Mass Effect: Andromeda and Planet Colonization. How difficult it is to relocate people from the ground?

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Recently, more and more often they say that humanity for survival needs to colonize space. Say, the resources of the Earth are not endless, the needs of people are growing, dangers, like asteroids and inventions of the Woe-scientists, are too many, and the sun will not shine forever … In general, sooner or later our beloved planet will die with you. And if humanity does not want to share its fate, you need to expand. So to speak, make a “backup” copy. And as soon as possible.

The founder is now talking about this now Spacex Ilon Musk, as well as the famous theoretic physicist Stephen Hawking. According to Hawking, our civilization will have death over the next thousands of years if people do not find a way to conquer space. There are nuclear wars, and problems with resources, and overpopulation, and the danger of the fall of asteroids, and viruses, and the “riot” of AI – which is not there! And his words, even if they sound like a quote from a science fiction novel, still have a basis.

Mass Effect: Andromeda tells just about the colonization and study of the new worlds, which is why we decided that this is an excellent occasion to stop on this topic. Is it really possible to leave the earth? What prospects await us? How they plan to build colonies on other planets? What problems can arise? And, of course, that all this will give us all?

They write history

If you believe the "Code" Andromeda, in the universe Mass Effect It was thanks to SpaceX that Ilon Mask has managed to achieve Mars and make the very discovery-to find a protein technology. It is unlikely that, of course, we are waiting for something like that on the real Mars, but that it is Musk that can inhale the new life into the development of the cosmos, it seems, there is no longer any doubts left.

And also Ilon Musk is a real geek. Your first rocket, Falcon 1 , He named in honor of the "thousand -year -old falcon" from "Star Wars". And in general, his dreams were born from a passion for science fiction – the work of the same Isaac Azimov, for example.

Since childhood, Ilon's Mask had a dream. And he went to her even when he was one of the founders PayPal. Over the years, he studied many books about space business, met a huge number of people from this sphere, and some of them even hired. After the sale of his PayPal shares, he invested for the most money in the risky SpaceX project, and the goal set to bring humanity into space. Many considered the mask a madman. Indeed, why is this eccentric, who earned millions of dollars on all kinds of Internet startups, climbed into space?

For the success of SpaceX, it was necessary to prove that it is capable of delivering cargo to orbit. And do it not only reliably, but also relatively cheap. The task is difficult-many missiles explode even when taking off, some are not able to break through the atmosphere and inferior to gravity, and it is also important to calculate everything correctly. Take into account a bunch of little things: weight, speed, how the external environment will affect the trajectory. Even the engineers themselves compare the launch of the rocket into orbit with the throwing of the basketball in the ring. From under the water. With a quick current. And any trifle, even a rusty bolt, can lead to a real disaster.

If you believe the Mask's colleagues, he is not just a rich dreamer, but a real genius. In just a few years and from books, he thoroughly studied everything that is needed for space projects, knows almost every employee in person, and almost everything can tell about his products. As employees say, Elon runs his companies almost at the “lowest” level, personally paying attention to each problem.

And the first three launches in the history of SpaceX were just by disasters and turned out. Success was waiting for a mask with the fourth rocket. Exactly when he ended money and there would be no other chance anymore. Now you can imagine how he risked? After all, if this last chance had not “shot”, the whole epic did not happen to Mars, and Musk would forever enter history as a loser who spent all the money on stupid dreams. But it turned out exactly the opposite, and SpaceX became only the second private company in the world that managed to deliver the cargo to orbit. At the same time, at a record low cost.

This played a role: the Creation of the mask became interested in NASA , so other large clients. Now Ilon is a billionaire, he managed to establish Tesla and release the most famous electric cars in the world, become chairman SOLARCITY , specializing in solar energy, engage in vacuum trains and even neuro interfaces. And SpaceX has many contracts. In general, if Tony Stark lived in the real world, then most likely they would be a mask.

Mission: Mars

Why all this? The fact is that, despite a lot of “cosmic” problems, the main difficulty is still a huge cost of operations. This is what repels the government of states, ordinary people and investors from the cosmos. And it is precisely this, and not a lack of technology or desire at all, stops humanity from distant flights.

Now people can fly into space, and even terraform some planets. Why they are not done? Because no one can afford it. And why, when it is possible to invest in much more profitable military campaigns in the short term, for example? And for some reason, only Elon Musk began to fight this, and his main goal is to make flights into space cheap. This is all that can and should be improved at the moment, the rest will be followed.

