Colonization of trans-Neptunian objects: Difference between revisions

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{{sources|date=March 2021}}

[[Image:Kuiper oort.jpg|thumb|left|Artist's rendering of the [[Kuiper Belt]] and [[Oort Cloud]].]]

{{short description|Proposed concepts for the human colonization of trans-Neptunian objects}}

{{Space colonization}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2020}}

[[Freeman Dyson]] has proposed that [[Trans-Neptunian Objects]], rather than [[planet]]s, are the major potential habitat of life in space. Several hundred billion to trillion [[comet]]-like ice-rich bodies exist outside the orbit of [[Neptune]], in the [[Kuiper Belt]] and Inner and Outer [[Oort Cloud]]. These may contain all the ingredients for life (water ice, ammonia, and carbon-rich compounds), including significant amounts of [[deuterium]] and [[helium-3]].

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}

[[Image:Kuiper oort-en.jpgsvg|thumb|leftupright=1.3|right|Artist's rendering of the [[Kuiper Beltbelt]] and [[Oort Cloudcloud]].]]

Since Dr Dyson's proposal, the number of [[Trans-Neptunian Objects]] known has increased greatly, and the size of known TNOs has led to considerable argument over what to call them. [[Dwarf planets]] such as [[Eris (dwarf planet)|Eris]] and [[Makemake (dwarf planet)|Makemake]] may be excellent candidates for [[colonization]]. Their [[cryogenic]] temperatures and extreme distance from the inner [[Solar System]] make them suitable for eccentric or outcast groups, or for groups conducting research forbidden elsewhere, as mentioned in [[Charles Stross]]' novel ''[[Saturn's Children (novel)|Saturn's Children]]'', the first [[novel]] set partly on [[Eris (dwarf planet)|Eris]]. Surface habitats or [[domes]] are another possibility, as [[background radiation]] levels are likely to be low. Colonists could also live in the [[dwarf planet]]'s icy [[Crust (geology)|crust]] or [[mantle (geology)|mantle]], using [[fusion power|fusion]] or [[geothermal]] heat and mining the soft-ice or liquid inner [[ocean]] for [[volatiles]] and [[mineral]]s. Given the light gravity and resulting lower pressure in the ice [[mantle (geology)|mantle]] or inner [[ocean]], colonizing the rocky [[Planetary core|core]]'s outer surface might give [[colonists]] the largest number of [[mineral]] and [[volatility (chemistry)|volatile]] resources as well as insulating them from cold.

[[Freeman Dyson]] has proposed that [[Transtrans-Neptunian Objectsobject]]s, rather than [[planet]]s, are the major potential habitat of life in space.<ref>{{cite web|title=Let's look for life in the outer solar system |first=Freeman|last=Dyson |website=ted2003 |date=February 2003 |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/freeman_dyson_let_s_look_for_life_in_the_outer_solar_system?language=en |access-date=18 April 2025}}</ref> Several hundred billion to trillion [[comet]]-like ice-rich bodies exist outside the orbit of [[Neptune]], in the [[Kuiper Beltbelt]] and Inner and Outer [[Oort Cloudcloud]]. These may contain all the ingredients for life (water ice, ammonia, and carbon-rich compounds), including significant amounts of [[deuterium]] and [[helium-3]]. Since Dyson's proposal, the number of trans-Neptunian objects known has increased greatly.

Colonists of such bodies could build [[space habitat|rotating habitats]] or live in dug-out spaces and light them with [[fusion reactor]]s for thousands to millions of years before moving on.<ref>[[Carl E. Sagan]], "Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space".

