100-Year Starship some way off

http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/longrange2/WorldPop2300final.pdf

This report indicates, see page 15, that population will reach 9 billion in 2050, decline a little, rise a little, and essentially be the same until 2300. They include 3rd world increases, as well as expected advances in the 3rd world.

Interesting on the pioneer children. If our lifestyles in orbit creates a strong enough shortage in labor, I could see a 'push' for more children. On the other hand automation may reduce our labor needs in orbit. Also if 9 billion becomes the steady state for Earth, it may not be sustainable for everything else on Earth. We may incentive people to leave Earth for orbit so that she can heal herself somewhat and allow all the other species a chance.

Once the first habitat is created and has some industrial capacity to make more habitats, its own food, its own energy, etc. We may wish for it to go into continuous production until a large number of people are off planet. Hard to fathom 100's of millions to a couple of billion off planet. The economy in space may be to rival Earth's.
Brooks

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Victor Smith" wrote: