• Question: Do you think humanity could eventually expand to other planets, like Venus, or even other solar systems by using Stellar Engines? If yes, how do you think this could be achieved?

    Asked by Corey W on 10 Nov 2021.
    • Photo: Alexander De Bruin

      Alexander De Bruin answered on 10 Nov 2021:

      Yes! I think that this will require global collaboration between governments, universities, and industry. From a technology standpoint, we will need new modes of transport and energy storage. I feel obliged to mention (because they are what I research!) that fuel cells were part of getting people onto the moon, and so I therefore see hydrogen technologies as being a crucial part of the puzzle.

    • Photo: Michael Short

      Michael Short answered on 11 Nov 2021:

      Yes, I certainly hope so! I say this only because I hope that we first have a peaceful and stable habitat here on earth with global cooperation. The huge budgets and resources that we need to create these off-planet communities could, at the moment, be used to solve many crises in human health, environmental disasters, and massive inequality and poverty. Once we sort out our own part of the universe, then I think we certainly should explore further!

      Stellar engines are a very interesting concept, but the amount of resources to build these are astronomical! I think that we are a few thousand years from such a device. In the shorter term (within next 20-50 years) I hope we can have permanent, small scientific bases on several other bodies (the moon, Mars, perhaps a moon of Jupiter), similar to what we have in Antarctica. These will likely use similar technologies to what we use today for the travel, but we need to meet many other challenges relating to living in environments far from our home!

    • Photo: Natasha Marchant

      Natasha Marchant answered on 12 Nov 2021:

      I think it’s a possibility, though I feel like it wouldn’t happen in my lifetime 🙁 there’s always constant research being done into space, space travel and at least visiting other planets so I would be surprised if they haven’t already considered this type of thing and are working on it!

    • Photo: Alexander Munnoch

      Alexander Munnoch answered on 12 Nov 2021:

      In terms of expansion – there are two trains of thought:
      – we eventually expand out to the Moon and Mars for resource purposes and further expand from there as space travel technology advances.
      – we stay where we are and become more sustainable, living in increasing circular economies/environments.

      Going with the 1st, if travelling within our solar system e.g. Venus, more conventional propulsion methods are more likely as you would be starting from Earth and need to exit the Earth’s atmosphere. On the otherhand, if going further afield, you might already have a non-Earth starting point where it is less energy/resource intensive to gain propulsion – in which case it would be more likely. In order to construct structures on the scale required for Stellar Engines, it would require harvesting of resources on a planetary/solar system scale and the construction time would be vast (and require remote automation). Additionally, there would be increased risk of continual damage to the Engine due to impact from asteroids etc. So there would need to be a continual maintenance.

Comments