How Long Can A Machine Last On The Moon?

Lord Poe · Post by **Lord Poe** » 2003-07-18 01:29pm

I'm reading an interesting sci-fi novel called Terraforming Earth. The story is about a moonbase set up to reseed and repopulate the Earth should anything happen to it. So of course, an ELE-asteroid hits the Earth, wiping everything out. The master computer grows clones of the original scientists every millennia or so, and they go down to the Earth and reseed it, and watch its recovery. When Earth needs another stage of recovery, the computer grows a new set of clones.

This story take place over a couple million years, with the computer monitoring Earth the whole time! Even in the wildest imaginings of sci-fi, is this a viable premise?

A moral quandry to consider: One of the clones constantly refuses to have anything to do with the recovery effort, saying we don't belong in this new biocosm. What do you think? Is this the ultimate fusion of Greenpeace and PETA think, or does he have a point?

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-07-18 02:00pm

i suppose if the computer was properly made it could last that long. self-repair would definitely allow it to happen.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-07-18 02:09pm

Lord Poe wrote:A moral quandry to consider: One of the clones constantly refuses to have anything to do with the recovery effort, saying we don't belong in this new biocosm. What do you think? Is this the ultimate fusion of Greenpeace and PETA think, or does he have a point?

one could argue that humanity developing the ability to create such a species protection is step forward in the evolutionary process. The species has a way to ensure it's continuation even after such a cataclysmic event. Any species of animal that develops the ability to survive after a massive ecological change is not considered abboration . Why should humanity be considered one? I see it as 'technologicl mutation' for lack of a better word (or a lack in my vocabulary)

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-07-18 05:38pm

Lord Poe wrote:A moral quandry to consider: One of the clones constantly refuses to have anything to do with the recovery effort, saying we don't belong in this new biocosm. What do you think? Is this the ultimate fusion of Greenpeace and PETA think, or does he have a point?

Is it always the clone of the same scientist, or is it a different scientist every time? Because I wouldn't clone him again if that's the case.

I don't see what's so important about letting humanity die to make room for the next lifeform. If a new lifeform wants to emerge, they'll have about the same chances in almost every single world similar to ours in the entire universe... that must be a lot of worlds.

There's still a really big chance that no life will reappear naturally before the sun dies.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-07-18 05:39pm

Col. Crackpot wrote:
Lord Poe wrote:A moral quandry to consider: One of the clones constantly refuses to have anything to do with the recovery effort, saying we don't belong in this new biocosm. What do you think? Is this the ultimate fusion of Greenpeace and PETA think, or does he have a point?
one could argue that humanity developing the ability to create such a species protection is step forward in the evolutionary process. The species has a way to ensure it's continuation even after such a cataclysmic event. Any species of animal that develops the ability to survive after a massive ecological change is not considered abboration . Why should humanity be considered one? I see it as 'technologicl mutation' for lack of a better word (or a lack in my vocabulary)

Yes, I agree. Survival of the fittest and all that - if humanity has become fit enough to survive its own extintion, then more power to it.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-07-18 08:12pm

Lord Poe wrote:This story take place over a couple million years, with the computer monitoring Earth the whole time! Even in the wildest imaginings of sci-fi, is this a viable premise?

Is the computer running Wiinblows or Linux?

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-07-18 08:15pm

Wicked Pilot wrote:
Lord Poe wrote:This story take place over a couple million years, with the computer monitoring Earth the whole time! Even in the wildest imaginings of sci-fi, is this a viable premise?
Is the computer running Wiinblows or Linux?

Probably some Linux firmware. Far superior to standard installs.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-07-18 08:32pm

Wicked Pilot wrote:Is the computer running Wiinblows or Linux?

I doubt any computer with THAT much importance would use any civillian-designed operation system. It would probably use a dedicated, military-grade operating system.

Either that or an AI.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-07-18 08:39pm

Shinova wrote:I doubt any computer with THAT much importance would use any civillian-designed operation system. It would probably use a dedicated, military-grade operating system.

Of course, you wouldn't want humanity to vanish from the universe because Windows crashes and no one is there to reboot.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2003-07-18 08:52pm

Even linux will crash eventually.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-07-18 09:32pm

maybe then it was firmware AI.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-07-18 09:56pm

kojikun wrote:maybe then it was firmware AI.

Hopefully one with some Asimov laws built in so it doesn't just up and decide not to clone humans again

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-07-18 10:02pm

Vorlon1701 wrote:Hopefully one with some Asimov laws built in so it doesn't just up and decide not to clone humans again

well, maybe it only needs to be conscious upon error?

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-07-18 10:17pm

kojikun wrote:
well, maybe it only needs to be conscious upon error?

Hmmm, fine then. We've got the programming set. But what about physical materials? Where would this machine be placed? What would power it? What happens when fuel runs out? What about reaction mass?

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-07-18 10:21pm

Vorlon1701 wrote:Hmmm, fine then. We've got the programming set. But what about physical materials? Where would this machine be placed? What would power it? What happens when fuel runs out? What about reaction mass?

Best idea would be in a polar crater with solar power.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-07-18 10:43pm

Reaction mass? It's gotta be getting those clone samples to Earth somehow...

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-07-18 10:47pm

Vorlon1701 wrote:Reaction mass? It's gotta be getting those clone samples to Earth somehow...

thermal rockets using oxygen extracted from silicates? lunar helium-3 fusion rockets? electromagnetic catapults? orbital elevator?

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-07-18 10:59pm

kojikun wrote:
thermal rockets using oxygen extracted from silicates? lunar helium-3 fusion rockets? electromagnetic catapults? orbital elevator?

Alright then, you've got yourself the tools to make a lunar base!

Now for the real question. Do we have the right to do this?

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-07-18 11:17pm

In Nature, might makes right.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-07-18 11:28pm

Howedar wrote:In Nature, might makes right.

Darn tootin.

And I do believe that all life is gone, right, so the naturists would think "Oh its wrong to let species die!" shit.

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