The Problem

This is a critical time for humans on earth. Specifically, we are facing five critical problems:

We are polluting the air and changing the climate.
We are running out of the energy we use the most (oil and gas)
We are running out of jobs for the coming generation.

We are gradually using up our retirement funds (social security, for example), so workers cannot count on being able to retire as planned.
We are running out of fresh water and land to grow food on.

It has been found to be possible to build a vessel (a SEMAN) that can counter these critical five problems for individuals and families (see AP1.0 through AP1.6).

It has also been found that the Aquater Alliance and the SEMAN can supply a solution to the five critical problems for most of mankind if enough people move to the ocean. (See AP2.0 through AP2.5). It is expected that the number of people required to solve these problems will actually move to the oceans, since the resulting life is good and well paid. Calculations show that 200 million SEMAN can operate on the oceans without overcrowding them, and that number can:

Sequester all the carbon dioxide currently being emitted plus bring the current level down by 2050.
Provide enough clean energy to replace the oil, gas and coal being used by 2050.
Provide enough jobs at a middle class salary level to cover world unemployment for those with the proper education by 2050.
Provide enough alternative retirement options to relieve the current retirement funds by 2050 and make them solvent.
Provide enough safe drinking water to ensure all nations can have a safe supply, as well as supply the food necessary to augment the existing food supply.

Note that other solutions to these problems are being worked on. The Aquater Alliance may not be the only solution used to solve these problems. However, whatever combination of solutions is used, the Aquater Alliance can provide an answer for whatever portion of these problems remain. Thus it is expected that the current institutions of our civilization augmented by the Aquater Alliance and the SEMAN can overcome most of the critical five problems by 2050.

However, there are still serious problems for our civilization that the Aquater Alliance and the SEMAN do not address. Our current civilization is static in that it is limited to earth and earth resources. These problems were discussed in AP2.7. The four requirements that do not appear to be provided for by our static civilization in a sustainable fashion are:

Phosphorus and potassium are currently mined, and end up mostly in the ocean where they are so diluted, that it is impractical too recycle them. Thus, they are being used up.
Metals are currently mined. A portion of the metals used is recycled, but it is impractical to recycle all of the important metals. Further, the use of metals is expanding, so they are being used up.
Radioactive substances can be recycled to some extant, but a portion must be sequestered, and a completely safe place to sequester them on earth has not yet been found and agreed upon.
Our static civilization does not currently have a purpose for existence other than to continue to exist. It is not clear that this purpose is enough (see AP3.1).

Thus, our current civilization is not completely sustainable.

The Solution

In the following papers (AP3.0 through AP3.5), it will be shown that if enough people decide to live in orbit, they can accomplish almost all of the remaining tasks required to achieve a sustainable civilization. In addition, each satellite can make a profit, and the possible orbits in the solar system are capable of supporting the necessary number of satellites to provide near sustainability. Indeed, the large population that orbits can support means that a population limit of ~8 billion is not required. Specifically, these satellites can supply the following.

Phosphorus and potassium can be mined in the solar system (especially the asteroid belt) outside of earth.
Metals can be mined in the solar system outside of earth.
Radioactive substances can be conveyed into the sun.

However, one of the requirements will still be lacking, namely:

This new civilization still does not supply a purpose for existence even though it is bounded only by the edge of the solar system.

It has been suggested that even if the population does stabilize, mankind cannot operate in a static, equilibrium system. Mankind must grow and expand in territory, population and understanding, or decay, shrink and die out. Prior civilizations (Rome and China, for example) reached peaks and tried to stabilize their borders with natural boundaries and walls. Instead of stabilizing as planned, Rome’s population and power started to contract, and eventually, it’s civilization ended up dying out. China expanded and died back, then expanded and died back again. Both entered decadent phases as soon as they stopped expanding. Thus it may be necessary to either:

Work out and implement the principles of stabilizing a static, equilibrium civilization.
Or provide a means for man’s expansion beyond this solar system.

An orbiting civilization addresses and somewhat ameliorates this problem, but it may not solve it. This effort is necessary to ensure that man’s civilization will survive. This final issue will be discussed in chapter AP4.0 through AP4.6.

Summary and Conclusions

It has been found that it is possible to work out most of the remaining things necessary to obtain a sustainable civilization for mankind by moving into orbit. The people who live in orbit will be called the Aquater Orbiters in these papers.

In the following papers (AP3.0 through AP3.5), it will be shown that if enough people decide to live in orbit, they can accomplish almost all of the remaining tasks required to achieve a sustainable civilization. In addition, each satellite can make a profit, and the possible orbits in the solar system are capable of supporting the necessary number of satellite positions to provide near sustainability. Indeed, the large population that orbits can support means that a population limit of 8 billion is not required. Specifically, these satellites can supply the following.

Phosphorus and potassium can be mined in the solar system (especially the asteroid belt) outside of earth.
Metals can be mined in the solar system outside of earth.
Radioactive substances can be conveyed into the sun.

However, one of the requirements is still lacking, namely:

Our civilization does not currently supply a purpose for existence even though it is bounded only by the solar system.

This problem will be discussed in AP3.4, and explored in detail in AP4.0 through AP4.6