Re: The Fermi Paradox and Economics

John Ordover wrote:
> On Tue, 04 Nov 2003 07:50:49 GMT, Matt Giwer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:

> > Joseph Lazio wrote:
> >
> > > > > > > > "MG" == Matt Giwer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> >
> > > MG> John Ordover wrote:

> > > > > > I have no idea how close we are to the theory of everything nor do
> > > > > > I see how anyone could know without already knowing that theory.
> >
> > > > > My point at the top of the thread was only that the Fermi Paradox
> > > > > can be resolved if it is simply not economically feasible to travel
> > > > > long distances in space, despite being techologically possible
> > > > > (which it probably is).
> >
> > > MG>  And my thread on Low Earth Orbit being half way to anywhere in
> > > MG> terms of energetics addresses the economics. It is roughly 7 miles
> > > MG> per second to LEO and another 7 mps to escape our galaxy. [...]
> > >
> > > You mean solar system, right?  The escape velocity of the Galaxy, at
> > > the Sun's location, is around 200 km/s.
> >
> > 	If that is correct then certainly I must have misremembered the article and it was solar 
> > system. Either way I think the point has been opened for discussion. The first step is the 
> > biggest.

> > > MG>  And the further one goes out from the sun, and fusion from
> > > MG> Oort cloud sources considered, the less energy is required for
> > > MG> everything. The strangest thing would be going back to live on any
> > > MG> planet after the freedom of open space.
> >
> > > Yeah, I've wondered this, too.  If one can travel interstellar
> > > distances, why does one need a planet?
> >
> > 	And with fusion and the things we reasonably expect in technology in the next few decades 
> > there isn't a need to cross those distances quickly. A 100 generations is only 2000 years.

> No technology we can reasonably expect in the next few decades will
> run without replacement for 2000 years.  Once again, you're confusing
> what we might be able to do with what we would bother to do.  We're
> not going to bother to do something that takes 2000 years. :)

	Nor am I suggesting anything would run that long. I am suggesting that repair in space 
and replace with equipment manufactured in space. I see nothing inherently impossible 
about it.

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