Topic: Modest space project idea: Lets make a planet. (Read 42779 times)

762 · « **Reply #140 on:** December 05, 2003, 10:32:22 am »

To alter the orbit of an Earth-sized planet would require a force of gigaton proportions. Probably not attainable with current thermonuclear weapons technology. If it were it would be something like a 5 or 6 stage thermonuclear device of massive proportions.

NJAntman · « **Reply #141 on:** December 05, 2003, 10:32:44 am »

Go with something easier as desribed in David Brin's novel "Heart of the Comet". Throw a short range colony ship onto the surface of a passing comet, or push a colony ship out to a large body in the belts and mine out its' innards for the space and resources to build a colony inside. Then just ride the sucker out to the belts to jump too more viable bodies or go further to the outer system and nudge it out of the system from there.

Don't have to be a Gorn to live in a rock ship.

P.S. Sorry if I've hijacked the rock thread.

Stormbringer · « **Reply #142 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:02:45 am »

I rather figured one or a combination of the following: A sizable seed asteroind in a stable orbit already. And or carfull timing of the additional material as the planet is built up from that seed would impart incremental momentum and vector changes until the desired orbit and spin is achieved. The equations for orbit should yied the proper values. The planet would not be stationary and then accelerated to proper speed and turned in the proper direction.

JMM · « **Reply #143 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:05:05 am »

Good idea, but I would be scared to death of a planet circling the sun in the same range as Earth, what if IT gets impacted by a meteor instead of us and throws it off course, maybe on a collision course with Earth? I prefer the money and resources go into space travel, sooner or later we will have to leave this system anyways...

Stormbringer · « **Reply #144 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:08:00 am »

The thing is rather than take a centuries long trip to another star which might not have a suitable world upon arrival, I propose building a suitable world mere days or weeks away. The replicating robot scheme should significantly shorten the time required to do so from centuries or millenia to a manageably short amount of time. Further it is my aim for the project to recreate as closely as possible earth like conditions of atmosphere, magnetosphere, gravity, daylight period and temperature range or climate.

Sirgod · « **Reply #145 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:17:25 am »

I've been thinking about this since I first read the Proposal this morning. My only concern would be, do we have the technology to create Self replicating Robots, even with a Caste system in mind, Can we do this? or would we have to simply make A replecator Class, that would be programmed to make the others?

I guess It could be set up like an Assembly line type thing.

the other thing I thought about was the post you made the other day about Shielding, and the use of hydrogen in a polymere. This might also be very usefull in Creating the new planet. To be honest, I've always liked the idea of minning the asteroids , and If I ever won the lottery, I'd try and make a company to do just this.

Stephen

Sethan · « **Reply #146 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:20:38 am »

From a practical standpoint, it makes more sense than trying to travel to another star with our current technology.

From a risk/reward standpoint, the risk is currently unacceptable.

We as a species are (at present) stuck in this planetary system, and rely on a single planet in it for survival. If we screw that up via some unforeseen consequence, we are hosed.

Want to terraform Mars? Go to it. Find a way to fix Venus atmosphere so a colony could be placed there? Have a blast.

Want to muck with the orbital mechanics of the only star system we have? Let's wait until we have another option if something goes wrong.

Stormbringer · « **Reply #147 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:23:38 am »

The factory caste or a portion thereof would handle the replication. It would not be an individual thing (might lead to complications). Yes automated production is advanced enough that such a thing could be done fairly easily (IMO). Please elaborate on the polymer idea?

JMM · « **Reply #148 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:28:15 am »

It's not that it's not a good idea Storm, it's just that sooner or later we have to leave. As it stands right now, we could build a starship and send people out long term, all the while developing newer technology. As Sethan pointed out, you are talking an astronomical budget either way, I prefer the way that allows some of our people to leave just in case. Even a starship at sub light would take the bankroll of many industrialized nations to build, the ISS is a joke compared to the money and resources required for such a vessel.

Of course nobody in leadership positions really cares right now, they know they will be long gone before then, so they think and spend only for today, not for future generations...

Stormbringer · « **Reply #149 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:30:07 am »

Bear in mind this would be half way between Mars and Earth. careful planning should eliminate much of the danger. In the event of an error producing possible earth crossers another asteroid could be accelerated to bump the errant planetoid off that course. Smaller errors could be compensated for by pelting the thing with rocks from the other side. And such errors should not occur as each hit could be modelled in advance and risk assessment could be constantly applied.

Hopefully by the time that (exodus) is necessary we will have solved FTL or similar short cuts. This would buy time for that discovery. Perhaps tripling the livable space in the solar system.

Sirgod · « **Reply #150 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:31:54 am »

RE: the polymer idea.

I was thinking of not only would the Shielding be of course Benificial, But Might be used to make hollow tubes /Lifeline to connect the Asteroids to gether. If we used a couple of hollow Asteroids, connected together Like a giant Hamster cage, we wouldn't have to worry about Starting a Nuclear Furnace, And might be able to Control The planet better.

Besides that the effect of having your propossed shield would of course help Prevent the radiation out there.

I also seem to recall, Using an Iridium based Ceramic in the use of Superconducters, I don't know if the research ever panned out, But If so, and If there is a supply of Iridium out there, then It would be the perfect melding of those robots.

just a few random thoughts,

Stephen

Tremok · « **Reply #151 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:50:13 am »

Quote:

I think Bush is already planning to build a Dyson Sphere.

Dyson Sphere is what they're calling it now? I thought they were calling it the "Death Star." Hmm. I suppose it wasn't PC enough.

Corbomite · « **Reply #153 on:** December 05, 2003, 12:44:14 pm »

I hate to rain on your parade, but do you know what introducing a large gravitational body to the balance we now enjoy would probably do to life on this planet?

Falaris · « **Reply #156 on:** December 05, 2003, 01:38:17 pm »

1: The New Planet need not be close, for travel to be easy. If depends how you want to travel - cheap or often.

2: The problem I imagine is the atmosphere. There's a LOT of it needed to make a planet habitable, more than I suspect we are likely to find in the asteroid belt. The asteroid belt is theorized to be the remains of a planet or moon, and most of the atmosphere was lost, it does not remain there , if I remember my astrophysics correctly.

3: The other problem I imagine is the self-replicating robots themselves. Such Von Neuman - machines are an interesting concept, especially considering nano-technology, but wether it is workable.. well, it's a challenge, but we're talking the future, and it would be folly to say it will not be possible.

However, unlimited industrial capacity does not mean unlimited power, and such a robot horde would nearly need both.

I would ocnsider a space lens, to gather sunlight for heating the planet, rather than nudging it to a near - earth orbit. This could also, during construction, be used both for heating the planet core and an energy source.

Another problem, which I take less seriously, is that usually mentioned in science fiction - for some reason, such machines are almost invariably described as extremely dangerous and destroying their creators - the Berserks, for instance, or the machines in the terminator movies - or for that matter, the Matrix.

TalonClaw · « **Reply #157 on:** December 05, 2003, 03:08:29 pm »

Yeah they might suddenly decide why build a new planet when they can just rid the earth of it's harmful infestation.

JMM · « **Reply #159 on:** December 05, 2003, 04:44:34 pm »

The glowing red eye travelling back and forth, the silver metallic bodies, arms at port arms, and the age old saying "by your command."

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762

NJAntman

Stormbringer

JMM

Stormbringer

Sirgod

Sethan

Stormbringer

JMM

Stormbringer

Sirgod

Tremok

Sethan

Corbomite

Sethan

SSCF Hooch

Falaris

TalonClaw

762

JMM

Topic: Modest space project idea: Lets make a planet. (Read 42779 times)