Arguments for the value of the long-term future tend to make the assumption that we will colonize space. What can we definitely accomplish in terms of space colonization? Why think that we can definitely do those things?
The FHI paper, Eternity in Six Hours, is very optimistic about what can be done:
In this paper, we extend the Fermi paradox to not only life in this galaxy, but to other galaxies as well. We do this by demonstrating that traveling between galaxies – indeed even launching a colonisation project for the entire reachable universe – is a relatively simple task for a star-spanning civilization, requiring modest amounts of energy and resources. We start by demonstrating that humanity itself could likely accomplish such a colonisation project in the foreseeable future, should we want to, and then demonstrate that there are millions of galaxies that could have reached us by now, using similar methods.
Is this paper reasonable? Which parts of its assertions are most likely to be mistaken?
This question was inspired by a conversation with Nick Beckstead.
Looking back at our paper, I think the weakest points are (1) we handwave the accelerator a bit too much (I now think laser launching is the way to go), and (2) we also handwave the retro-rockets (it is hard to scale down nuclear rockets; I think a detachable laser retro-rocket is better now). I am less concerned about planetary disassembly and building destination infrastructure: this is standard extrapolation of automation, robotics and APM.
However, our paper mostly deals with sending a civilization’s seeds everywhere, it does not deal with near term space settlement. That requires a slightly different intellectual approach.
What I am doing in my book is trying to look at a “minimum viable product”—not a nice project worth doing (a la O’Neill/Bezos) but the crudest approach that can show a lower bound. Basically, we know humans can survive for years on something like the ISS. If we can show that an ISS-like system can (1) produce food and other necessities for life, (2) allow crew to mine space resources, (3) turn them into more habitat and life support material, (4) crew can thrive well enough to reproduce, and (5) this system can build more copies of itself with new crew at a faster rate than the system fails—then we have a pretty firm proof of space settlement feasibility. I suspect (1) is close to demonstration, (2) and (3) needs more work, (4) is likely a long term question that must be tested empirically, and (5) will be hard to strictly prove at present but can be made fairly plausible.
If the above minimal system is doable (and I am pretty firmly convinced it is—the hairy engineering problems are just messy engineering, rather than pushing against any limits of physics) then we can settle the solar system. Interstellar settlement requires either self-sufficient habitats that can last very long (and perhaps spread by hopping from Oort-object to Oort-object), AI-run mini-probes as in our paper, or extremely large amounts of energy for fast transport (I suspect having a Dyson sphere is a good start).
I wrote a post which targets the “and how do we know that?” part of this question.
Full post here which has elaboration and examples for each of the types. Headings for the argument/evidence types:
1. Our understanding of the laws of physics says it should be possible. (Argument from Physics/Basic Science)
2. Nature has done this, so reasonably we as intelligent beings in nature should eventually be able to too. (Argument from Nature)
3. We have a proof of concept. (Argument from POC)
4. We’ve done it already. (Argument from Accomplishment)
The post also includes a couple of paragraphs on where these arguments fall short and how they’re stronger in the case of long-term space colonization.
Hi Ruby, since I’ve actually given this topic some thought I’m gonna delurk for once. The issue I have with FHI’s space papers is that they basically pay no attention to questions of governance. Being able to reach things and being able to coordinate/control things are two very different things. Space is way too big for central control. Even in the Milky Way you’d probably need something in the ballpark of 100′000c for a central government to make sense. Consequently, we probably overestimate the degree to which space settlement is controllable and the constant usage of the term “colonization” is confusing, if not plainly wrong. I wrote a more comprehensive version (ca 45 minutes reading time) of this argument here: https://medium.com/@KevinKohlerFM/cosmic-anarchy-and-its-consequences-b1a557b1a2e3
That’s interesting. I agree that given that consideration the term “colonization” is possibly misleading. I have been using it more in the sense of “you have human civilization over there” rather than “the colonies of the kingdom of Britain.” I think I don’t mind if the different “colonies” are autonomous.
The answer to this question likely depends heavily on what we consider to be adequate colonization:
1) Running computation in others star systems, i.e. Running digital minds on computers or other computational processes. (this is what Eternity in Six Hours assumes)
or
2) Having actual, ordinary biological humans colonize the stars.
There are challenges common and separate to each.
Lasting the Journey
In either case, you must be able to create a probe (to use the language of Eternity in Six Hours) which can last the duration for a trip which lasts thousands to millions of years. Is it at all feasible to have humans last long in some form? (Perhaps only as embryos which can be “grown” upon arrival, but even then, can we safely preserve biological material for millenia?) Could cryonics somehow be a solution? Even if you were only sending computers/robots, can we build electrical and mechanical devices which won’t break down after such extremely long time periods?
Challenges for Humans
Nick Beckstead’s prelimenary notes mention microgravity, cosmic radiation, health and reproduction in space, and genetic diversity as considerations which come into play when sending live humans through space.
Challenges for Computers
Can we build machines (assume non-AGI) we can solve all the problems they will encounter in different systems?
An attempt from Nick Beckstead on almost this question:
Will we eventually be able to colonize other stars? Notes from a preliminary review (June 2014)