Kevin's Watch

Well, as technology advances, Earth seems to slowly deteroriate a little bit more So it is plausible that when the time comes that we are capable to colonize (that is if we ever are able tor each this point) that Earth may no longer be suitable for human life. *shrug* Then again this may never happen.

Regardless, it is always interesting to read about such a scenario.

Big Business will seek to mine the poor asteriods before we even know it. Aside from the International Space Station, man will be living on Mars and the moon by 2060.

As for travelling to other stars, I seriously doubt it.

That's sorta the premise for Metaplanetary--we make it to the edge of the solar system and a network of "nano-tubes" connects the planets for travel. But despite all these intense advancements of technology man has yet to find the means to travel to another star-and then system-wide civilization begins to collapse in on itself.

hey cool! who writes it, danlo?

Tony Daniel--it's sequel: Superluminal comes out this month!

Thanks Mr D!

In the far distant future, I think for our species to survive, we will have to at least colonize parts of Mars and the Moon and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

We've screwed up Earth too badly, and there doesn't seem to be any serious attempt to limit population growth. It doesn't take a mathematical genius to figure out there is only a finite amount of space on this rock for X number of humans to co-exist. At some date in the future, we will reach the critical point and something has gotta give.

a good quote from einstien was "I know not with what weapons WWIII will be fought, but WWIV will be fought with sticks and stones". I always thought this would make a good plot for a book.

The heart of this question should be answered the way humans have always answered important and life threatening challenges. “Necessity is the Mother of Invention”. If we absolutely must find a way to colonize another world then I believe we are capable of it. It’s just a question of time, pressure and a little luck. If our very existence is threatened, humans will take risks and entertain dramatic concepts that we would otherwise disregard as too dangerous or expensive. What if the world community all agreed that the construction of a fleet of massive, interplanetary/interstellar spacecraft were absolutely necessary to ensure mankind's survival? What if the combined resources, technology and creative genius of the planet were employed to accomplish such a daunting task? IF the world were able to agree, then such epic visions might be possible. IMHO

And the world headquarters would be in San Francisco? Eh Tom?

*sigh* Yes, danlo. The headquarters of the United Earth Assembly would be located in San Francisco. And if my mother was a kitchen appliance I'd be a baby toaster. I freely admit that my perceptions regarding a positive future for mankind might have been influenced by Star Trek to some small degree. Just a little bit. Not much. About this much. *Holds up fingers about a micron apart*.

All we need is warp drive and a passing Vulcan ship, and we're on our way.

Royally.