From HomoExcelsior

Why Migrate to the Stars?

Transhumans will -- by the simple necessity of preserving the human race -- migrate to the stars. Before this happens, advances must be made; first in the exploration of Space and then the development of habitation systems.

There are several reasons to explore and colonize space besides avoiding killer meteors, limited resources and disasters of natural and man-made origin. These reasons range from sheer curiousity, the will to explore, the search for freedom and more pragmatic reasons such as the search for more resources, gaining living space and capturing energy.

The infinity of space calls us all, the same way the boundless ocean called early sea going explorers. Once transhumans have slowed the pace of exploration and technical progress at home, we must seek new challenges and make new discoveries or become stagnant.

Initial Exploration

Earthbound man will have to get a better understanding of his surroundings by sending out manned and unmanned probes. This endeavour will not only give us vital information about our solar system, but will also test newly develloped technologies required for efficient and effective travel in space.

Continued unmanned probes to the depths of the solar system will give mankind a better inventory of the resources at his disposal for eventual diaspora to the planets and beyond. Technology will adapt and be refined with extensive use, reaping enormous benefits even to those un-involved in space exploration.

The figure to the right is the Thousand Astronomical Unit Probe (TAU Probe) designed by JPL as an interstellar precursor mission. The TAU uses a nuclear reactor to generate electricity which is used to expel a stream of charges ions from an inert reaction mass.

The TAU Probe (and other probes) could be used to better understand the solar system in which we currently exist. Instrument readings in the outer reaches of the solar system will give us vital information for the creation of ships that could reach the nearest stars.

Habitats and Colonization

Before humans or transhumans can terraform Mars or any other planet, they must first be able to fabricate a stable, viable ecosystem capable of supporting human life and industry.

The easiest way to check the stability of these man made environments is to create ever-increasing-in-size habitats in space, where absolute control over the variables can be achieved. There is much debate over just how large these habitats should become before moving onto planets.

Once we have accumulated enough data from our large habitats, we'd move to the first steps in creating an atmosphere at the right temperature and pressure for life "as we know it" to exist. After many years of continuous reactions, inseminations and various activities small micro-organisms would be self sustaining on the newly changed world.

The introduction of plant life and increasingly large animals would eventually create a biosphere on the edge of equilibrium. Over time, as Darwinian niches are filled the equilibrium of the ecosystem would become more certain. Man would begin to bring his own kind out on to the surface of a new Earth -- an Earthlike world unbound by the limitations of old Terra.

Leaving the Solar System

As the solar system is explored, new ship types will be experimented with -- putting the furthest planets within manageable travel times. Designs already exist for several proposed ships including the Orion Project (USAF) and the Daedalus Project (BIS).

Current designs use either nuclear fission (Orion) and fusion (Daedalus, Longshot). The fission drive of the Orion is produced by detonating small nuclear warheads under a large plate. The resulting explosion would force the plate on big shock absorbers, putt-putting the ship forward. The Longshot also uses a pulsed drive, but one driven by laser induced fusion.

The fusion drive of the Daedalus (and other similar designs) use deuterium and helium-3 fusion to create reaction thrust. Interstellar Hydrogen is captured forced to fuse with 3He in a system called a RAMJET.

Other systems of propulsion exist, including light sails. This technology would provide a cheap (if slow) means to reach the stars, using the photon pressure of our own sun (perhaps aided with launching lasers). Inside the solar system, mankind could use huge, thin sails as a means to transport cargo to and from the furthest reaches without expending fuel and being constrained by fuel / mass ratios.

Leaving the solar system will require the use of generation ships, or ships controlled by uploaded transhumans. Perhaps the dream of Sci-Fi will come about, and the mysteries of faster-than-light travel will come to light -- opening the stars at a rate we cannot even imagine.

Mega Scale Engineering

The solar system (the universe for that matter) is a sloppy design and not an efficient use of space, matter and energy. In order for a society of expanding humans and transhumans to better utilize what they have at hand, some changes will be made to their environment.

The creation of Ringworlds and Dyson Spheres will give exponentially more living space per kg of matter. Additionally, more of the Sun's energy will be captured and used instead of simply radiating out into space.

The designs for this kind of construction are limitless. Tailoring the Sun to increase its lifespan and stability is possible with the construction of orbiting electromagnets. Solarizing Jupiter to make its moons inhabitable is possible by several means. With nanotechnology , increased cognitive abilities and a better understanding of our surroundings the universe will be our playground.

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