Contents
Technical Sections
Introduction
Target Environments
The Swarm Strategy
Propulsion and Launch
Astrometry and Targeting
Capture at the Target Zone
Design of Capsule Size
Target Selections/Probability
Dark Cloud
Fragment
Protostellar
Condensation
Accretion
Disks/Planets
Biomass Requirements
Missions to Nearby
Stars
Survival/Growth in
Comets
Biological Considerations
Advanced Missions
Resource Requirements
Using Comets as Vehicles
Conclusions
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10 - Advanced Missions and
Development Needs
Advanced
technologies can increase substantially the probability of success, and reduce the
required swarm mass, which is a major economical barrier.
Preparation of biological payload.
Genetically engineer microorganisms, including multicellular eukaryotes, that combine
extremophile traits for survival in unpredictable, diverse environments, and that can
efficiently metabolise extraterrestrial nutrients. It may be necessary to devise missions
where the microbial payload can defrost and multiply/recycle periodically, say every 1E5
yr, for renewal against radation-induced genetic degradation.
Propulsion. Develop new methods
to accelerate sub-milligram objects to 0.01 c. For example, antimatter - matter
recombination has the potential to reach velocities close to c. Interestingly, the energy
for a capsule of 1E-6 kg travelling at 0.01 c, ie., 4.5E6 J, which can be provided by
mass-to-energy conversion of 5E-11 kg of antiparticles. Launching smaller, microgram
capsules at 0.01 c requires the production of 5E-14 kg of antiparticles, which brings even
this exotic technology within the capabilities of current technology [24].
Navigation. Apply on-board
intelligent robots for in-course navigation, and for identifying suitable accretion
systems and habitable planets; for landing on these targets; and to control the initial
incubation.
Accretion into comets and asteroids.
Use self-replicating robots to multiply on those bodies and to turn them into biological
hatcheries. Use comets and asteroids in this solar system to grow large panspermia
biomasses for interstellar and galactic panspermia, and as growth and storage media in the
target systems.
At the highest technological level,
human interstellar travel can promote life. For example, Oort-belt cometary nuclei can be
converted to habitats with resources to sustain each up to 1E13 kg biomass (1E12 human
population), and their large-aphelion orbit readily perturbed to leave the solar system.
Human interstellar travel may require centuries of far-reaching developments, including
the bioengineering of space-adapted, science-based "homo spasciense". Space
adaptation may also need man/machine cyborgs and the risk of robot takeover, or strong
measures to ensure that control stays vested in organic intelligent brains with
self-interest in perpetuating their (and our) genetic heritage as DNA/protein life.
Such problems illustrate that human
interstellar travel is tenuous. The longevity of intelligent civilisations is unknown, and
the long-term ability of organic intelligent Life to propagate itself in space is
unpredictable. It is therefore prudent to enact a panspermia program early using available
techology, and advanced technologies can be incorporated as they develop. |