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Space colonization is the establishment of self-sufficient human settlements outside Earth. In particular, effective altruism tends to focus on the possibility of interstellar colonization,Interstellar colonization is the establishment of settlements outside of ourthe solar system.
There are a number of difficulties whichthat would need to be surmounted before humans, or any other intelligent species, could begin to colonize other star systems. For instance, there would be very large energy requirements, the ability to manage extremely long (possibly intergenerational) flight lengths, and many distinct engineering challenges, such as the need to safeguard against high-velocity collisions with space dust.
Mathieu, Edouard & Max Roser (2022) Space exploration and satellites, Our World in Data, June 14.
Shulman, Carl (2020) The High Frontier, space based solar power, and space manufacturing, Reflective disequilibrium, May 23.
Kovic, Marko (2021) Risks of space colonization, Futures, vol. 126.
If
it isfeasible,thenthis would raise the upper bound on the number of people who could eventually live by many orders of magnitude. On the other hand, given the Fermi paradox, its feasibility could be taken as evidence that humans are likely to go prematurely extinct.There are a number ofMany difficultiesthatwould need to be surmounted before humans, or any other intelligent species, could begin to colonize other star systems. For instance, there would bevery largehuge energy requirements, the ability to manage extremely long (possibly intergenerational) flight lengths, and many distinct engineering challenges, such asthe need to safeguardsafeguarding against high-velocity collisions with space dust.Although there is not yet a substantial body of literature addressing the question, the
small number offew scientists who have examined interstellar colonization appear to beon the wholeoptimistic about its long-term feasibility.