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New proposed Space Currency


DieChecker

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I heard about this on the radio. This currency was designed to be as safe as can be for use in space. Maybe for trade with anyone we meet out there too.

Here is the link to the BBC article.

Quid

Do you think we will need currency in space anytime soon?

My opinion is that like Antarctica, space will be multinational and I'm really not sure why we couldn't just use the numbers on our cards. People got by with cards before magnetic strips showed up.

Edited by DieChecker
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I heard about this on the radio. This currency was designed to be as safe as can be for use in space. Maybe for trade with anyone we meet out there too.

Here is the link to the BBC article.

Quid

Do you think we will need currency in space anytime soon?

My opinion is that like Antarctica, space will be multinational and I'm really not sure why we couldn't just use the numbers on our cards. People got by with cards before magnetic strips showed up.

What an amazing article!

No, I don't think we'll need currency in space anytime soon.

There are some pretty outlandish ideas in this article, other than the lofty name, which borders on the ridiculous:

Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination,

Jeez...

Intergalactic, eh?

Someone, it appears is jumping the gun...by centuries perhaps.

It is designed to withstand the stresses of space travel and has no sharp edges or chemicals that could hurt space tourists.

What about existing currency and coinage has sharp edges that could hurt "space tourists"? And, how is it that existing currency is incapable of withstanding the stresses? I'm also interested in this bit about chemicals that could harm people. What are they?

"None of the existing payment systems we use on earth - like cash, credit or debit cards - could be used in space," said Professor George Fraser from the University of Leicester

Hmmm...

That's an interesting statement...

Anything with sharp edges, like coins, would be a risk to astronauts while the chips and magnetic strips used in our cards on Earth would be damaged beyond repair by cosmic radiation," he added.

Using any sort of technology that involved sending and receiving information from Earth would also be impractical because of the distances involved.

I think this is utterly ridiculous. The distances involved?

Where in the universe do these people think that "space tourists", if and when they ever actually exist, will be going? And if cosmic radiation is protected against for the traveler him or herself, what makes this person think that a credit card would not survive (besides, you'd need the number, not the card)?

National Space Centre scientists predict that regular trips into space will be commonplace in the next five years and that tourist facilities on the Moon are a distinct possibility by 2050.

In the next five years?

Tourist facilities on the Moon by 2050?

These people are predicting commonplace trips into space by 2012???

There will be nothing commonplace about any space flight, even in 2012. We'll just be getting ready to put Orion through its paces around that time.

I'm having a really hard time thinking that any commonplace private enterprize tourist space flights will be happening anytime within the next 20 years. Five seems ridiculously optimistic. And tourist facilities on the Moon by 2050 seems a bit of a stretch as well.

Nothing's impossible of course, and I'd love to see some private space flight development. Within 5 years indicates to me that someone is dangerously unaware of the difficulties faced in doing such a thing. But even if these somewhat optimistic predictions take place, and say there is a tourist facility on the Moon in 2050...where only the very richest of humans could possibly go, what are they going to buy that they'll need some intergalactic currency?

What would prohibit electronic transfers of funds, from a computer on the Moon, using a plain old credit card number?

The things people use their time to think of sometimes amazes me...

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What would prohibit electronic transfers of funds, from a computer on the Moon, using a plain old credit card number?

The things people use their time to think of sometimes amazes me...

About 1.28 seconds, thats all....

Yes, these people are amazing, anything for a buck I suppose.

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Yes, these people are amazing, anything for a buck I suppose.

I suspect that you and MID are taking this far more seriously than it is intended. The highly contrived name of this currency just so that the acronym QUID is arrived at is a bit of a give away (for those that don't know quid is British slang for the pound).

This seems to me to be a thought exercise rather than a real attempt to define the future. If it gets people talking and thinking about the future of manned space travel (especially here in the UK where there is no manned spaceflight participation) is it really a bad thing?

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I suspect that you and MID are taking this far more seriously than it is intended?

If we are, Waspie, I for one shall be relieved!

;)

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Ok guys, nice coin, but what is the value supporting the quid? Oxygen units? Or is it supposed to be something valued in itself like the dollar?

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I'm having a really hard time thinking that any commonplace private enterprize tourist space flights will be happening anytime within the next 20 years.

Maybe five years is a bit optimistic.

But certainly it would be possible in 20 years.

The space Branch of British airline Virgin (Virgin Galactic) have already made their first test flight into space (SpaceShipOne).

And the target for their future fare of $200,000 seems pretty reasonable considering.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_galactic

I reckon they are in with a pretty good chance.

Edited by Ins0mniac
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Maybe five years is a bit optimistic.

But certainly it would be possible in 20 years.

The space Branch of British airline Virgin (Virgin Galactic) have already made their first test flight into space (SpaceShipOne).

And the target for their future fare of $200,000 seems pretty reasonable considering.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_galactic

I reckon they are in with a pretty good chance.

