Spacefaring civilization
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A space civilization is a civilization that has the ability to safely leave the home planet and function in an outer space environment.
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[edit] Human space civilization
Humans reached this level of technology in the 1950's when the USSR launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit around earth. True human spaceflight began when Vostok 1 was launched on April 12, 1961, and humanity became spacefaring when the Apollo capsules have orbited and landed on the Moon.
[edit] General space civilization
Generally, a planet-based civilization might have varying levels of difficulty in reaching space. Both the planet's gravity and atmosphere may have influence on the ease of space exploration. Gravity on a heavier planet would make it more difficult to launch a spacecraft into orbit. The effects of atmospheric friction on the craft must also be taken into consideration, as well as the amount of resources, including exotic materials possibly needed for construction of a spacecraft. Generally, only a species or civilization capable of interplanetray and/or interstellar flight is considered "truly" spacefaring. In fiction, such civilization often possess colonies, either in their home system or possibly other star systems.
[edit] Space civilization in popular culture
Many works of science fiction deal with space civilizations or human efforts to become a space civilization. One example would be Star Trek, where humanity, though already spacefaring, is still struggling to adapt to interstellar life, and in many cases, politics.
[edit] Additional example
An additional example would follow the premise of science fiction author Larry Niven. In his short story, The Fourth Profession(check title) Mr. Niven postulates the arrival of a spacefaring culture of traders (Monks) that depend in part on the technical sophistication of the civilizations being visited to build the requisite launch lasers to accelerate the Monk mothership to the next star system. Cultures lacking resources to achieve manned spaceflight are ignored as animals. Planets incapable of performing the service of building and maintaining the Monk's launch system are obliterated by the use of the alternate launch system - a device that triggers a solar event similar to a nova, with the consequences of planetary sterilization.
Niven and Pournelle collaborated on two books that constructed a universe called the Second Empire of Man after the downfall of an earlier, and somewhat more advanced prior human interstellar civilization. Non-rebellious, and rediscovered planetary colonies returning to the Second Empire were granted rights of self governance and increasing influence, based on technological sophistication. Societies bombed in the previous wars back to pre-industrial cultures were completely ruled by the Empire as protected colonies. Planetary societies retaining enough industry to remain in space were classified as second class - with additional privileges within the governing bodies. First class societies demonstrate that they retained inter-stellar travel capabilities. In Pournelle's work, King David's Spaceship, the local civilization had retained enough sophistication and knowledge to exist on the level of late 19th century earth. When the Empire's scoutships rediscovered the planet, the local security forces learned of the outcome of being a technological backwater. They endeavored to organize a trading mission to an even less advanced world with a working First Empire library, to push their society up to the level of second class within the Second Empire.