Real spacecraft, whether it be a rocket Falcon Heavy Or a spaceship Dragon , So far they are weakly resemble “Normandy” or “storm” from Mass Effect.

According to these principles, all SpaceX products were built: Falcon 1 launch vehicles, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, Dragon spacecraft, now the second version. If possible, the company tries to design and do everything independently – from engines to the details of the skin – and most importantly, that it was there that some components recently learned to use several times several times. The same first step of the rocket, which used to be just falling after launch, can now land back and re -be used.

In 2013, they offered the lowest price in the industry for the withdrawal of a carrier with a cargo to the high orbit of a cargo-“total” $ 56.5 million. So already in 2014 of all SpaceX launches, it provided almost half. And this forces other companies also to reduce the cost, which is beneficial for the entire industry, because when investors will understand that this can be earned, they themselves will reach for the stars, and the dreamers will have a chance.

Who else wants to Mars?

Of course, do not forget that SpaceX is not one plans to conquer the red planet. So, NASA wants to send the first people there already in the 2030s. Eight people will fly in this group, later they will return.

One of the largest NASA laboratories, the Aims Research Center, has been developing an operation “Hundred Years of Space Ship” since 2010. Despite the strange name, the essence of the mission is to irrevocably send twenty people to Mars who will try to establish a colony to Mars.

We note the project Marsone , in which Dutch entrepreneurs want to organize a real show. With the help of SpaceX technology, they are going to send colonists to Mars already in 2023, and then bring four more people there every few years. At the same time, the Dutch want to broadcast what is happening around the clock in the form of a reality show, which seems strange. The colonists probably have a serious voltage without chambers. But if everything works out, why not? This would surely help to compensate at least part of the costs.

The new task of the mask, however, is even more difficult: send a million people to Mars. He believes that only such a figure will achieve complete autonomy, providing the planet with all the necessary specialists. Well, a sufficient number of people so that civilization can survive in case of disaster on Earth. Elon with his team has already made an incredible one: he put his hand to the world's first “reusable” rocket, but in order to fulfill his dream, unheard of means are needed. And the purpose of SpaceX is to make this project much cheaper.

You could become a witness to the historical event, re -launch of the first stage, you could recently.

Musk wants to create a reusable space transport system, which will help the crew get to Mars and at the same time will not reach its company. This, as planned, will include a launch vehicle, an interplanetary ship and its refueling.

For now, however, it’s far from all this, but there is already a progress, and serious: on March 30, the first stage of the rocket returned from the space was repeated for the first time, at the end of this year they are going to launch a new, more powerful and lifting, Falcon Heavy, and already in 2020- M Ilon hopes to send the first ship to Mars. For now, however, without a crew, just for "running -in". But if everything goes as it should, then the person’s leg will step on the planet already in 2026. And in 2040, the head of SpaceX sincerely hopes to see a small one on the Red Planet, but the city.

Possible difficulties

Suppose SpaceX is awaiting success. Transport is sent to Mars, and those colonists who take a chance will get to the planet and begin a new life. What problems are waiting for them there? What to encounter? Anyway – why did we give up this Mars?

In Mass Effect, it was the entry of mankind to Mars that became a turning point in the history of our civilization. Who knows, maybe this scenario will be repeated in reality? Although, as you can see in the game, it never reached a full colonization.

Now we do not really need space colonization. But what will happen when overpopulation begins? Or when resources end on Earth? Or if humanity encounters a major problem from which you will have to run? Musk and many others believe that by that time it is better to be prepared and have at least some way to retreat. Yes, in the short term, there is little benefit in this, but in the future earthlings will surely divert great benefits from cosmic achievements.

Someone else can say that Mars is not the best candidate for a new house. The atmosphere there is thin, it keeps neither heat nor oxygen, but consists of 95% of carbon dioxide. The average temperature is approximately -55 degrees Celsius, although it must be taken into account that in some places it can reach +20, and in some it drops below -120. The magnetic field does not protect against radiation. The pressure is very low – with it, people cannot live without a spacesuit, and water exists only in hardened and gaseous states. And gravity is three times weaker than the earth.

Although the author "Martian" A lot of where, to put it mildly, he fantasized, this book (or film) gives an approximate idea of ​​the first Martian Avvanpost.

