"Future Off-World Colonies: Composition?" Topic

If colonies are started by individual nations, I can see that each colony would reflect the specific languages, cultures and political/religious philosophies of the parent nation or region.

If, on the other hand, colonies are started by global corporations, I would imagine quite a mix of ethnic groups with a common profit-oriented goal.

I see the possibility of both scenarios playing out, depending on whether the colonies are government or corporate ventures.

Is this a correct assessment? Or do you have any other imaginative suggestions?

CC

There will be no colonies. By the time Mankind wakes up to the fact that the Earth won't last forever, it will be too late to do anything.

From the shareholders and taxpayers point of view, what could possibly justify the expense?

Lol I gotta say I do agree with Polynikes … The price of a decent space colonization (starting with a building space fleet) would bring any single nation to its knees (look at the expenses USA engaged for battle intended laser) and the results) and would need a 100 years political vision … not a day by day. Now, back to the original topic, I guess colonization would take several periods, each one bringing new colons (either ethnicaly, nationaly or corporately speacking), some 'friendly', some 'hostiles'. Even if, for a moment, a specifing organization would pretend to be the landowner for the colony, there will always be a separatist movement to appear and to struggle to gain 'freedom', for those 'chosen' to be colons will often be parias within their orginal group, and so will disregard its ownership. The furthest the colony will be, the soonest it will happen.

Due to the cost it will be be a joint venture type project. I would really recoment the Red/Blue/Green Mars novels for a unique view on what you are discussing.

A quick over view is the basic colony is set up by scientists. As the scientists are from all over the world, and most are educated past thier inteligences, the ususual human friction is introduced. The preservationists vs. the Expansionists and the Agnostics vs. the Spiritualits, ect, ect, ect.

I dont think things will be a great deal different, just the the costs of mistakes will be huge. Both is human life an material.

You'll see both.

Some of the larger corporations already have the fiscal power of small nations. For the near term, they're willing to let the governments do all the exploration, research and technical development (and shoulder the expense), but as soon as it becomes feasible/economically viable to have an orbital facility producing materials that can only be made in microgravity or zero-G, you'd better believe that there will be a move towards privately (ie; corporate) owned orbital habitats.

You'll get cooperative ventures between NASA/ESA/POCKOCMOC (Russian Space Agency) and anyone else willing to shoulder part of the expense (Japan, China, India and Brazil are leading contenders). These will mostly be the scientific "colonies" on Luna and Mars. For the forseeable future, manned space exploration is going to remain hideously expensive. This will preclude space agencies from "going it alone" like they did in the 60's & 70's.

Of course, dynamics can change and planetary colonies will be sources of national pride and prestige. So, in the event that habitable planets are found and there's a viable way to get people there, you'll see a new space race. Whether it'll be along the lines of the Traveller 2300 with the Chinese, French and Americans each having an "arm" of known space, or if it'll be a mix of private companies and nations or other entities settling planets with the intent to exploit the resources found is the subject of much speculative fiction.

Wyatt

You might be interested in the background universe for the Hammers Slammers wargame (based on David Drake's SF series of the same name).

From link "Initially, the richer terrestrial states and corporations planted most of the colonies, usually for economic purposes …. Poorer nations bankrupted themselves to colonise for reasons of political prestige …. Included in this second, poverty-stricken wave were political and religious fanatics who left Earth to build paradise among the stars. … Finally, there was a third colonisation wave funded by the richer, more successful colonies themselves. These enterprises were often multicultural[,] adding ethnicity to the potential for conflict."

That link in my post above should not have a : at the end of it. Try this one: link

All of this is still in linear thought/progression of technology. It does not progress linearly, but exponentially, and we will be seeing space stations/colonies that will make the current ISS look like some aged 50s sci-fi novel.

I imagine that sometime in the middle of the next decade you will begin to see people and Companies like Gates(MS), Lilly (Pharmaceuticals), Virgin Air, Air Blue, and others venture off into space if no other reason than tourism (They would be Idiots to not make use of the space for science as well, as the spin offs would be worth literally trillions, and NONE of them are economic idiots).

I know of three people right now who are employed to develop platforms for three different areas of engineering in space that would have NO application without a significant presence in space…. Now…. You gotta wonder why these companies are paying people to develop materials and tools whose only application would require a colony in space?

I vote for me and Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.

AS to China's efforts – I think mining will be the main enterprise – so most likely some sort of corporate enterprise- don't forget China still has large state owned corps. with '5 year plans' and such.
So I think we would definitely see militaristic corporations that China sends into space eventually. For instance Huawei, the top Chinese communications company, was formerly a PLA unit.
If USA does same, well then we'd have some healthy capitalistic competition to drive things along :)

Asteroids are the key to off-world development.

Interestingly, a friend of mine wrote his proposed law review submission based on the law surrounding development of asteroid assets. Until such time as we are able to make use of the asteroids (near earth or otherwise), sustained settlement off-planet will likely be a state (and thereby, money losing) endeavor.

Nonetheless, we can all dream of that Mars colony (sign me up for there or anywhere else for that matter)…if we can forget there are accountants.