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muriel_volestrangler

(106,263 posts)

40. How much energy do you think it takes to build and launch an "interplanetary Conestoga"?

Sun Sep 15, 2013, 06:00 AM

Sep 2013

Look at the effort it took to send a few astronauts to the moon - the amount of hardware, and fuel for that matter. Multiply that by a billion, and you have more energy and material needs than we've ever needed for the entire planet.

If 'go elsewhere' is meant to be part of a solution to environmental problems, then Clean Up This Place Before We Go Elsewhere is not 'despair', it's the only possible order to do it in. We can continue sending probes, we could set up a few experimental posts, but these do not fix the energy and environment requirements of Earth.

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Astronomer royal calls for 'Plan B' to prevent runaway climate change [View all] bananas Sep 2013 OP

No geoengineering, please. joshcryer Sep 2013 #1

It's too late for that, we're already geoengineering, just not on purpose... Salviati Sep 2013 #2

I have been predicting geoengineering for a decade or so. joshcryer Sep 2013 #3

We need to cull our population. Ghost Dog Sep 2013 #12

We need to *end up* with just 1% GliderGuider Sep 2013 #13

Since our 'elites' are entirely (ir)responsible for the situation Ghost Dog Sep 2013 #14

A lot of people agree with that position. GliderGuider Sep 2013 #16

Yes. I completely agree with every word/thought you write here. However, Ghost Dog Sep 2013 #17

Cool. So long as we walk into the bloodbath with our eyes open, it's all good. GliderGuider Sep 2013 #20

No sane person wants that. Ghost Dog Sep 2013 #25

Cliches about the French Revolution... JackRiddler Sep 2013 #29

Cliches aside, my point was simply this GliderGuider Sep 2013 #32

And to join this back to the theme of the OP GliderGuider Sep 2013 #35

It's not bloody if they are simply taxed out of existence. hunter Sep 2013 #22

Yes... Taxation... Mmmm. Ghost Dog Sep 2013 #34

Lessons of Volcanic Eruptions bananas Sep 2013 #4

It's been known and proposed since 2007: joshcryer Sep 2013 #5

It was proposed in the early 1970's bananas Sep 2013 #8

Oh, right, the video even says that was the original route. joshcryer Sep 2013 #9

"Greenpeace's chief scientist, said that Rees was right about the many downsides and unknowns" bananas Sep 2013 #6

The fact that it's even being considered proves we failed. joshcryer Sep 2013 #7

What if everybody turned on their air conditioners and opened the windows? trusty elf Sep 2013 #10

AC creates heat while cooling a space. Turn them all OFF for the desired effect & save energy. Coyotl Sep 2013 #68

I didn't think anybody would take that comment seriously.... trusty elf Sep 2013 #75

Terraform Earth first before we talk about Mars. Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2013 #11

Now that science is starting to explain where religion comes from cprise Sep 2013 #15

The idea that some science fiction action. sendero Sep 2013 #18

I'm afraid he's right--geoengineering is the only thing that will save us. Peace Patriot Sep 2013 #19

Please stop thinking about terraforming muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #21

You want the human race to have a future? Peace Patriot Sep 2013 #31

In a 'planetary crisis', you need to think about fixing the planet muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #33

Well, I admit I'm fantasizing that we could put NASA's technology geniuses in charge... Peace Patriot Sep 2013 #37

It's far easier to support the extra billions on Earth muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #39

It's not science fiction... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #42

This is put forward as a claim to solve the environmental problems on Earth muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #44

Sigh... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #46

It took hundreds of millions of years for cyanobacteria to build up enough oxygen in the atmosphere muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #49

Once again...Sigh... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #53

You need a rocket to get off a planet muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #55

too easy... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #57

What industry could be recreated with dead satellites? muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #59

Actually... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #61

What is the pollution from running 3D printers on earth that needs to be avoided? muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #64

Seriously? oNobodyo Sep 2013 #65

Then run your super-duper 3D printers on Earth muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #66

sigh... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #73

I take a pretty cynical view of all this.. sendero Sep 2013 #27

It will neither save nor destroy us, but it will stave off the inevitable--collapse of civilization Kennah Sep 2013 #74

. snagglepuss Sep 2013 #23

But it's going to SNOW this winter in many areas tabasco Sep 2013 #24

algae is a win win: you can use it to make fuel too, ethanol and biodiesel yurbud Sep 2013 #26

Covering hundreds of millions of roofs with solar panels daleo Sep 2013 #28

Self-important fantasy. JackRiddler Sep 2013 #30

I really love these arguments... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #36

+10000. politicat Sep 2013 #38

How much energy do you think it takes to build and launch an "interplanetary Conestoga"? muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #40

That's the problem... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #41

"energy or materials ... are actually quite abundant in space" - no, materials are not muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #43

I repeat... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #45

Plant a tree on Mars and it will die muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #50

To fund it, about 2% of the world's wealth. politicat Sep 2013 #47

Actually... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #48

Absolutely. politicat Sep 2013 #51

Orbital solar power is ridiculously expensive muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #52

It's already being done. oNobodyo Sep 2013 #54

I see no links that satellites are sending power to earth (nt) muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #56

The question wasn't if they were already doing it but if it could be done. oNobodyo Sep 2013 #58

You said 'it's already being done' muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #60

I did... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #62

Sorry, that was politicat in #47, not you muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #63

sigh... oNobodyo Sep 2013 #69

"These are small, inexpensive and so simple that you could build one in your garage" muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #70

LOL oNobodyo Sep 2013 #72

Maybe plant some trees before putting mirrors in space?? Stop deforestation?? Coyotl Sep 2013 #67

Why not both? oNobodyo Sep 2013 #71

We will stop our attacks on religion when they comply with a simple demand: DetlefK Sep 2013 #76