X-Message-Number: 4248 Date: Wed, 19 Apr 95 12:00:41 From: Steve Bridge <> Subject: Frozen Folk in Space To CryoNet >From Steve Bridge April 19, 1995 In reply to: Message #4241 Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 23:29:14 -0500 (CDT) From: N E U R O M A N C E R <> Subject: SCI.CRYONICS "Interstellar Immersion Biostasis" from MAC TONNIES > What is the cryonics community's attitude re. casting human bodies > into space in durable, radiation-proof pods? Mostly amusement, Mac. Several people will jump on this, I'm sure. Here are my immediate objections: 1. The upfront expense of placing frozen bodies in space (low maintenance though it becomes at that point) is likely always to be more than the on- going expense of keeping people frozen in liquid nitrogen here. On earth we can use less money up front and invest the surplus to pay for ongoing expense -- which is exactly what we do. Why develop a hugely expensive program to provide less care? 2. Developing radiation and heat protective pods will be expensive. It's not exactly COLD in space, Mac. It is only cold in the DARK in space. Pods in orbit or anywhere not in shadow at all times will heat up -- a lot. 3. Getting in line in front of other projects early on will be difficult. If cryonics becomes popular, then hundred of rockets will be required to take frozen people into space somewhere. Worse than the technical problems, though, are some of the assumptions you make about the future. > I'm well aware of the odds of being found by an advanced culture >(whether our own or someone else's...), but have to wonder if taking >one's chances in the interstellar vacuum might be safer than containment >here on Earth. Space presents myriad hazards, but might such obstacles compare to Earth's financial infrastructure? Wait a minute, Mac. Do you seriously think that the odds of an unknown alien civilization finding small pods cast at random into an unlimited volume (for all practical purposes) universe and then figuring out what they are and reviving the contents are *greater* than the odds on the survival of human civilization and financial institutions for the next century or two? How do you think we are planning to revive patients? Do you envision that we are freezing lots of people today and then the dewars will lay around gathering dust for a century unnoticed until future humans of "an advance culture" find them? Not even close to reality. The cryonics groups of today and their successors will be caring for the patients all along (or it won't work at all) and will be providing the funding and probably the minds and labor to revive them in the future. If we leave this to random chance, it will not happen. Besides, an ongoing, active organization is required to make sure that WE and our families and friends can become patients and receive ongoing care. Much better to stay here on earth where we as individuals can EFFECT civilization, the economy, the care of the patients, and the progress of technology. Steve Bridge Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=4248