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Nov 2, 2012

Atlantica Undersea Colony — Undersea Colonization and Research

Posted by in categories: education, engineering, futurism, habitats, space, sustainability

It may have gone unnoticed to most, but the first expedition for mankind’s first permanent undersea human colony will begin in July of next year. These aquanauts represent the first humans who will soon (~2015) move to such a habitat and stay with no intention of ever calling dry land their home again. Further details: http://underseacolony.com/core/index.php

Of all 100 billion humans who have ever lived, not a single human has ever gone undersea to live permanently. The Challenger Station habitat, the largest manned undersea habitat ever built, will establish the first permanent undersea colony, with aspirations that the ocean will form a new frontier of human colonization. Could it be a long-term success?

The knowledge gained from how to adapt and grow isolated ecosystems in unnatural environs, and the effects on the mentality and social well-being of the colony, may provide interesting insights into how to establish effective off-Earth colonies.

One can start to pose the questions — what makes the colony self-sustainable? What makes the colony adaptive and able to expand its horizons. What socio-political structure works best in a small inter-dependent colony? Perhaps it is not in the first six months of sustainability, but after decades of re-generation, that the true dynamics become apparent.

Whilst one does not find a lawyer, a politician or a management consultant on the initial crew, one can be assured if the project succeeds, it may start to require other professions not previously considered. At what size colony does it become important to have a medical team, and not just one part-time doctor. What about teaching skills and schooling for the next generation to ensure each mandatory skill set is sustained across generations. In this light, it could become the first social project in determining the minimal crew balance for a sustainable permanent off-Earth Lifeboat. One can muse back to the satire of the Golgafrincham B Ark in Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, where Golgafrinchan Telephone Sanitisers, Management Consultants and Marketing executives were persuaded that the planet was under threat from an enormous mutant star goat, packed in Ark spaceships, and sent to an insignificant planet… which turned out to be Earth. It provides us a satirical remind that the choice of crew and colony on a real Lifeboat would require utmost social research.

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Comments — comments are now closed.


  1. I would love to comment on this Tom, but you need to get rid of the gravity modifier as a priority. Send him on his way and people will begin coming back to the lifeboat.

  2. Tom Kerwick says:

    Thank you Gary. Please refrain from verbal attacks against other Lifeboat contributors — these rants will be deleted. We consider Benjamin a valued member. Otto’s abuse of the forum is being contained as much as possible.

  3. Certainly is a lot of enthusiasm on that site. They have managed to assemble a lot of big names. Also I like how they plan on having it within 1.6 atm or 6m depth, to allow for freediving and surfacing.

    However, what I see lacking is a price tags, I don’t think they realize just how expensive some of their planned vehicles are. Especially if they are going to be making them of kevlar of all things :-|.
    Someone economically minded is going to have to burst their enthusiasm bubble before they go bankrupt on their first build.
    A much more cost effective design, would be to use ferro-cement hulls of ellipsoid design.
    For safety’s sake they should have multiple chambers, and any rooms with windows or doors must have water-tight bulkheads.

    Anyways, in terms of Lifeboat a much better colony would be in a dryish polar location, as it’s great for storing documents and other archives in cold dry weather. the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica. No one has set up permanent residence in Antarctica either, but there are already permanent bases.
    Another option is the Arctic Archipelego in Canada, which has many dry areas like Devon Island, which are at least accessible in summer time by boat.

  4. GaryChurch says:

    “Benjamin a valued member”

    Benjamin is a clown.

  5. Tom Kerwick says:

    Logan — thanks for the discussion. I would be in agreement that enthusiasm seems to have clouded judgement on expense. Let’s hope they succeed. It could inspire others to achieve high. The colonization of Antarctica is an interesting one — perhaps the main hurdle is building solar/wind power there to self-support indoor enviorns heated to human comfort levels. And then there are the geo-political hurdles, but they could be overcome.

  6. GaryChurch says:

    Gee whiz Tom.……the “kline directive part whatever“
    What is the point to his posts? Anything but? He makes no sense- he is another Mad Otto- can’t you see that? He thinks he is Einstien. He claims to have discovered some fundamental equation.
    He has discovered fundamental baloney. I cannot contribute a thing if is going to be posted with his idiocy.

  7. Tom Kerwick says:

    Gary — it’s not policy to censor scientific opinion. Science is full of theories and false claims — but that is often what stimulates it to find truths.

  8. Barbara says:

    The sea is the only place where the true principals of man still praveil honesty and bravery beyond the call of duty. Regardless of religion, race and country a few brave men do what has to be done and challenge us to do for others the same . Should I ever be called upon to serve, I pay to be half as good as these men.