Boys and Girls in Space

i foresee an early one that combines science, tourism, teaching, and
some manufacturing, mostly testing. it would be in near earth orbit
(a bit above low earth, but close enough) but would have few
permanent residences.

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Douglas May wrote:
>
> I think in the early days of Space colonization (the next 200
years
> or so) there will be 2 different types of settlements:
>
> 1. Those control exclusively by governments/ big business
>
> 2. Those founded by individuals seeking to create their "ideal"
society.
>
> The government controlled ones will focus on manufacturing,
science
> and space exploration plus canned tourism, and immigrants from
Earth
> will likely need an employer to sponsor them. Laws and customs
will
> be very much like Earth's and consumer trade will be common.
>
> The private ones, like John Wayne's and others will soon follow,
and
> I'm sure they will include many examples of governments and
cultures
> and rules that are offensive to others. Some too strict, some too
> liberal. Many will fail and be forced to change their approach.
> Others will fail and be taken over by Earth governments in order
to
> save the lives of the colonists. Others will fail utterly and the
> colonists will have to be rescued, if possible. Some will actually
> survive in a form similar to the founder's original idea.
>
> Right now we have no idea what space colonization will mean. We
> compare it the sea, or the colonization of the Americas, but we
just
> don't know. Our cultures and values are very different than they
were
> in the colonial era. Our technology and communications are
different.
> Our expectations are different. One thing we know for sure from
> history is that we learn much more from the failures than we do
from
> the successes. In fact early success can lead to many false
> assumptions. I appreciate John's idea for colonization, although
it
> sounds like I would definitely be excluded from it, and probably
> would not want to be stuck in a can with a bunch of millionaires,
> anyway. But I also recognize that any successful space settlement
> these first 200 years will likely have to be pretty Draconian
early
> on since we are most definitely going "where no man has gone
before."
>
> just my opinion, but I'm usually wrong
>
> doug
>
> On Jun 26, 2006, at 6:11 AM, ANTIcarrot wrote:
>
> > > From: Xenophile
> > > OK. So it was meant for all. Anybody who questions you looks
silly.
> >
> > To paraphrase:
> > 1) Give me huge amounts of your money
> > 2) Live as I tell you
> > 3) If you disobay me you will be evicted (because you are 'bad
for the
> > community')
> >
> > His statements make sense when you the context of a 'cult
compound'
> > in outer
> > space. Albeit a very expensive one. In which case like all cult
> > leaders he
> > would wish to have the power over his followers, without the
> > responsability
> > of admiting any responsability for their welfare, or of following
any
> > written rules. It would also explain why he claims that anyone
who
> > disagrees
> > with him lacks 'proper understanding'. Theoretically of course.
> >
> > John
> >
easier