Colonists could live in the [[dwarf planet]]'s icy [[Crust (geology)|crust]] or [[mantle (geology)|mantle]], using [[fusion power|fusion]] or [[Geothermal power|geothermal]] heat{{Citation needed|date=January 2016}} and mining the soft-ice or liquid inner [[ocean]] for [[Volatile (astrogeology)|volatiles]] and [[mineral]]s. Given the light gravity and resulting lower pressure in the ice [[mantle (geology)|mantle]] or inner ocean, colonizing the rocky [[Planetary core|core]]'s outer surface might give [[colonists]] the largest number of [[mineral]] and [[volatility (chemistry)|volatile]] resources as well as insulating them from cold.{{Citation needed|date=January 2016}} Surface habitats or [[domes]] are another possibility, as [[background radiation]] levels are likely to be low.{{Citation needed|date=January 2016}}

Colonists of such bodies could also build [[space habitat|rotating habitats]] or live in dug-out spaces and light them with [[fusion reactor]]s for thousands to millions of years before moving on.<ref>[[Carl E. Sagan]], "Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space". Random House, 1994, {{ISBN |0-345-37659-5}}.</ref>{{dubious|date=January 2016}}<!--Low gravity health issues.--> Dyson and [[Carl Sagan]] envisioned that humanity could migrate to neighbouring star systems, which have similar clouds, by using natural objects as [[Generation ship|slow interstellar vessels]] with substantial natural resources; and that such interstellar colonies could also serve as way-stations for faster, smaller interstellar ships. Alternatively Richard Terra<ref>Richard P. Terra, "Islands in the Sky: Human Exploration and Settlement of the Oort Cloud", in Islands in the Sky: Bold New Ideas for Colonizing Space, Stanley Schmidt and Robert Zubrin, eds. Wiley, 1996, ISBN 0-471-13561-5</ref> has proposed using the materials from the Oort-cloud objects to build vast starlight collecting arrays to power habitats, thus making an Oort-cloud community essentially independent of its central star and fusion fuel supplies. Gregory Matloff<ref>GregoryRichard MatloffP. Terra, "TheIslands Re-enchantment ofin the SolarSky: System",Human NationalExploration Instituteand forSettlement Discoveryof Science,the http://holtz.org/Library/Natural%20Science/Biology/Exobiology/The%20Reenchantment%20of%20the%20Solar%20System%20A%20Proposed%20Search%20for%20Local%20ET.htm</ref>Oort hasCloud", suggestedin that''Islands [[Extraterrestrialin life|extraterrestrial]]the intelligencesSky: haveBold alreadyNew colonizedIdeas thefor OortColonizing CloudSpace'', easilyStanley avoidingSchmidt observationand byRobert emulatingZubrin, theeds. appearanceWiley, of1996, natural objects.{{ISBN|0-471-13561-5}}</ref>

==External links==

*[http://www.orbitalvector.com/Interstellar%20Flight/Stepping%20Stone/Stepping%20Stone.htm ''Orbitalvector.com'']

==References==

{{reflist}}

*Freeman Dyson, "The World, the Flesh, and the Devil", Third J.D. Bernal Lecture, May 1972, reprinted in Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Carl Sagan, ed., MIT Press, 1973, ISBN 0-262-69037-3

==Bibliography==

*Richard P. Terra, "Islands in the Sky: Human Exploration and Settlement of the Oort Cloud", in Islands in the Sky: Bold New Ideas for Colonizing Space, Stanley Schmidt and Robert Zubrin, eds. Wiley, 1996, ISBN 0-471-13561-5

*Freeman Dyson, "The World, the Flesh, and the Devil", Third J.D. Bernal Lecture, May 1972, reprinted in Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Carl Sagan, ed., MIT Press, 1973, {{ISBN |0-262-69037-3}}

*Ben R. Finney and Eric M. Jones, eds., Interstellar Migration and the Human Experience, University of California Press, 1986, ISBN 0-520-05898-4

*Richard P. Terra, "Islands in the Sky: Human Exploration and Settlement of the Oort Cloud", in Islands in the Sky: Bold New Ideas for Colonizing Space, Stanley Schmidt and Robert Zubrin, eds. Wiley, 1996, {{ISBN |0-471-13561-5}}

*Ben R. Finney and Eric M. Jones, eds., Interstellar Migration and the Human Experience, University of California Press, 1986, {{ISBN |0-520-05898-4}}

*David G. Stephenson, "Comets and Interstellar Travel", in Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, 36, 1983, pp.&nbsp;210–214.

{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}

{{Space colonization}}

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[[Category:Space colonization|+Trans-Neptunian objects]]

[[Category:Space colonization]]

[[Category:Spaceflight]]

[[Category:Freeman Dyson]]

[[Category:Trans-Neptunian objects]]

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