X-Message-Number: 4248
Date:  Wed, 19 Apr 95 12:00:41 
From: Steve Bridge <>
Subject: Frozen Folk in Space

To CryoNet
>From Steve Bridge
April 19, 1995

In reply to:   Message #4241
               Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 23:29:14 -0500 (CDT)
               From: N E U R O M A N C E R <>
               Subject: SCI.CRYONICS "Interstellar Immersion Biostasis"
               from MAC TONNIES 


>    What is the cryonics community's attitude re. casting human bodies 
> into space in durable, radiation-proof pods?

     Mostly amusement, Mac.  Several people will jump on this, I'm sure.  
Here are my immediate objections:

1.  The upfront expense of placing frozen bodies in space (low maintenance 
though it becomes at that point) is likely always to be more than the on-
going expense of keeping people frozen in liquid nitrogen here.  On earth 
we can use less money up front and invest the surplus to pay for ongoing 
expense -- which is exactly what we do.  

     Why develop a hugely expensive program to provide less care?

2.  Developing radiation and heat protective pods will be expensive.  It's 
not exactly COLD in space, Mac.  It is only cold in the DARK in space.  
Pods in orbit or anywhere not in shadow at all times will heat up -- a 
lot.  

3.  Getting in line in front of other projects early on will be difficult.  
If cryonics becomes popular, then hundred of rockets will be required to 
take frozen people into space somewhere.

Worse than the technical problems, though, are some of the assumptions you 
make about the future.

>    I'm well aware of the odds of being found by an advanced culture 
>(whether our own or someone else's...), but have to wonder if taking 
>one's chances in the interstellar vacuum might be safer than containment 
>here on Earth.  Space presents myriad hazards, but might such obstacles 
compare to Earth's financial infrastructure?

     Wait a minute, Mac.  Do you seriously think that the odds of an 
unknown alien civilization finding small pods cast at random into an 
unlimited volume (for all practical purposes) universe and then figuring 
out what they are and reviving the contents are *greater* than the odds on 
the survival of human civilization and financial institutions for the next 
century or two?

     How do you think we are planning to revive patients?  Do you envision 
that we are freezing lots of people today and then the dewars will lay 
around gathering dust for a century unnoticed until future humans of "an 
advance culture" find them?  Not even close to reality.

     The cryonics groups of today and their successors will be caring for 
the patients all along (or it won't work at all) and will be providing the 
funding and probably the minds and labor to revive them in the future.  If 
we leave this to random chance, it will not happen.  Besides, an ongoing, 
active organization is required to make sure that WE and our families and 
friends can become patients and receive ongoing care.

     Much better to stay here on earth where we as individuals can EFFECT 
civilization, the economy, the care of the patients, and the progress of 
technology.

Steve Bridge


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