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I thought that most technically interested folks saw growing into the stars as a worthy endeavor. It is indeed the only way for humanity to survive in the (long

I thought that most technically interested folks saw growing into the stars as a worthy endeavor. It is indeed the only way for humanity to survive in the (long) long term. I’m surprised to see that there are so many people here that don’t share that view.

llamaimperative 2y ago
Space is way, way, way bigger and way, way, way less hospitable than "technically interested" folks on here understand. And being multiplanetary isn't really a great hedge against the types of risks that are existential to a species that's capable of being multiplanetary.
- Vegenoid 2y ago
  I can't speak for most people, but I am aware of the size and inhospitality of space, which is why I think we should be be studying and reaching into it now, to give us as much as time as possible to succeed.
  - llamaimperative 2y ago
    I really don't think you are. Without looking it up: how far away is Proxima Centauri and how long do you think it'd take to reach it given our current propulsion technology? Obviously propulsion will continue to get better and better, but it's a good way to anchor oneself back to technical reality. What's your gut feeling on how long it'd take to reach our nearest neighbor if we were to travel at the top speed of the fastest spacecraft we've ever made?
    - Vegenoid 2y ago
      I don't know the answers to these questions confidently without looking them up, and if you think that means my opinion isn't worth much then so be it. I have no influence on space exploration beyond being a voting US citizen if it makes you feel better. I believe that Proxima Centauri is ~10 light years away, and that it would take tens of millions of years to travel that distance based on current propulsion. Looks like I wasn't wildly off. I still think that putting humans in space is a worthwhile endeavor, and that the amount we spend on it relative to many other things is not disproportionately high.
    - shkkmo 2y ago
      This isn't an appropriate rhetorical technique. For HN. If you want to make a point about the size of space, make it without demeaning the intelligence and understanding of the people you are talking to.

llamaimperative 2y ago

Space is way, way, way bigger and way, way, way less hospitable than "technically interested" folks on here understand. And being multiplanetary isn't really a great hedge against the types of risks that are existential to a species that's capable of being multiplanetary.

Vegenoid 2y ago
I can't speak for most people, but I am aware of the size and inhospitality of space, which is why I think we should be be studying and reaching into it now, to give us as much as time as possible to succeed.
- llamaimperative 2y ago
  I really don't think you are. Without looking it up: how far away is Proxima Centauri and how long do you think it'd take to reach it given our current propulsion technology? Obviously propulsion will continue to get better and better, but it's a good way to anchor oneself back to technical reality. What's your gut feeling on how long it'd take to reach our nearest neighbor if we were to travel at the top speed of the fastest spacecraft we've ever made?
  - Vegenoid 2y ago
    I don't know the answers to these questions confidently without looking them up, and if you think that means my opinion isn't worth much then so be it. I have no influence on space exploration beyond being a voting US citizen if it makes you feel better. I believe that Proxima Centauri is ~10 light years away, and that it would take tens of millions of years to travel that distance based on current propulsion. Looks like I wasn't wildly off. I still think that putting humans in space is a worthwhile endeavor, and that the amount we spend on it relative to many other things is not disproportionately high.
  - shkkmo 2y ago
    This isn't an appropriate rhetorical technique. For HN. If you want to make a point about the size of space, make it without demeaning the intelligence and understanding of the people you are talking to.