A taxonomy of space-based renewable energy societies

‘Xeno’ is a greek word meaning foreign, as in Xenophobia, fear of foreigners.

‘Xenobiology’ is the biological study of alien life forms. The joke amongst academic circles is that it’s a science which doesn’t have a specimen.

‘Neumann Machines’: first posited by John Neumann. A machine which explores space for resources. It uses these resources to build replicas of itself and thus continuing the exploration of space. Why its important here is because Neumann machines based on renewable energy are more capable of exploring space.

'Terra-Engineering': The process and science of engineering a planet to make it habitable for humans.

‘Habitats’: A society created in space by a country from earth, which is used an outlet for its overgrown population and its economic output. This is a parent-child relationship which isn’t exploitative.

‘Colony’: Same as above, except that the colony is created to be exploited.

This distinction was first brought about by the Times of India, an Indian newspaper when it was covering a conference by the Indian Space Research Organisation, in which the word habitat was used instead of colony, because of the India’s colonial history. The demarcation has been extended here.

The following are new terms and definitions:

‘Xeno-Intelligence’: An intelligent alien life form. Such an intelligence may be less, equal or more intelligent than human intelligence. It may be hostile, apathetic or friendly towards human intelligence.

'Terraforming': The process and science of engineering a planet such that it is habitable for humans and economies to flourish such that the economic output of that planet can be sold in earth’s commodities and other markets.

'Ecotopia': A civilization and culture run entirely on Renewable energy. A society which is perfectly and symbiotically integrated with the planet it exist upon, such that the economic systems and the eco systems of the planet are in mutually beneficially exponential growth. It has perfected the knowledge sciences such as AI, bio-info-nano. Such a society is capable of creating von Neumann machines. This society would terra-farm planets to create habitats, with which it trades and nurtures, thereby forming an alliance, trade military or otherwise.

'Technotopia': A civilization in which the knowledge sciences of artificial intelligence, information technology, robotics, molecular biotechnology and nanotechnology have been perfected. It is capable of permutating and combining these sciences in a manner in which it can explore space. Its also capable of creating von-Neumann machines. Decision-making in this society doesn’t have to be made by consensus based institutions such as democracies, but rather through neural networks. It is not in harmony with its ecosytems and it exploits them for its own growth. Such a society is involved in exponential technological growth. It creates colonies which it exploits. A risk inherent in this society is that it faces a revolt from its colonies.