Colonization of trans-Neptunian objects: Difference between revisions

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[[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]].

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]] and [[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]], the first novel whichset mentionedpartly on [[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]] or [[mantle]], using fusion or geothermal heat and mining the soft-ice or liquid inner [[ocean]] for [[volatiles]] and [[mineral]]s.

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".

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]] or [[mantle]], using fusion or geothermal heat and mining the soft-ice or liquid inner [[ocean]] for [[volatiles]] and [[mineral]]s.

Random House, 1994, ISBN 0-345-37659-5.</ref> 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 objects to build vast starlight collecting arrays to power habitats, thus making an Oort community essentially independent of its central star and fusion fuel supplies. Gregory Matloff<ref>Gregory Matloff, "The Re-enchantment of the Solar System", National Institute for Discovery Science, http://holtz.org/Library/Natural%20Science/Biology/Exobiology/The%20Reenchantment%20of%20the%20Solar%20System%20A%20Proposed%20Search%20for%20Local%20ET.htm</ref> has suggested that extraterrestrial intelligences have already colonized the Oort Cloud, easily avoiding observation by emulating the appearance of natural objects.