Colony Worlds

Posted by darnell on Apr 25, 2011

Can SpaceX Put A Man On Mars By 2031?

SpaceX (which is short for Space Exploration Technologies) is either the most brazen company ever formed by man or America’s last great hope for expanding free civilization across the star system. Either way the company has announced plans to conquer the red planet before 2031, which is about six years before NASA’s original plan and four years before Russia’s. The only question is,...

Posted by darnell on Oct 16, 2010

Could Solar Wind Power Martian And Lunar Colonies?

When it comes to settling our nearest neighbors, both Mars and Luna (aka the Moon) present unique challenges as far as energy goes. Although one could always import numerous mini-nuclear reactors upon each respective world from Earth (controversy aside), it may make more sense to rely upon the fiery breathe from our Sol star. Instead of physically rotating a blade attached to a turbine, the proposed...

Posted by darnell on Mar 22, 2010

Video: VASIMR May Be The Only (Safe) Way To Reach Mars

(Image Credit: NASA) Before we can build homes, fertilize the soil and raise up forests upon the red planet (not to mention bring our animal friends as well), we are going to have to figure out a way to safely get to Mars. Despite the advances of chemical rockets, taking a 6 month journey to that crimson world would not only be unreasonable (as you would have to pack a lot of food and water for the...

Posted by darnell on Mar 18, 2010

Terraforming Mars Impossible Due To The Sun?

(Image: Terraformed Mars, Artist: Ittiz) It looks like humanities hope of turning Mars into a second Earth may never translate into reality thanks in part to the red planet’s lack of a magnetic field. Scientists have discovered that our Sun’s solar radiation may thwart all attempts at increasing the atmospheric pressure of the crimson world, which means we may never get the chance of...

Posted by darnell on Mar 8, 2010

Could ‘Peepoo Bags’ Help Fertilize Martian Soil?

(Image Credit: Peepoople.com) Unlike our beloved Earth, Martian soil is very hostile to terrestrial plants. While this may not hinder our efforts to visit the red planet, it will prevent us from raising crop and planting forests upon this barren dusty world. Fortunately there seems to be an innovative invention that may resolve this issue–although it may turn a few noses. (Physorg.com) While efforts...

Posted by darnell on Nov 20, 2009

The 7 (Future) Wonders Of The Solar System

Two hundred years after the first man and woman graced the plains of Mars, humanity is still isolated to just one star system. Despite an intense campaign by the Alpha Centauri Society, humans overall have little desire to travel between stars due to cost and technology. Although this rowdy species has yet to claim their interstellar inheritence, they have transformed their solar playground around them,...

Posted by darnell on Oct 30, 2009

Moon: Oxygen, Oxygen Everywhere, But We’ll Need Hydrogen To Drink

The discovery of water within the lunar soil earlier set off a buzz amongst the space geek community. While Luna’s revelation inspired dreams of interplanetary conquest, the fact is that the Moon’s soil is far too dry for us to use as a fountain, let alone for watering crop. Instead of digging through 10 million tons of soil in order to get 10,000 liters of water, it might be easier (and...

Posted by darnell on Aug 13, 2009

Mars: A Paradise For Plants (But Not Animals And People?)

Update (12/23): Credited image (full of microscopic life) below. Regardless of whether or not you believe that the red planet is the future of humanity, one thing is probably certain–whether it takes a decade or a millennium, humanity will probably settle upon that dusty crimson world. If humanity ever does gain the necessary technology to terraform Mars into a habitable world (air pressure and...

Posted by darnell on Apr 10, 2009

Are Traditional Space Elevators The Wrong Way Up?

After being first envisioned by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, then perfected by Yuri Artsutanov, Jerome Pearson and Brad Edwards, the space elevator has captured the imaginations of thousands of individuals who believe it’s humanities best hope for colonizing the solar system en masse. This radical space concept led to the creation of two startups (LiftPort and Blackline Ascension), as well as support from...

Posted by darnell on Dec 10, 2008

One Solar Space Power To Rule Them All?

Image Credit: Loony Tunes Note: Article inspired by NASA Watch, The Planetary Society and 21st Century WavesWarning: This is an extremely long article, so you may want to grab a quick snack as you read through this post. Anyone who has ever played board games such as Risk and Monopoly knows that the overall purpose of the game is for one player to dominant the board by either taking territory or securing...

Posted by darnell on Nov 26, 2008

Uranus: One Planetary System To Fuel Them All?

Orbiting almost 3 billion kilometers away from the Sun, Uranus is an ice giant that gathers little attention from the creatures that currently rule Earth. Except for being used as the butt of astronomy jokes, the lopsided wonder gathers little press (if any at all), often being overlooked by both Saturn and Neptune. Although the blueish-green giant may lack large lunar children like Titan...

Posted by darnell on Oct 29, 2008

Melting Asteroid Metals With Martian Sunlight

(Hat Tip: Gizmodo and Dark Roasted Blend) Whether or not we head to the asteroid belt before Mars, one thing is clear–while we may have the means to land upon and (hopefully) sift the metal from “the rubble” (or useless rocky material), we probably will be unable to inexpensively melt the metals on site. Even though lasers are always an option, future colonists may not be too...

Posted by darnell on Oct 8, 2008

Dogs: The Number One (Future) Solar Pet?

Image Credit: The Jetsons (Image Credit: Mzelle Laure via Wikipedia) Space is big. Its “vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big.” It can also be a lonely place as well. Scientists have been previously warning that long term trips on the Moon (or towards Mars) may place undo psychological burdens on future astronauts, especially if they can not see Earth. Since launching astronauts with their...

Posted by darnell on Sep 3, 2008

Will Geothermal Energy Power Our Solar System?

Image Credit: Apogee.net Regardless whether one intends to dwell upon a dusty world, or an icy one, living on another planet, moon, or dwarf planet is going to require energy. Without a dependable power source, off world settlements will become nothing but fantasy, regulated to the imaginations of Star Wars, Star Trek and Serenity. While a few worlds such as Mercury, Luna (aka the Moon) and...

Posted by darnell on Aug 19, 2008

Living Off World May Stink

Image Credit: Discovery Space I packed my bags to head off world, To live beyond the sky that twirls, Around the planet of my birth, The one I call home–aka Earth. But when I arrived on that new planet, I left in a hurry as I could not stand it. It was not the gravity, or the radiation, It was the stench of that wretched habitation. ~Darnell Clayton, 2008 We are a unique species. We spend...

Posted by darnell on Aug 6, 2008

Moon Base Plus Amor Asteroids Equals Solar Powered Satellites?

(Note: Inspired by Ken Murphy of Out of the Cradle) If extraterrestrials were (un)fortunate enough to visit our rowdy planet, they would realize that our civilization is powered by death. For our civilization to survive, to expand, and to literally keep the lights on our species must harvest the compressed liquid of billions of dead things–also known as fossil fuels. While alternative energy sources...

Another Reason Martian Settlers May Choose Solar Over Nuclear Power

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