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Dyson sphere, Dyson ring, Niven ring, Dyson swarm in DONUT version, folding combo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Whether it involves building large, space-borne artificial living environments (
space stations) for great numbers of people, or the settling and colonization of
habitable planets in either our solar system or other
stellar systems, the possibility of living off-planet is one that, while occasionally viewed as far-fetched, warrants consideration, imagination and discussion.
It may become necessary at some time in the not-so-terribly-distant future for numerous reasons. As a
Global Futurist, this type of general exploration of ideas is the genesis seed for the
strategic plan and its enabling technologies which might eventually serve to save our
species from a host of potential survival hazards, some based upon existing trends and forecasts, and some based upon completely unforeseen possibilities.
The ability to rapidly and successfully mobilize is a very crucial survival skill for any
living creature or group. It is not about conquest -- it is about surviving and thriving.
Were the
Earth to become uninhabitable (or even undesirable), alternative locations for life to continue would be the next logical step in our survival and further social evolution. There could also be some unforeseeable advantages associated with
spreading out the entire species over a far greater space, and allowing for separate experiences culled from a far greater and more diverse environment to enrich the collective knowledge and abilities of our species.
The article excerpt which follows appears courtesy of
BigThink, a frequent resource for
The Global Futurist Blog and for a number of my
Twitter Feeds -- you may obtain a list of these feeds, some of which you may choose to follow at
The Twitterlinks Hubspot Blog.
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What We Need to Settle in Outer Space
What's the Latest Development?
A working list of conditions that must be met before humans can begin settling in space has been drawn up by the
Space Studies Institute, a non-profit that advocates opening up the resources in space for human benefit. The institute's new president,
Gary Hudson, has unveiled The Great Enterprise Initiative which is "designed to outline the technologies and other capabilities needed to enable the long-term goal of
space settlement, and to host multiple projects in relevant areas." The institute's former president was
Freeman Dyson. [
more].
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While I usually like to limit my trend-spotting and prognostication efforts and writings to the realms of social, political and economic possibilities, science and technology are the most fascinating for me, as they offer the greatest opportunities to completely exercise and liberate my imagination and visualization skills and experiences.
Aside from the possibilities of
global climate change, harsh acts of Nature, nuclear disasters, devastating wars, dangerously restrictive governments and numerous others hazards facing Humanity, one of the things which I believe to be true of any individual, company, country, civilizations or species is that when we cease to grow and expand, we begin to die. If we don't move ahead, we fall behind...even if we think that we are standing still.
Colonizing off-planet is no longer a mere dream. It is a possibility with an ever-increasing probability of occurrence. Spreading the
Human race and genome out over the vastness of the universe holds great possibilities for the further education, evolution, advancement and successful survival of our species.
Remember this: Just sixty six years after the
Wright Brothers' first flight of approximately 100 yards, the
United States landed an astronaut on the Moon. Technology and its associated capabilities advance at an ever-accelerating pace. And the curve which illustrates this points toward the heavens.
Douglas E. Castle
