09-21-2014, 12:54 AM
Some of the colony ships were sent out in the Interplanetary Age, with relatively basic nanotech and relatively low powered ships; some of the earliest First Federation missions would have been very similar in capability, since they were launched by a civilisation still on the road to recovery. I note that Freitas' favoured target would be a moon of a gas giant, where the best mix of volatiles and metals might be found, and energy is quite abundant in the magnetic field. But such a location might be dangerous for colonists. Maybe a good strategy would be to send an advance party of robots to the gas giant moons, which could then send secondary missions to establish more habitable locations. Unless, of course, the colonists were accustomed to colonise gas giants themselves.
Most, but not all, of the colonies in the later eras would be established by expeditions with much better technology, and would have more chance of rapid success.
Most, but not all, of the colonies in the later eras would be established by expeditions with much better technology, and would have more chance of rapid success.