Yes but this is only sub-orbital. You are launched, spend a few minutes in space and then return to the launch site. You never reach orbit. Virgins plans are alos currently being delayed by a fatal accident testing components of the SpaceShip Two's engine earlier this year.

The sort of space tourism that MID is talking about is still some way off, however I think it is possible that if suborbital tourism is profitable then research into orbital tourism will be kick started. Twenty years is not impossible for this sort of tourism, but it will require safe, cheap access to orbit. So far safe OR cheap is possible we have yet to achieve both in the same vehicle (the Shuttle is the prime example of this).

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The sort of space tourism that MID is talking about is still some way off, however I think it is possible that if suborbital tourism is profitable then research into orbital tourism will be kick started. Twenty years is not impossible for this sort of tourism, but it will require safe, cheap access to orbit. So far safe OR cheap is possible we have yet to achieve both in the same vehicle (the Shuttle is the prime example of this).

There you go! I think that cuts to the heart of the matter.

Safe, at least somewhat cheap access to orbit is essential. Maybe in twenty years, on a very limited basis. However,

I rather view the private enterprises as I've seen them as noteworthy, from an engineeering research prospective, but more like playing games with a very dangerous business when talking about tourism.

I visualize a horrid disaster occurring if such a thing is rushed...

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I reckon they are in with a pretty good chance.

I reckon if you have Burt Rutan as your designer, you have the best chance there is of pulling it off...

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Jeez...

Intergalactic, eh?

Someone, it appears is jumping the gun...by centuries perhaps.

That was my first thought. :mellow:

I think it's a bit too soon to be creating a currency for space, especially 'intergalactic'.

Oh darn it........ I have to go again.

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Yes but this is only sub-orbital. You are launched, spend a few minutes in space and then return to the launch site.

Yeah, but I think MID's comment that I was resonding to was saying he/she thought space tourism in general within 20 years was a bit far fetched.

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ridiculous..

If we are still using currency by the time we are able to travel to other stars I will feel sorry for the human race. The world will evolve along with technology. We should eventually have no need for any type of money. We will work to better humanity, not to make money. People will realize that a select few people being rich while others are poor isn't right. Everyone will have the same quality of life, and everyone will do their part to better the human race. How pathetic would we be if we still used money in the future?

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ridiculous..

If we are still using currency by the time we are able to travel to other stars I will feel sorry for the human race. The world will evolve along with technology. We should eventually have no need for any type of money. We will work to better humanity, not to make money. People will realize that a select few people being rich while others are poor isn't right. Everyone will have the same quality of life, and everyone will do their part to better the human race. How pathetic would we be if we still used money in the future?

So we'll all become communists?

Human's are generally self interested by nature. What is there that would make that change? Not evolution, evolution would suggest the opposite if anything. Nor technology.

Some people will always do their part to better the human race. While most will always free ride, if given the chance.

At least with currency, there is a form of incentive to be more productive. And until we can somehow fundamentally change human nature (which I don't see how), it's the best system we have for what we've got.

Edited by Ins0mniac
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So we'll all become communists?

Human's are generally self interested by nature. What is there that would make that change? Not evolution, evolution would suggest the opposite if anything. Nor technology.

Some people will always do their part to better the human race. While most will always free ride, if given the chance.

At least with currency, there is a form of incentive to be more productive. And until we can somehow fundamentally change human nature (which I don't see how), it's the best system we have for what we've got.

Oh noes! The pinko commies will destroy us! Call Senator McCarthy! Surely he is our last hope!

There are many ways to theoretically change human nature. Behavorial conditioning? Might not work very well all the time these days. But time will progress, and, hopefully, society will begin to regard knowledge as noble. Sooner or later, lest humanity be destroyed by some very fortunate but unlikely event, we will be able to mold the human body and mind, and thusly be able to phase out ineffecient and undesirable things, such as self-interest. Your argumentation is weak. Currency has, so far, always been used, even by self-professed "socialist states", such as the USSR; and barther systems also had incentives to be more productive.

This is ultimately about the future pillaging of space, spatial pioneering and exploitation of extraterrestrial resources by the dreadfully corrupt and loathsome beasts we call "humans", which some have accredited to grand titles such as "the crown of creation" and alike. Humanity now desires to expand their lebensraum a bit, by colonising space; well, bring on the caravans of freight ships carrying ore from one of Jupiters moons, bring on the space currency, bring on the regional space malls, the gigantic space advertisement boards ($39.95, save $5 on the latest luxury commodities, only tonight!) that you cannot escape. Let spread our disease throughout the universe.

I hope some intelligent race of beings annihilates us.

