mars has no magnetic field to shield the surface. Not just while living there, but on the trip there too.

Gravity: Mars has only about 38% the gravity as Earth. The human body will quickly atrophy.

No atmosphere - who wants to live their entire life under a dome?

Everything will have to be transported there. Think Hawaii living is expensive?

But the warp drive will be invented in 2063, so that is only about 40 years away.

 

[SMSgt]

Don't forget to take your How To Prepare Man book.

 

[Llance]

Need a colonist for Mars? Pick me, pick me, I wanna go, please pick me. Certain conditions though:

1. You will outfit a 747 with skids and a control station in the tail, high up near the tail stabilizers to be used as my landing craft.

2. You will send several large used aircraft (707's) outfitted as tankers carrying enough water to last me the rest of my life. They can be loaded in space to reduce the liftoff weight. Others will contain TP and baby wipes, and other provisions. All aircraft will be equipped to operate on solar power. And as the 747, they will be outfitted with skids for landing.

3. The tankers will arrive at the designated landing site at 4 month intervals until the last (total of 12) has arrived and landed.

4. I will be allowed to take all my guns and lots of ammo with me. Not afraid of the Martians, just want to be able to shoot my guns anywhere anytime I choose

5. No other persons will be allowed to land near me until 20 years after you know for certain I am no longer alive.

6. An electrically powered jeep will be included in my provisions.

7. One of the tankers is to be equipped with all manor of seeds for me to start my gardens.

8. A large quantity of frozen steak and chicken will be included in the provisions.

9. Any discoveries made by me will be named by me and the names will not be changed.

10. After I am dead no one is to look for my body until 500 years have passed and a viable colony has been established on the planet.

Note: Anyone found within 24 thousand miles of my station will be exterminated on sight, so long as I am alive.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

"The cycle of going from dust to dessert. The metamorphosis from being the ruler of a planet to an ingredient in someone's soup. It's tonight's bill of fare from the Twilight Zone."
Got to meet Richard Kiel at Chiller Theatre-we shared birthdays.

 

[jeffrefrig]

What caliber is good for space folks? We can't take our civilized way of life without blasting a few of 'em with .44s!

 

[Beemerguy53]

It's fascinating to take just a little step back into history, and then imagine taking that same step forward.

Let's go back just 500 years and consider what life was like. Well, in just 500 years, in 2522, those folks are going to think of us the same way we think of 1522...

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

One scenario-we might end up like the Martians in H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds"-run into germs, microbes, etc. that we didn't even think about. And bring them back to Earth.