future Interplanetary Civilization discussion.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

anything not tried will invaribly fail. anything tried may succeed.

have you tried anti-depressants? they work for me.

besides, britain may have lost a colony when the us rebelled, but the world gained a country.

[Master Belisarius]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
Sorry Narf, I am really depressed right now. I should have said that it is not going to happen because we will never colonize another planet. Even if we did, the colony would fail, or just be a military science outpost.

Secondly if the utter complete unlikelyhood that we did colonize another planet, it would go much like inter nation relations go now. So again, it simply is not worth it.

Yep, maybe really you have not your best day, or maybe I'm too optimistic... but I'm pretty sure that if the mankind doesn't destroy himself before this, our home system will be colonized and even some planets terraformed (Mars, Venus as example). Of course that think it will not happen soon (a millennium?).
But colonize beyond our home system... think the probabilities are not so good.

Originally posted by Atrocities:

Secondly if the utter complete unlikelyhood that we did colonize another planet, it would go much like inter nation relations go now. So again, it simply is not worth it.

Well, I would support this view.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Well, I would support this view.

i would say the accomplishments of the human race outweigh the petty politics of nations.

[Master Belisarius]

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
i would say the accomplishments of the human race outweigh the petty politics of nations.

Well, I'm the pessimistic now.
Really do you think the humans would change? Don't think so. In my view, we will continue killing our brothers for a piece of land or for a God that doesn't exist...
I think the reptilian part of our brain will be still there... and something different would mean that we evolved in a new and better race (In my view will not happen, at least soon).

[narf poit chez BOOM]

how are we going to kill each other at 50+ly? really, if you're going to take that view, i'd think you'd like space colony's.

[Taz-in-Space]

anyone know any other possible, non-FTL engines? no unknown science, predictable technology only.

Well, I read somewhere that it is possible to use controlled nuclear explosions as an engine.
Sort of a putt-putt-putt engine with a nuclear explosion as each putt!
Just don't get too close to the business end!!

As anyone can guess this tech would require massive shielding; but should allow a large payload...

As far as the likelyhood of colonizing other planets - I think that if a habitable planet is descovered (or made) and the tech exists to get there reasonably easy; then colonization WILL happen. It will be inevitable!

[Phoenix-D]

The thing about the nuclear explosion (or Orion) engines is they work better the bigger they get. A bit like fusion reactors, even if the concept is totally different.

_Footfall_ had one of these, and described the main problem with them when it launched as such..

"God was knocking, and he wanted in BAD."