But on Mars there is a lot of water, albeit in a icy form under the surface, and the soil is quite suitable for growing some agricultural crops. In addition, one Martian day (Sol) lasts 24 hours 39 minutes, and this is very good for both people and plants brought from the ground. The slope of the axis is also almost earthly, and this is more or less familiar seasons for us.

Mars is in the so -called “inhabited zone” – this is when the planet is not too far from the sun, but not so close that all living things could burn. The area is just a little less than the area of ​​the entire land of the Earth, the atmosphere, albeit thin, but still there, is much more minerals on Mars. And also, what is important, if you correctly guess the moment of launching the rocket and flight trajectory, you can fly to our “neighbor” in just nine months. And this, perhaps, became decisive in choosing a place for the first extraterrestrial colony.

And what are the rest?

Unfortunately, most of the planets of the solar system for colonization are not yet suitable. Mercury is almost a real hell: sometimes terribly hot, sometimes excessively cold, and even radiation goes off scale. Venus, on the contrary, has a very dense atmosphere, which is why there is even hotter, the atmosphere is 96% of carbon dioxide, the pressure is 90 times stronger than on Earth, and to whom this is not enough, they are waiting for acid rains. About Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, we are not talking at all-yes, there you can get resources, the same uranium is rich in helium-3, but there is no solid surface on gas giants.

Ganyaed.

There is an option to settle on satellites. Ganyad, a satellite of Jupiter, for example, has a magnetosphere, which is already not bad. And on the titanium, that near Saturn, most likely, you can find a lot of oil and natural gas. Much more than on earth. At the same time, there is everything that is needed for life: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen. Dense atmosphere that protects against radiation. The pressure is not such to “plunge” a person – similar to five meters under water.

True, there are a lot of toxic substances in the atmosphere, so people will not survive without a suit, but it’s definitely worth trying to bring Ganyed to normal. Moreover, near Saturn, who has helium-3 and deater, and they are very needed for thermonuclear energy and can give impetus to the entire space "race".

Another option is Enzelad, also a satellite of Saturn. He has water in the bowels, and possibly even life. It’s only a pity that they are all further than Mars, and to fly to them is not an option yet. At least without a transshipment base.

For many recent discoveries, you should thank the Kepler space telescope, whose mission consists in finding the Earth of exoplanets (planets outside our system).

Among the planets from other systems, there are also enough candidates. So, for example, the Kepler-438 B exoplanet can be noted in the constellation Lyra, opened in 2015. About 470 light years separates it from us, but otherwise this place seems very interesting: it is in the “inhabited zone” from its red dwarf, only 12% more land, and most importantly, there may well be a liquid on the planet. The only problem is a powerful radiation that is quite capable of burning all living things.

Another option is Kepler-452 b. She is located in the constellation Swan, which is even further, already in 1402 light years from us. But the rest of the planet is wonderful: the year on it passes for 385 earthly days, the planet is rocky and is located in the “inhabited zone”. True, it is much larger than the Earth (60%), and gravity, according to scientists, is twice as much. But in general, 452 b is a very good option.

Only now, again, because of a huge distance, all these are worlds for a very distant future.

What humanity can face problems?

First of all, with the problem of creating conditions suitable for the existence. The presence of oxygen, suitable indicators of pressure and gravity. The temperature on Mars is not at all suitable for the human body, and the technique also does not like to work in the cold. Gravity of Mars is only 38% of the earth, which is harmful to the body. For example, can lead to degradation of muscles, internal organs and bones.

Remember how Mark Watn was emaciated by the end of Martian? A similar fate awaits real immigrants, and gradually this can become a real “chip” of the inhabitants of this planet.

And solving these and other problems is still the task. People will live in a closed space, far from home, with a bunch of completely new problems and without the opportunity to return – there are many psychological difficulties. Due to the features of nutrition and low gravity, the muscle mass will decrease, the density of the bones too, the body will "dry". There is even an opinion that after years, people from different planets will resemble other types.

At the same time, even such “little things”, like forty minutes longer a day, can also greatly affect the overall well -being and quality of sleep, for example. And these are far from all threats: temperature fluctuations, high radiation both on the planet and during space flights. If all the colonists die from tumors or other diseases that we do not yet know about, it will not be good, right?