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There are many ways to theoretically change human nature. Behavorial conditioning? Might not work very well all the time these days. But time will progress, and, hopefully, society will begin to regard knowledge as noble. Sooner or later, lest humanity be destroyed by some very fortunate but unlikely event, we will be able to mold the human body and mind, and thusly be able to phase out ineffecient and undesirable things, such as self-interest.

mass behavioural conditioning or something. That would require some sort of government in power with the will to carry it out, and a public that would let it happen. Governments tend to be more interested in power than enlightening society. That's why they are in power. Would have to be a bit of a fluke.

Your argumentation is weak. Currency has, so far, always been used, even by self-professed "socialist states", such as the USSR; and barther systems also had incentives to be more productive.

Yes, however capitalism is based a lot more on the incentives of money than communism.

My argument is that, if you somehow make a society full of altruists, then you can get rid of money. Sure. But until then, it's the best way to deal with humanity. Just getting rid of money wont stop greed. It'll make it worse. Some people wont pull their weight but they will be able to hide it even more easily.

This is ultimately about the future pillaging of space, spatial pioneering and exploitation of extraterrestrial resources by the dreadfully corrupt and loathsome beasts we call "humans", which some have accredited to grand titles such as "the crown of creation" and alike. Humanity now desires to expand their lebensraum a bit, by colonising space; well, bring on the caravans of freight ships carrying ore from one of Jupiters moons, bring on the space currency, bring on the regional space malls, the gigantic space advertisement boards ($39.95, save $5 on the latest luxury commodities, only tonight!) that you cannot escape. Let spread our disease throughout the universe.

I hope some intelligent race of beings annihilates us.

Hmm. A pessimistic idealist. Interesting.

In my view, humanity has good and bad in it.

Hmm. In hoping some intelligent race of beings annihilates us, it seems you're assuming a more intelligent race of beings would also be more more 'enlightened'. They could just as easily be worse than us.

Without exploitation of resources, you wouldn't have access to the computer you're using right now. Are you leading my example and living a simple life in some shack in the mountains with a vegetable garden or are you part of it?

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mass behavioural conditioning or something. That would require some sort of government in power with the will to carry it out, and a public that would let it happen. Governments tend to be more interested in power than enlightening society. That's why they are in power. Would have to be a bit of a fluke.

It does not quite require a governmental power; though it does require a concentration of power. This might just as well be in the hand of any expansionist corporate conglomerate, though it's desire to execute such "reforms" of the human nature would undoubtedly have to be at the hands of a person desiring it so. The same would most likely go for a governmental power as well, it would require a person with alot of power who at whim would carry out the project, possibly in secret for the great populace.

Hmm. In hoping some intelligent race of beings annihilates us, it seems you're assuming a more intelligent race of beings would also be more more 'enlightened'. They could just as easily be worse than us.

Not really, merely hopeful they would be, as they'd realise the fruitlessness of persuing emotional fullfillment and the individual. It is however, as you pointed out, nothing inherit in enlightenment per se. It would more have to do with their biological nature. I'm hoping they'd be made of matter entirely unknown to us, something strange & alluring that makes no sense to us.

Without exploitation of resources, you wouldn't have access to the computer you're using right now. Are you leading my example and living a simple life in some shack in the mountains with a vegetable garden or are you part of it?

One does not know what one goes without when one has never had it. I'm setting my example in being a parasitic being not contributing to the national GDP, however. Much rather would I wish to have never been born, but alas, the thing closest to that is suicide, which I am sadly incapable of committing myself to.

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It does not quite require a governmental power; though it does require a concentration of power. This might just as well be in the hand of any expansionist corporate conglomerate, though it's desire to execute such "reforms" of the human nature would undoubtedly have to be at the hands of a person desiring it so. The same would most likely go for a governmental power as well, it would require a person with alot of power who at whim would carry out the project, possibly in secret for the great populace.

Yeah, I guess that's possible. Hopefully such a person wouldn't mess it up. Changing human nature to fit with how a person thinks we SHOULD be would be very precarious.

Not really, merely hopeful they would be, as they'd realise the fruitlessness of persuing emotional fullfillment and the individual. It is however, as you pointed out, nothing inherit in enlightenment per se. It would more have to do with their biological nature. I'm hoping they'd be made of matter entirely unknown to us, something strange & alluring that makes no sense to us.

Yeah, hopefully. It would be nice. Although, I'm not sure if they could exist from a matter entirely unknown by us. There's only a certain amount of ways you can configure an atom to make a 'stable' element. And if it's not made with atoms, is it really 'matter' or something else?

One does not know what one goes without when one has never had it. I'm setting my example in being a parasitic being not contributing to the national GDP, however. Much rather would I wish to have never been born, but alas, the thing closest to that is suicide, which I am sadly incapable of committing myself to.

Hmmm. It must be depressing to have such thoughts. :(

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Seora and Ins0mniac, as interesting as your conversation maybe you have wandered way off topic. May I remind you that this is the Space and Astronomy forum. If you wish to discuss the pros and cons of various political systems then may I suggest that the World Events & Current Affairs forum would be a more appropriate place?

Edited by Waspie_Dwarf
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