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Topic: Real starfaring future (Read 2250 times)
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jaychant
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I was just wondering, what will starfaring really be like?
I imagine this: We colonize other planets (i.e. Mars and certain moons) by having artificial habitats built on them. Eventually, these space habitats end up becoming free countries which behave just like any other country. I also imagine that places like the moon are mined.
War between nations that aren't on the same planets will be fought in space ships. These space war ships will likely make use of nuclear warheads. However, they will also have conventional weapons in case of close combat (after all, you don't want to detonate a warhead 10 meters from your ship  ). Conventional weapons will be similar to cannons. Also, most ships will likely be equipped with some sort of warhead interception system (i.e. missiles, or perhaps lasers). Eventually, when we learn to use superheated plasma as a weapon, it will replace conventional weapons in short range combat. Then much later, when we somehow learn to hold antimatter without disintegrating the ship, antimatter will be used as a weapon, likely replacing nuclear warheads as the preferred super-weapon.
Eventually, a development making nuclear fusion a reliable source of energy will be made (long before the war stuff happens).
WAY into the future...
By the time the sun starts to swallow the Earth, scientists find out how to use the fourth dimension to travel lightyears away in seconds. Humans start colonizing planets all across the galexy. Eventually, an alien species is found that has also achieved intelligence. Either the two races become friendly, or they fight over land.
So, what are your thoughts?
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Alvarin
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The best space weapons are lasers and rail guns . Those work at any range due to the vacuum . Warheads are ineffective because of point defence systems , already in use , and because to be at least somehow effective , they'll have to be guided . The only way of guidance in space is mass thruster - jet type , wich will be too heavy and too space consuming for long chase of target . Artificial habitats are really unlikely to be self-sufficient , so colonies will not be able to be independant , albeit having sub-colonies for mining elsewhere might lower the dependancy on habitable planet based settlements .
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Furthermore , I'm really doubtfull about the way to the future part - we are much more likely to blow ourselves to stone age permanently . Humans are much worse than the Thraddash turned out to be  .
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Alvarin
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Even currently there are airplane based laser defences against ballistic missiles . They'll get better in the future . In space , if you can detect an object , you can hit it with a laser . With no medium to disperse heat , laser hit will melt outer shell , compromising it will cause loss of inner athmosphere . Lethal .
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