To solve all these problems, several options are proposed: to create a “biosphere” where people can live, fenced off from the harsh conditions of the planet, to terraform the planet for human needs. Well, or change the people themselves so that they are able to survive anywhere, but it is still looking like science fiction.

In addition, it is necessary that the colony is able to extract or grow all resources necessary for life without third -party assistance for at least three years. Produce energy, food, rebuild structures and take care of equipment, solve numerous https://slotonauts-casino.co.uk/ technical problems, and also be able to receive all the necessary spare parts and resources in place.

One of the main problems of the Hero of Martian was a lack of resources. For the long -term survival of the colony, it is necessary to learn how to get and produce everything you need on your own.

Yes, of course, you can supply them, but it is expensive, and there is also a risk that in the case of an abnormal situation, all the colonists will quickly die – after all, a window for a flight, when Mars is closest to us once every twenty -six months. So help is unlikely to be able to fly on time. Yes, and such a colony will be difficult to call a full -fledged one – it is certainly not suitable for the position of alternatives to the earth.

And this is not all possible troubles. Do not forget about the fact that all the results of the works can be destroyed by asteroids. Due to storms, solar panels will not always be effective, you will have to rely on nuclear energy. Without wood coal, make the technical silicon necessary to create solar panels is difficult.

Botaniki will be important – they will have to learn to grow the same potatoes in places where no one was engaged in anything like that. Even planting a ship on the surface of Mars, in unfamiliar and dangerous conditions, is a difficult and responsible task, so that the whole mission can fail literally at the very beginning, after a multi -month flight.

While each launch or landing can turn into a disaster. Against this background, look at how the pilots of "Normandy" or "storm" are dashing their maneuvers, even a little funny.

But the most important difficulty is the huge cost of this whole venture. The economy is not yet ready, investors do not see prospects, and before the mass production of minerals, precious metals or full -fledged space tourism is still very far away.

Even if the mask achieves its own and the cost of the flight on the red planet falls, every “ticket” on Mars will still cost huge money for an ordinary person. That is, in fact, each of this million colonists will have to pay two hundred thousand dollars (yes, it is assumed that people themselves will pay for such a privilege). In order to go towards the unknown. Perhaps terrible death. The only way to justify is to make sure that Mars can live independently, without supplies from the ground. And also – so that the minerals begin to bring income from there, although this will most likely happen soon.

I wonder how much new will find out, see and come up with humanity, finding himself in completely different conditions?

Surely you have to play on romantic feelings. Still, when the first videos about how people make new discoveries appear on YouTube, lay the “bricks” of the history of mankind or simply have fun in the conditions of low gravity of Mars, this is quite possible, it will be very exciting. That romantic halo will return again – imagine how many new entertainments can be invented with weak Martian gravity and how many new secrets will reveal. Yes, and on Mount Olympus, and she is much higher than Everest, probably someone wants to climb or at least see.

In addition, do not forget that space technologies also affect our daily lives – you just have to remember about satellite communications or meteorological satellites. So if you manage to interest people, show that space is a promising investment, then the investment situation will probably be able to improve. Moreover, on the wars, for example, the US government spends much more – the counter goes on hundreds of billions. NASA for this money could work for years.

How to terraform the planet

For a comfortable life, people need to breathe, be protected from radiation and excessively low (or vice versa, high) pressure, be able to grow food and get water, and not to freeze to death, too, it would be nice. What to do with all this?

As we have already said, either artificially create a “biosphere”, or terraform the planet.

The first option, by the way, will be realized in one form or another. Terraforming is a long process, it will drag on for hundreds of years, and people need to live somewhere all this time. The colonists will have to exist in “greenhouses” or underground shelters where there will be oxygen, warmly, food will be able to grow, and all the staff will be able to work to turn the lifeless planet into paradise.

The problem of this approach is that in the case of a small accident, depressurization, meteorite, storm, all the work of these people will most likely go a drain – you could already see something similar in the film "Martian". It is still worth considering this only as a temporary measure. Moreover, there is a much more attractive, albeit difficult option.

Funny, but more recently, many associated the word "terraforming" with science fiction. Or heard him in different games like strategies. In Mass Effect: Andromeda players also have to do this. True, the process was somewhat simplified – almost everything necessary for the heroes was built by the ancient race, but the “pioneer” needs only to bring ancient tools to working condition, “restart” them.

