So, for the space colonization fans...

[roseembolism]

Every so often I see people enamored of Gerald K. O'Neils space colonization plan bemoaning the fact that the government isn't investing in space colonies to settle in to avoid the inevitable upcoming disasters*. The problem being that it seems a massively ridiculous expense to create a very uncomfortable gated community.in space.

Fortunately, the blogger rfmcdpei has come to the rescue, with a fascinating article that compares the trapped Chilean mine workers to astonauts- in fact, NASA has been called in to advise on how to maintain the worker's mental health over the next few months.

Not to make light of the situation of the miners, but there we have the solution to the would-be space colonist's woes. If they want the same effect as being in a space colony, there's plenty of abandoned mines they could set up shop and seal themselves away in. It would have much of the same element of cramped quarters and isolation of a space colony, while being far cheaper.  It could be done without massive infrastructure and government effort, and best of all, unlike a space colony the "mine colonists" could probably be self supporting by tapping the remnant ore in the mine.

I strongly support sending all fervent "space colonization or else" advocates deep down into mines, to prepare them for their inevitable colonization of the solar system.


*pick a disaster. There's always an upcoming disaster for space colony proponents.

Comments

[heron61.livejournal.com]

This idea might even have legs. Remember all the old 50s & 60s SF stories of buried science cities built to survive nuclear wars? Unlike space colonies, a group of sufficiently dedicated & idealistic crazy geeks with a goodly wad of cash could likely build such a thing right now and make it self-sufficient (using nutrients and other raw materials in the rocks, and water filtered through a deep aquifer for drinking and to split for oxygen to supplement the plant). Geothermal power could provide all the power they'd need. Hmm, I wonder if someone could get rich persuading crazy geeks to invest in "survival caverns". Also, if it worked, in a couple centuries the post-humans living on the surface could amuse themselves by sending nano-probes down to watch the cannibalistic mole people survivors. It sounds like a win-win situation to me.

[ragnarok-now.livejournal.com]

You could set up a whole company to fund this project. I recommend naming it Vault Tec.

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

Nice idea, but as it would be the first oif its kind, it would be spiffier to have its name show off tha status something like..."Alpha". Alpha Something. Alpha Base? Meh. Alpha Colony? Nah. Alpha...Complex? Oh yeah, that's the ticket!

[deirdremoon.livejournal.com]

For some reason, I now have Steely Dan/Donald Fagan's "New Frontier" stuck in my head. :)

The only possible argument I see against this at first blush is that the mine settlers would-- unless serious security measures were taken to isolate the company, er, settlement-- always have it in the backs of their heads that they could choose to leave, unlike a real space colony. I have no idea psychologically whether that would be worse (never really settling in) or better (if I can leave anytime I want, I don't have to panic).

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

That should be a fairly easy problem to solve: we just plug up the entrance with a dozen meters or so of reinforced cement, leaving only a space for water, air and small goods to be piped in. And internet connection of course- we aren't savages. Though we may make it only one-way for security.