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?
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?