Are multi-generational spaceships within Mankind's technological know how in the here and now?

Question

If so what sort of effort would be needed to build one?

Answer 1

Not yet... but they might be possible within a century (or less - I used to be very optimistic but where I used to say (in the 1970's) we'd have Lunar colonies in twenty years I now have to say much longer since I've been proven to be too optimistic :))

There are problems... but not insurmountable ones.... but the biggest is probably Motivation... what will cause us to create them? Why should we? "Just because" isn't a sufficient reason... as much as I'd like it to be :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_habitats#Motivation

Here's a link to some NASA space habitat designs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_habitats#NASA_designs

The O'Neill habitat (also called the O'Neill cylinder) seems to be the best design (IMO)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Neill_cylinder

The problems and possible solutions are discussed on the above links...

Answer 2

Even though there is a new system under development called Orion, there was a concept for a spaceship called Orion as far back as the 1950s. It is basically a ship with a giant barrier and shock absorbers on one side. Nuclear warheads/devices would be moved to the side of barrier away from ship and detonated. Eventually, the ship could achieve a significant percentage of c in speed. This version of Orion could have been built with 1960s technology. It could have made it to the nearest stars in less than a human lifetime relative to the ship's time.
I believe it was the British Aerospace Society that had come up with plans for a multi-generational ship called Daedalus. That concept was about 80% theoretical technology.

So, are ships that could make it to other stars and/or across the galaxy in our technological know how? Yes. The effort needed would be no more than was required to put humans on the Moon. However, that effort would need to be given an impetus to get underway and with modern society's priorities that impetus is not likely to be given to the right people.

Answer 3

I estimate that we could launch a multi-generational spaceship in 10 years for $200 Billion. Further, I estimate that none of the people on board would make it to generation 2.

In other words, this is not en engineering problem!

Answer 4

Multi-Generational Space Ships...meaning the occupants would live within the space ship for several generations???

If that is your question, the answer is no. At this time the cost of transporting one pound of material into space is like $75,000 - 100,000 or more. Sufficient atmosphere (materials to generate it) for a lifetime, or several lifetimes is simply out of the question...Then there is food for a lifetime, or several lifetimes...just not possible. Entirely to much weight. Clothes, tools, fancy gadgets like entertainment modules run the weight up even higher. Water? What about water for a lifetime, or several lifetimes. What will become of baths and showers? Are these occupants to go around dirty and smelly their entire lives?

Then there is the question of ship propulsion. What will they use for fuel for a lifetime, or several lifetimes? How would that much fuel ever be transported into space? Who would pay for all that work? How would the fuel be replenished? No gas stations along the way...How much fuel would you estimate might be required for a lifetime of travel, or several lifetimes of travel? What will you do when five year batteries die on you??? Go back to Earth for replacements?

My guess is don't plan on this kind of flight in your lifetime.

Answer 5

No they are not. There are no unsolvable technical problems we would have to solve to make them, but that is not the same as saying we could just up and make them now, on the first try, and succeed. For example, all kinds of things go wrong on the space station and if it didn't get regular supplies from Earth it would be doomed. And the biosphere II project clearly shows we do not yet know how to make a self contained ecosystem that will remain stable for years at a time.

Answer 6

I think one of the huge steps we need to make is long-term survival in zero gravity. With our current technology, humans couldn't survive for a lifetime in space. There many, many other issues that need to be solved.