Re:The Theory of Interstellar Trade (1978)
by cgriswald on Thursday December 31, 2020 @12:21PM
(#25594664)
> Why would you want to settle a system that doesn't have all the stuff available you need?
To make use of the materials and other benefits the system does have; the same reason we settle such places on Earth.
> Moving nontrivial amounts of mass around the universe is extremely expensive.
This amount of energy is a smudge on a ledger in comparison to the energy even a solitary, planet-less red dwarf puts out in its lifetime.
Unless we develop a method for fusing the materials we need from hydrogen and helium, the only chance of becoming a type III civilization is to learn to move mass around and make these trade offs.
To make use of the materials and other benefits the system does have; the same reason we settle such places on Earth.
> Moving nontrivial amounts of mass around the universe is extremely expensive.
This amount of energy is a smudge on a ledger in comparison to the energy even a solitary, planet-less red dwarf puts out in its lifetime.
Unless we develop a method for fusing the materials we need from hydrogen and helium, the only chance of becoming a type III civilization is to learn to move mass around and make these trade offs.