Re: How to really terraform (part 1)

From: TKalbfus (tkalbfus_at_aol.com)
Date: 06/15/04 

Date: 15 Jun 2004 15:08:05 GMT

>It wouldn't need to accelerate for the entire trip...that really would
>take a huge amount of fuel. After a certain point, it probably becomes
>easier to wait a few more generations than to try to increase speed
>further. However, it would have to carry enough to stop at the distant
>star...

The question then becomes, what's so vitally important at that distant star
that can't be provided for in interstellar space? If you find a planet with
plenty of fusion fuel, all you have to do is build a giant fusion reactor and
warm up the planet while terraforming it. Now a planet has no particular
destination in mind, it just orbits the galaxy by itself. Such a planet may
have hydrogen fuel to supply the planet's needs for billions of years. If the
fuel is running out, there will be plenty of time for a close passby of another
star to migrate to that star system. The only thing an interstellar planet
lacks is energy, but then so does Titan. A Kuiper belt planet lacks light, but
that can be provided for if your serious about terraforming. Also these planets
are closer than stars and easy to get to. There is no multi-generational wait
to arrive at a star, the significance of which would be beyond those current
inhabitants who will never live to see the day.

Tom

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Establishing extrasolar colonies
    ... jump drive can be engaged anywhere provided it's far away from the ... message by ship. ... support staff to do a comprehensive survey of the planet and system ... fuel, mine a gas giant. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.science)
  • Re: Gurps traveller refuelling question
    ... planet in space? ... Because you needed to get to the fuel. ... This made it possible to control a section of space without having to patrol every square inch. ... What about comet refueling or Kuiper belt refueling? ...
    (rec.games.frp.gurps)
  • Re: how much fuel my spaceship needs?
    ... do i need to tank fuel for tha trip duration as seen ... from earth or for tha duration seen by me as traveler? ... will see the trip as being only .993 lightyear, ... by -- or hit his planet rather hard. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: how much fuel my spaceship needs?
    ... from earth or for tha duration seen by me as traveler? ... If one assumes a 20:1 fuel ratio, ... by -- or hit his planet rather hard. ... distance one has already traveled, ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Gurps traveller refuelling question
    ... You can get it from any planet in space but, regrettably, you can't ... boundless supply of fuel with you but rather need to expend substantial ... amounts of time mining, buying, or otherwise acquiring ... most common element in the universe by a large margin. ...
    (rec.games.frp.gurps)