100-Year Starship some way off

On Feb 16, 2011, at 7:51 PM, sraj wrote:

> Victor Smith wrote: Ah, but would they know what Human is?
>
> Al Gobus wrote: Frankly, doesn't sound like much fun.
>
> ----------------
> Is there really a problem?

Try this thought experiment: would you like your children to be
raised by a robot with extensive video libraries?

>
> 1. The robots need to be self replicating only to a limited extent.
> The
> complex electronics for a hundred slave robots will be carried from
> earth;
> only the heavy mechanical elements need to be fabricated on site. Five
> master robots will be on the spacecraft fully assembled.
>
> 2. There will be two way contact between Alpha Centaurus and Earth
> (with a
> time lag of 4.4 years). It will be unlike a normal conversation;
> just a
> streaming conversation to keep the two sides updated.
>
> 3. The children will realise who they are by the age of two. There
> will be
> extensive video libraries in the nurseries, and streaming videos
> from earth.
> Each child will have a dedicated video stream from parents/relatives
> from
> Earth.
>
> 4. The technology for the artificial womb will be destroyed once its
> purpose
> has been served.
>
> 5. Settlements in orbit around stars looks more logical.
>
> Regards,
> Selvaraj
>
> On 16 February 2011 22:08, sraj wrote:
>
>> If we don't have humans the system becomes simpler.
>>
>> 1. No need for very high margins of safety.
>> 2. No need for life support systems in transit, other than preserving
>> embryos and seeds.
>> 3. Compact spacecraft can be launched at high speed.
>> 4. If mission fails no need for tears.
>>
>> Technological challenges:
>>
>> 1. Manufacturing smart robots which can, if possible, replicate
>> themselves
>> using locally available material.
>> 2. Robots will have to set up shop, grow food etc, in the initial
>> phase.
>> 3. Design of artificial womb.
>>
>> Technological advantages:
>> 1. Design of the spacecraft becomes relatively simple.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Selvaraj
>>
>> On 16 February 2011 21:33, brooksn wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Well there is an inbetween position. Send a robot ship ahead that
>>> will
>>> scout the system, send back data, then we pick a suitable site.
>>> The robots
>>> will 'build' the eventual home for the settlers. Then we send only
>>> 4 to 5
>>> couples and lots of cold storage fertilized eggs and artificial
>>> wombs. When
>>> they get there the robots will have food production going and the
>>> wombs can
>>> start up and the humans (by necessity the children or
>>> grandchildren of the
>>> first 8 or 10) can work, expand the base, and raise the first
>>> generation.
>>> Brooks
>>>
>>>
>>> --- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, jwsmith42000@... wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I do not like the idea.
>>>> I hope that when we try to do such a thing we will send
>>>> generational
>>> ships
>>>> and more than one.
>>>>
>>>> John Wayne Smith
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> In a message dated 2/16/2011 7:01:38 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>>>> lucioc@... writes:
>>>>
>>>> Except that we are nowhere close to have intelligent robots able to
>>> raise
>>>> children.
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 9:20 AM, sraj wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Come to think of it, the best way to send humans to Alpha
>>>>> Centaurus
>>> will
>>>> be
>>>>> to send them in spacecrafts controlled by robots. Human genes
>>>>> kept in
>>>> cold
>>>>> storage will be activated to deliver babies in artificial wombs
>>>>> - once
>>>>> favourable environments have been created by robots. Smart
>>>>> robots will
>>>>> bring up the kids, keeping in touch with planet earth (with a
>>>>> time lag
>>>
>>>> of 4.4
>>>>> years). Theoretically we could have human habitations around Alpha
>>>>> Centaurus
>>>>> within a 100 years!
>>>>>
>>>>> Selvaraj
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>> http://www.news.com.au/technology/sci-tech/nasa-dares-to-dream-with-new-spacecraft-the-nautilus-x-mmsev/story-fn5fsgyc-1226006485082
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>

NASA's first theme for lunar exploration is: "Human Civilization --
Extend human presence to the Moon to enable eventual settlement."

Al Globus
alglobus.net

The views expressed in this email are only my opinions and are not the
position of any organization I'm familiar with.