What techs do we need to start colonizing?

[bpfeifer]

We are learning that plants have light triggers as well as gravity triggers. They're growing a few plants on the ISS and did some similar experiments on Mir. It may well be possible to farm plants in microgravity. <br /><br />While it seams clear that gravity is important for fetal development in animals, we still don't know how much gravity is really necessary. It may well be that only a few percent of Earth gravity is all we need. In which case, low gravity farming might be thee answer. <br /><br />Even a small amount of gravity makes handling fluids much simpler. Long arm centrifuges could easily handle this in free flight. It's really more an issue of power/ light supply and protection from radiation. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Brian J. Pfeifer http://sabletower.wordpress.com<br /> The Dogsoldier Codex http://www.lulu.com/sabletower<br /> </div>

 

[josh_simonson]

All else will fall into place once the cost to LEO is low enough. That's really the only barrier. The other stuff is simply engineering problems, while we still basic knowledge needed to get to LEO cheaply and safely.

 

[nexium]

I hope you are correct, but I suspect there will be numerous problems of significance. If cost to orbit is low enough, imports from Earth are OK, as long as each colony can produce something that is in demand off Earth. It likely is impractical for a colony of 1000 persons to try to produce 1000 unrealated products and services. Trade between colonies is essentual unless we invent the "replicator" of Star Trek. Neil

 

[willpittenger]

I knew it had a better case than another questionable entry: The bridge to Siberia. Who would want to go there? It still sounds like a bridge to nowhere. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>