- This episode of Because Space
is bought to you by The Outer Worlds.
I can't wait to go on this Titan cruise ship
and finally sail the methane seas.
What?
You're telling we we haven't colonized Titan yet
for this to be possible?
It's so close!
What if I told you there was a way
to experience colonized destinations in our universe
in the comfort of your own home?
Well, you can now in The Outer Worlds.
In The Outer Worlds, we're flung into an alternate future
where we can explore the logistics and dynamics
of interstellar travel and planetary terraforming
in the distant star systems.
What could possibly go wrong?
(upbeat electronic music)
- Wonderful!
Let's get started.
- Terraforming is essentially the process
by which you make a planet, a moon, or other bodies
sustainable for humans to inhabit.
There are several logistical hurdles to overcome
for this to be possible
depending on how far gone the environment is.
For example, if a planet already has liquid water,
and needs a few seeds of life
to help kickstart a sustainable ecosystem,
this terraforming process could be feasibly completed
within a person's lifetime.
Taking something like Mars,
and getting it to the point where it has an atmosphere
and liquid water again,
takes orders of magnitude more effort.
Yeah, that's Mars.
The science, cost, and sustainability needed
to terraform a planet for long-term colonization
poses some logistical barriers.
So how could we go about it?
Let's start with the science.
Always start with the science.
Depending on where this body is, and how much work it needs,
the understanding of what science need to be prescribe
to turn a planet from drab to have
may require technology and understanding
that isn't fully developed yet.
To start, the biggest threat today to astronauts in space
and those who may travel beyond
the Earth's protective, magnetic field,
is radiation.
There are ways to protect us living on Earth,
but the ability for us to travel
to another terraformed destination safely
hinges upon the continued development
of radiation protection both in transit
and at the destination.
The Outer Worlds takes place in an alternate time line
in the year 2355 where humans have completely worked through
these technological and scientific hurdles.
On your long journey through interstellar space,
you, the player, are being transported
in a massive colony ship called the Hope.
They've also perfected the technology needed
to put the passengers in a form of stasis
over the 10 year trip to the target exoplanet.
This certainly is an ideal way to avoid cabin fever
on the long journey.
Their ability to travel at faster than light velocities
also helps speed things up a bit,
which is a stretch for science fact currently,
but necessary for science fiction.
We have over 300 years to figure this out
according to the game's timelines,
so, other than the travel speeds,
it's within the realm of possibilities.
Hey, can I borrow that freezer?
Another scientific hurdle to overcome
when terraforming a planet
is making (inhales and exhales) breathable air!
21% of our air is in the form of oxygen.
In The Outer Worlds, we see them terraform Halcyon
by sending large, towering machines
that break down the CO2 in the atmosphere
into oxygen and carbon.
This ties nicely to technological development going on today
with the first demonstration of such a machine
to occur in real life on Mars using the MOXIE instrument
which is situated on NASA's Mars 2020 Rover.
Could that technology be perfected in a timeline
set up by The Outer Worlds?
It certainly is feasible!
Just like understanding the science needed to terraform,
the cost can also vary depending on where the body is,
and how much work it needs.
This is where the dynamic between governments
and corporations come to play.
Today the space industry balances duties
by leveraging private companies
for routine, but difficult feats like producing rockets.
Private companies have an incentive
to make space travel affordable and reliable.
This leaves topics like pushing the envelope of science
for the government sector.
(bomb exploding)
Detonating a nuclear weapon on Mars
could kickstart the terraforming process.
Ultimately, the hypothesis is
that the heat generated from the nuclear device
would melt the polar icecaps,
release large amounts of CO2,
and a resulting global warming would produce
a more inhabitable world.
This can cost trillions of dollars,
and heating a planet is merely the first factor to consider
when terraforming.
Nuking a planet does not address
the process of seeding plants and other life,
which at our current level of technology
would be cost prohibitive
because the price to launch large payloads to space
is astronomical!
Get it?
Astronomical? (chime dinging)
Plus, if a corporation decided to lead this endeavor,
you would imagine that
they would also call much of the shots
as to what, if any, changes are made to the environment
as the primary funding agency.
That might lead to some sticky situations.
The Outer Worlds takes place on the Halcyon Colony
which is exclusively run by 10 corporations
who purchased the colony
so that they could operate independent
of the Earth's government.
You can imagine that a colony
run exclusively by the corporate sector
without the balance provided by the government
can take some interesting and dark possibilities
that your character will have the ability to explore
in The Outer Worlds.
So, assuming you've set up
a nice, habitable, terraformed planet,
how would you make this a sustainable colony?
You need resources in the form of food, materials,
and most importantly of all, people.
It is a logical stretch
that the entities funding the endeavor
would have a large say in the politics and logistics
of who goes and what the needs of the colony are.
But maybe that's giving society too much credit.
In The Outer Worlds,
the selection process is based on filling in job duties
needed by the ruling corporations
even if it means not always finding the best person
for their society.
These corporations have also created towns
which allow for people to earn their say through labor,
and generate resources to sustain the colony.
Fortunately in today's world,
there's still a negotiation among partnering organizations
when it comes to space exploration,
but they mainly deal with science-based criteria
along with balancing the needs of maintaining the machines
that sustain the crew.
We have about 300 years
to reach the technology shown in The Outer Worlds,
and the promise of human colonies dotting the galaxy!
Can we make it?
Hopefully!
Even though the game takes place in an alternate history,
we are definitely capable of achieving many things
that are outlined in the game.
Eventually.
The jury's still out on faster-than-light travel,
but 300 years ago, did anyone truly think we'd be able
to get to the moon and back?
Maybe some day our own descendants
will reach The Outer Worlds
Because
Space!
Thanks again to The Outer Worlds
for sponsoring today's episode.
The Outer Worlds is a single player RPG
from Obsidian Entertainment and Private Division.
Explore the edge of the galaxy
by traveling to the Halcyon Colony
where you'll be embroiled
in a vast, interstellar conspiracy,
and only you can decide everyone's fate.
Pre-order The Outer Worlds for PC, PS4 and Xbox One today
so you can play when it drops on October 25th!
Welcome to the future!
Try not to break it!
(logo beeps and whirs)