12-09-2024, 12:21 PM
I have a paper that dates back to the 80s that talks this general strategy. IIRC it divides interstellar colonization into two basic types: Fastships and Nomads.
The Fastship approach is some variant of the 'traditional ' interstellar colonization approach with the goal being to reach another star system since those are traditionally the only sources of matter and energy available to support a civilization. So the space in between stars is seen as just a vast empty void that must be gotten through to get to somewhere where it is possible to set up a new home.
The Nomad approach involves setting up small colonies on/around comets (and probably Kuiper objects as well - but those weren't really known about when the paper was written). These would use the resources of a given comet to support a population of perhaps a few dozen to a few hundred people. Huge mirrors might be built to gather starlight (not sunlight, starlight) or fusion might be used if it's available. Comets might be gradually moved together to form clusters and support larger populations. However, any given comet or other body would only have finite resources and so might eventually be abandoned as the population moved on to greener pastures. Over time populations might cross interstellar distances if there are sufficient comets and other bodies in interstellar space to support them or they are able to stretch a comet/comet cluster to make the journey - or both.
Note that average distances between comets in the Oort cloud may be larger than those in the Solar System so issue of markets or staying 'close' or specialization around different tasks may not work or may not work exactly as you describe. Or not - I'm seeing a pretty wide variation in distances listed when I try googling this. It might vary and something similar to what you describe may happen within a given cluster of comets when those eventually start to develop. Note that comet based civs would have much more limited resources and energy than those operating in a solar system so travel times might be much longer along with how big a decision it might be to actually go somewhere.
On a different note - OA actually has multiple examples of civilizations that operate in Oort Clouds and/or interstellar space. The Backgrounders, Deeper Covenant, Haloists, and Bok Swarm civs all do this in their own ways. The OA timeline isn't long enough for most of those groups to have really spread far just via migration from comet to comet or the like (they use other means for long trips) but that kind of thing is possible in principle.
It's true that so far relatively few authors have chosen to write about such civs compared to the number that write about star systems - but that is a matter of personal choice not because OA hasn't thought of the basic idea or has mandated that it not be explored.
If you (or anyone) want to write up an article(s) about these kinds of civs, whether describing new ones or expanding on what is already in the EG, go right ahead.
Todd
The Fastship approach is some variant of the 'traditional ' interstellar colonization approach with the goal being to reach another star system since those are traditionally the only sources of matter and energy available to support a civilization. So the space in between stars is seen as just a vast empty void that must be gotten through to get to somewhere where it is possible to set up a new home.
The Nomad approach involves setting up small colonies on/around comets (and probably Kuiper objects as well - but those weren't really known about when the paper was written). These would use the resources of a given comet to support a population of perhaps a few dozen to a few hundred people. Huge mirrors might be built to gather starlight (not sunlight, starlight) or fusion might be used if it's available. Comets might be gradually moved together to form clusters and support larger populations. However, any given comet or other body would only have finite resources and so might eventually be abandoned as the population moved on to greener pastures. Over time populations might cross interstellar distances if there are sufficient comets and other bodies in interstellar space to support them or they are able to stretch a comet/comet cluster to make the journey - or both.
Note that average distances between comets in the Oort cloud may be larger than those in the Solar System so issue of markets or staying 'close' or specialization around different tasks may not work or may not work exactly as you describe. Or not - I'm seeing a pretty wide variation in distances listed when I try googling this. It might vary and something similar to what you describe may happen within a given cluster of comets when those eventually start to develop. Note that comet based civs would have much more limited resources and energy than those operating in a solar system so travel times might be much longer along with how big a decision it might be to actually go somewhere.
On a different note - OA actually has multiple examples of civilizations that operate in Oort Clouds and/or interstellar space. The Backgrounders, Deeper Covenant, Haloists, and Bok Swarm civs all do this in their own ways. The OA timeline isn't long enough for most of those groups to have really spread far just via migration from comet to comet or the like (they use other means for long trips) but that kind of thing is possible in principle.
It's true that so far relatively few authors have chosen to write about such civs compared to the number that write about star systems - but that is a matter of personal choice not because OA hasn't thought of the basic idea or has mandated that it not be explored.
If you (or anyone) want to write up an article(s) about these kinds of civs, whether describing new ones or expanding on what is already in the EG, go right ahead.
Todd
Introverts of the World - Unite! Separately....In our own homes.