Dear TheBeerjunkie:

On Nov 1, 5:04*am, TheBeerjunkie TheBeerjunkie.
wrote:
Hello there,

I'm a student and I'm in my final year and I wish to do
my essay about space colonization.

My first topic is about the planets or planetary bodies
that are not suitable for this purpose. Such as planets
or planetary bodies outside of our solar system. As I
understand it it is simply to far to get within a lifetime,
so that sugests we would have to have babies in order
to do that. But due to cosmic radiation, this presents
a large amount of difficulties. Sperm decrease, damage
to egg cells etc. Even though there are ways to protect
ourselves from this radiation, it is not enaugh to allow us
to have babies in space. Even if a baby could make it
out of the womb we would still have problems protecting
it from this cosmic radiation.

If we are protected, then so are our babies and our gametes.

This and the lack of gravity make it impossible to do so
in space.

Accelerate an asteroid, and send it on its way towards a destination.
Place a rotating body in its "shadow", the rotation producing
"gravity". There is your protection.

Nature seems to have previously pureed organisms, and sent their DNA
to the stars...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panspermia

But imagine, if we were able to create an atmosphere
on Mars or on any other planet, would THAT allow us to
have children? Since the atmosphere should filter a part
of this radiation?

Just build underground, and under glass... on either Mars or the Moon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moo...Harsh_Mistress

Better still, wait until the race has matured, and does not feel
compelled to overbreed, transfer its various voluntary mental
illnesses to new populations, and maybe we will figure out FTL drive,
making such precautions unnecessary.

David A. Smith