This should be a lot easier to build than constructing large rotating structures in space.
It would be far easier (and cheaper) to modify the human body (genetically or mechanically) to adapt to conditions of microgravity and high radiation than to adapt extra-terrestrial locations to become Earth-like. All that is required is overcoming certain... ethical... "obstacles".
If mankind is to spend long periods of time in space, working, playing and raising families. In my opinion, we will need earth-like environments. That includes protection from radiation, and near earth-like gravity. I would not want to raise my kids conditioned only to lunar gravity. They would not even be able to stand up if they went back to visit their home planet Earth. Would anyone be able to adapt to a gravity 6-time as strong as the Earth's?
Most Cities, and even small towns have at least one paved or dirt track that people race on all the time. These tracks don't cost $ Billions, and are certainly a lot cheaper than trying to build a large rotating structure in space.
If your logic is correct, then the question becomes: Do we want to remain Earth Humans, or become creatures adapted to whichever planetary environment a specific colony is on at the time. I would opt that we try to remain Earth Humans. We have enough problems with race differences here on Earth as it is. Anyone else have an opinion on that?
The goal is to create a "safe" place to live outside the Earth's atmosphere. In my opinion, the only "feasible" way of doing that, in our lifetime, is build the one-earth-gravity center on the moon. It can be done with today's technology. No new science required.
To counter the debilitating effects of micro-gravity and radiation in space we need to develop ways and means of creating earth-like conditions on various destinations in space. Large, shielded and rotating structures in space have been envisioned by many. Why not do the same thing on the moon and mars, or other locations?
Quote from: khallow on 02/11/2010 01:12 pmEven if you don't know how to do it, you can breed animals to the environment and then figure out how it's done. For example, start by breeding rats in low grav. Then when you get something that works well, move up to pigs. Then when that works, you should have a number of good ideas for humans. It might take a while, say a few decades, to work out the details. If your logic is correct, then the question becomes: Do we want to remain Earth Humans, or become creatures adapted to whichever planetary environment a specific colony is on at the time. I would opt that we try to remain Earth Humans. We have enough problems with race differences here on Earth as it is. Anyone else have an opinion on that?
Even if you don't know how to do it, you can breed animals to the environment and then figure out how it's done. For example, start by breeding rats in low grav. Then when you get something that works well, move up to pigs. Then when that works, you should have a number of good ideas for humans. It might take a while, say a few decades, to work out the details.
1/6-g is easier than 1-g, yes. The moon already has 1/6 g. We don't need to build another moon. We need to build a place that is safe for people to live. If a family can live there, and raise kids there, and later return to Earth with no ill effects, then I would say it is safe. Any system that can be constructed in space that would not be safe for kids, would probably not be safe for adults either. If we are going to seriously go into space to work and live, we a need a safe place to do it.
It appears you desire to be something other than human. Just because humans want to go into space doesn't necessarily mean they want to give up their human heritage. I for one do not - not in this lifetime anyway. You seem to be talking science fiction - not science.
By having a One-Earth-Gravity facility on the moon you can have the best of both worlds at the same place. It would be great if we could have a One-Moon-Gravity facility on Earth, but I don't see how that would be possible. However, we could build a One-Earth-Gravity facility on the moon. We just need the "political will" to return to the moon and build it.
To counter the debilitating effects of micro-gravity and radiation in space we need to develop ways and means of creating earth-like conditions on various destinations in space. Large, shielded and rotating structures in space have been envisioned by many. Why not do the same thing on the moon and mars, or other locations?Imagine a NASCAR track built on the moon. The track could be sloped to accommodate vehicles moving around the track such that - people inside the vehicles would feel as if they were under the pull of additional gravity - much the same as the rotating structures in space. Constructing the track about one-mile in diameter, and having the vehicles move at between 100-300 miles per hour, earth-like gravity conditions could be created inside the vehicles.Now enlarge this picture. Instead of a single vehicle, imagine a large train-like system moving at a constant speed around a track. Increase the system again and one can imagine several trains moving parallel to each other. This would allow enough "area" for people to live and work under earth-like conditions.
Quote from: Hymag on 02/11/2010 10:06 pmIt appears you desire to be something other than human. Just because humans want to go into space doesn't necessarily mean they want to give up their human heritage. I for one do not - not in this lifetime anyway. You seem to be talking science fiction - not science.If you believe in evolution we are all descended from fish anyway. Those fish that left the sea to walk on land wanted to go and adapt to a different environment, should they have been stopped to do so by the other fish ? Have you seen how high you can jump and how high you can throw on the Moon ? 1/6g may not be such an impediment and will probably lead to much bigger massive humans if they spent all their lives there and procreated there if that is what they choose to do. If there is a demand for a 1g environment then it will be built but most I guess will prefer the difference of 1/6 g.
It can be done with today's technology.
Quote from: marsavian on 02/11/2010 10:32 pmQuote from: Hymag on 02/11/2010 10:06 pmIt appears you desire to be something other than human. Just because humans want to go into space doesn't necessarily mean they want to give up their human heritage. I for one do not - not in this lifetime anyway. You seem to be talking science fiction - not science.If you believe in evolution we are all descended from fish anyway. Those fish that left the sea to walk on land wanted to go and adapt to a different environment, should they have been stopped to do so by the other fish ? Have you seen how high you can jump and how high you can throw on the Moon ? 1/6g may not be such an impediment and will probably lead to much bigger massive humans if they spent all their lives there and procreated there if that is what they choose to do. If there is a demand for a 1g environment then it will be built but most I guess will prefer the difference of 1/6 g.Actually I see a 1/6 g raised human being a lighter and more frail creature then it's Earth raised counterpart.Less muscle and bone mass.But then this was Gerard K. O'Neill's argument for space colonies as places to live vs planetary surface colonies the kids could visit Earth.Of course I expect in the future there will be groups who will chose to live on other worlds and will simply adapt to them as well as groups who will prefer to recreate an Earth type habitat.