In Mining The Sky, by John S. Lewis, ISBN 0-201-47959-1, says that NASA doesn't think it will be able to recruit many people from the populace to be the colonists. And sweating buckets about that possibility. It suspects only the most creative who can't take the increasing suffication of governments handling "the masses" anymore are the recruits.

We Y2Kers are darn close to that lifestyle of space colonists: Gotta do something with the potty, gotta recycle that trash, gotta measure the water, eat the calories worth, pull out the silver blanket, plant the tomato seeds or have none, solar panels, CERTs, etc.

Molecular nano technology is very close to its breakthrough now, which eliminates the cost in heading out to towards the stars and will be on a whole newly invented techno "system."

Are you going?

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 20, 1999

Answers

No, but I hope you are.

-- (@ .com), November 20, 1999.

I love the question, Paula,...One of my favorite collections of short stories is "The Past Through Tomorrow" by Robert Heinlein. It is a loosely associated group of stories about The Howard Family (ies) and how in the last novella length story head out to colonize elsewhere after being hounded to death on earth by folks who want to find their secrets of longevity.

I'd go in an eyeblink...and not just 'cos I have angst about how things are shaking out here....have wanted to go into space since I was a child watching the first men orbiting the Earth. I'm not sure they'd have me at age 47...but hell, if John Glenn can go up in his 70s, maybe I could too.

Human beings need to go to Mars and elsewhere....much to learn...

Just some thoughts....

-- Donna (moment@pacbell.net), November 20, 1999.

If I uderstood the book, Nano, by Ed Regis, ones life span could possibly be about a thousand years. 47 is a toddler.

I'm 38 myself and I'm bringing all my pets with me. Nor am I giving up smoking. This is where the seed planting comes in if need be.

On the old system but just more advanced we'd have something like 24 sq ft homes (I think under the ground), the hitch is of course, they are steel to protect against the radiation. And everything is recycled. (Mining The Sky.) Transport may be on a hollowed out sizable asteroid.

On the molecular system I don't know what it'd be like. The Internet is being setup on Mars, and Nano boxes would work off the Internet, etc. I suspect we do have to have a nuclear power plant because Nano boxes require electricity. We'd probably be able to have more unique designs to our homes since molecular nano would build them.

I am most absolutely going. I'm hoping to be a part of the leap frogging to a planet more earthlike in atmosphere. Mining The Sky was pretty clear that those who'd rather die than accept the new will get their wish.

I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for the novel you mentioned.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 20, 1999.

What an amazing opportunity - I'd certainly go! I'm sure that the early explorers went thru the same ridicule. But, succeed they did, and their societies gained by their ventures.

We are those who dare to dream, and want to LIVE it. Think, live and GROW - don't stagnate. People who dare to grow, to take a chance and work TOGETHER will be the ones to succeed. Those who can't conquer their fear or malaise will be the ones to suffer moral, mental and physical decay.

It's time for a spark of hope, let's go to Mars...

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 20, 1999.

What a kick! Paula...the book should be in the bookstores and amazon.wedoeverything.com....still in printThe Past Through Tomorrow. A good read, and better than a novel...cohesive collection of stories...

I'm not giving up smoking either...by then they'll have the pill we can take, or will have eliminated the nasty stuff, which BTW is not the tobacco.

Read it...you will love Lazarus Long, the central figure in many of the stories...who said: "When civilization get so advanced as to require ID, it's time to leave." (close paraphrase)

Yes, Deb,...it is about hope, isn't it? :-)

-- Donna (moment@pacbell.net), November 20, 1999.

Even though I do not support or approve of space exploration, I did enjoy your post. The spirit or notion about Y2K folks having that pioneer attitude is on the mark and I agree completely. It seems reasonable that people who are driven by the desire to fend for themselves are those who would thrive in such circumstances. Thanks!

Regards,

Irving

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), November 20, 1999.

http://www.mars2030.net/

The Mars Millennium Project

-- flora (***@__._), November 20, 1999.

I went to the Mars Millennium Project. NASA can be a little frustrating. Once again, and it is the norm, its all slanted for little school kiddies and their teachers.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 20, 1999.