AQUATER PAPER 4.0 MANKIND’S FINAL PURPOSE AND THE AQUATER STELLAR EXPLORERS

The Problem

It has 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 also expected that the number of SEMAN required to solve these problems for most people will end up on 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  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 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 five critical problems by 2050. 

It has also been found that if enough people decide to live in orbit, they can accomplish almost all of the remaining tasks required to achieve a sustainable civilization (See AP3.0 through AP3.5). 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:

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

Solution

It has been suggested that even if the population does stabilize, and the ocean and orbital augmentations are implemented, mankind cannot operate in a static, equilibrium system. This position proposes that 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 the principles of stabilizing a static, equilibrium civilization.
  • Or provide a means for man’s expansion beyond this solar system.

This effort may be necessary to ensure that man’s civilization will survive. Others argue, however, that a civilization tied to the solar system is sufficient for now and for the foreseeable future.

It is proposed here that whether our civilization is completely sustainable or not while tied to the solar system, a means of exploring and colonizing the stars will provide new purpose for mankind and thus be valuable. Indeed, a complete purpose for the existence of mankind might be to expand in, learn and understand the universe indefinitely. This purpose cannot be obtained without colonizing the stars. A procedure for the colonization of the stars is explored in Aquater Papers 4.1 through 4.5 below.

Summary and Conclusions

It has been found that it is possible to work out most of the things necessary to obtain a sustainable civilization within the solar system. However, a new purpose for mankind can be provided by working out the technology and political systems needed to obtain an expanding Stellar Explorer civilization. The people who live in starships will be called the Aquater Stellar Explorers in these papers.  

In the following papers (AP4.0 through AP4.5), it will be shown that it is possible to colonize the stars in a practical way.