#271 – Ariel Ekblaw: Space Colonization and Self-Assembling Space Megastructures

Ariel Ekblaw is the director of the MIT Space Exploration Initiative. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – BetterHelp : https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off – Coinbase : https://coinbase.com/lex to get $10 in free Bitcoin – Indeed : https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit – ExpressVPN : https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free – Athletic Greens : https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil EPISODE LINKS: Ariel’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariel_ekblaw MIT Space Exploration Initiative: https://media.mit.edu/groups/space-exploration Books and resources mentioned: Into the Anthropocosmos (book): https://amzn.to/3CUIchM Seveneves (book): https://amzn.to/36ipd4O Endurance (book): https://amzn.to/3CYdKDJ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (06:51) – Space exploration (15:58) – Swarm robotics and self-assembling space habitats (33:39) – Microgravity (37:56) – Deep duration space missions (43:06) – Extraterrestrial life (49:29) – Music and sports in space (56:08) – Colonizing space (1:03:28) – War in space (1:08:02) – Robots in space (1:22:43) – Commercial space exploration (1:26:21) – Future of space exploration (1:34:07) – Beauty of the universe (1:39:03) – Space cities (1:44:44) – Advice for young people (1:48:04) – Consciousness (1:49:50) – Meaning of life