#271 – Ariel Ekblaw: Space Colonization and Self-Assembling Space Megastructures

151 snips

Mar 23, 2022

Ariel Ekblaw, director of the MIT Space Exploration Initiative, dives into the fascinating realm of self-assembling space architectures designed for future colonization. The conversation highlights how these structures can sustain human life in microgravity and the innovative Tesserae project using autonomous tiles. Ekblaw also discusses the impact of space travel on human culture and the challenges of parenting in space, all while contemplating the philosophical implications of humanity's quest among the stars.

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ANECDOTE

Air Force upbringing

Ariel Ekblaw's parents were both in the Air Force, her dad being an A-10 pilot and her mom almost a fighter pilot.
Growing up in this environment and reading science fiction instilled in her a love for space exploration.

INSIGHT

Sci-fi's influence

Science fiction can inspire scientific and engineering advancements, creating a cycle between authors and researchers.
Neil Stevenson is a good example of this relationship with his hard science fiction inspiring real-world projects.

INSIGHT

Space and existential threats

Existential threats, like pandemics, motivate scaling human presence in space for resilience.
Space technology also helps address Earth-bound threats by monitoring climate change and enabling geoengineering.

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Seveneves

Neal Stephenson

Seveneves tells the story of an apocalyptic event where the Moon suddenly breaks apart without warning, leading to a catastrophic 'Hard Rain' of moon fragments that will render Earth uninhabitable for thousands of years. The novel follows the global efforts to save humanity by evacuating people to a swarm of 'arklet' habitats in orbit. The story is divided into three parts, covering the immediate aftermath, the long-term survival in space, and the eventual re-colonization of Earth five thousand years later. The book delves into themes of science, technology, genetics, and the long-term implications of human survival and societal rebuilding[2][3][5].

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