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Suppose we put solar panels in space. Then we would be entirely unconstrained by the amount of energy received by the earth. Heat dissipation would also no long
by f33d5173 3y ago
Suppose we put solar panels in space. Then we would be entirely unconstrained by the amount of energy received by the earth. Heat dissipation would also no longer affect earth. Given our current trajectory with regards to spaceflight, it seems plausible we will be doing large projects of that scale in space in say 300 years, enough time to meet such exponential growth targets.
- wcoenen 3y agoGoing to space still cannot outrun an exponential function. Extrapolating exponential growth always leads to catastrophe. Imagine the sphere of a civilization expanding in space at some speed, in all directions. The volume of this sphere would equal time cubed (t^3) times some constant. Now suppose this civilization has a magical power source that allows them to keep growing power consumption exponentially. So power consumption would equal 2^t (where time unit = one doubling time, 35 years in the case of 2% growth) times some constant. 2^t will always overtake t^3 no matter the constants, so power density of the sphere trends to infinity, so the civilization will cook itself in waste heat.