Terraforming in Mass Effect: Andromeda – the main thing is what to do the "pioneer". Another thing is that we are not yet given to lead the process, and the mysterious monoliths of the ancient race do all the work.

In reality, terraforming is a much more cunning process. But, what is nice, relatively soon, humanity can proceed with it on Mars. Scientists suggest that there could be life there once. At least there were exactly rivers. And to return Mars to that more friendly, a state can still be. First of all, it is necessary to increase the pressure of the atmosphere to such a level that people can move without spacesuits, and water exist not only in a solid or vaporous state.

Another problem is the temperature, it on Mars only on the equator can be comfortable 10-20 degrees Celsius. The rest of the planet is so cold that people will turn into icicles. We must not forget about the weak magnetic field, and about the absence of an ozone layer, which would save from radiation.

So, according to some, the terraced Mars will look like a century after a century. Well, or millennia, as it will work.

How to figure it out? The main trump card of Mars is a huge amount of ice under its surface. According to scientists, it is enough to flood the entire planet as an ocean. Of course, no one is going to do this, but if you melt at least part of the ice, you can provoke an interesting chain of events. In particular, start a greenhouse effect.

So, the released gases would make the atmosphere of the planet more dense, so it will last more heat. In addition, there can be a lot of carbon dioxide in Mars ice, which would increase atmospheric pressure as a result of melting. Simply put, people could walk on the surface of the planet without “squeezing” costumes, not afraid that their blood would boil.

The more planets submit to humanity, the more resources and opportunities will be for further space development.

There are other ways to provoke the desired greenhouse effect. Someone offers to bring ammonia ice from other planets, someone-bring a huge amount of methane, someone-to set up factories that would fill the atmosphere of the planet with carbon dioxide gas. In general, to do the work on the ground: to provoke global warming. There are even such options as dropping an atomic bomb or asteroid, the construction of huge mirrors in orbit – some would reflect ionizing radiation, others would heat the surface of the planet.

In turn, to process all this carbon dioxide in the oxygen desired for breathing, living organisms, such as cyanobacteria or phytoplankton, would help. Gradually, as the conditions improve, other life forms can be brought, such as individual microbes, lichens or mosses, until the opportunity to plant full -fledged meadows and forests. Although the latter can already occur without a person’s participation – from the new “Martian” it is only necessary to create suitable conditions, and the process will go by itself.

To create a suitable magnetic field, very interesting ways are also offered. Someone says that it would be possible to bring some asteroid into the orbit of Mars to make a semblance of the moon and activate the “planetary Dynamo effect”. This operation, in theory, should strengthen the magnetic field. Someone offers to do this with the help of rings from the conductor, laying them around the planet and connecting them to a powerful source of energy. By the way, they plan to take electricity itself from solar panels. Although in the case of storms, the colonists will have to, apparently, use nuclear energy.

Looking at the moon, few people think about how important it is.

However, as always, the main problem of terraforming, in addition to the complexity of the process itself, is that this is an extremely cost event. The first time from the colony on Mars there will be little use, and most investors are unlikely to see the results of their investments – people just do not live so much. For this process, a huge number of resources are needed: a lot of goods, transport and fuel for flights.

Fortunately, the same Italon Musk has already taken certain steps in the right direction – his “reusable” missiles can significantly reduce expenses. Only this does not mean that the expenses will disappear completely. Another thing is that the first steps have been passed, and I want to believe that it is not for nothing. Musk is not just a dreamer, even scientists surprise his knowledge, and successful projects have repeatedly wiped their noses to critics. And he sincerely believes that humanity will be able to build on Mars, at least an Avvanpost in this century. Before that, he was rarely mistaken, maybe it will be right now?

It is not yet very clear what of all these vents will come out with Mars, but it can definitely be said that the next decades will be very interesting.

We were all lucky to live on the threshold of something great. It is possible that after a few years or decades many will be able to see how the most important lines in the history of mankind have been written in the history. It is not a fact that we will meet aliens or visit the solar system, but the time when people will live on different planets, maybe it will soon come. Love at a distance will gain a new meaning, and the phrase “plant potatoes on Mars” will cease to seem a joke. The main thing is to understand that all this fuss with the cosmos is not stupid fun of rich people, but a real science that pushes humanity forward. To the stars.

Buy a game| All about Mass Effect: Andromeda