📚 3 Books mentioned in "Ariel Ekblaw: Space Colonization and Self-Assembling Space Megastructures | Lex Fridman Podcast #271" of Lex Fridman Podcast
Podcast: Lex Fridman Podcast
Episode: Ariel Ekblaw: Space Colonization and Self-Assembling Space Megastructures | Lex Fridman Podcast #271
Published on March 23, 2022
Here’s a list of all the books mentioned in this episode. Click on the links to watch specific excerpts on YouTube and feel free to purchase the books if they caught your interest!
2001
Buy 2001 by Arthur C. Clarke on Amazon
The future of space habitats is one of intelligent structures—maybe not all the way to HAL from the 2001: A Space Odyssey reference that scares people about a habitat having a mind of its own—but certainly, we're building systems now where the habitat has sensing technology that allows it to communicate its basic functions.
Ariel references HAL from *2001: A Space Odyssey* while discussing intelligent space habitats and how they may have sensing technologies for better communication of their functions.
Seveneves
Buy Seveneves by Neal Stephenson on Amazon
Now, though, my favorite is Neal Stephenson and Seveneves.
Ariel expresses that her favorite book is Neal Stephenson's *Seveneves*, highlighting her admiration for science fiction authors.
These little robots would crawl, just like in Neal Stephenson's Seveneves; they crawl along the outside of the spacecraft looking for micrometeorite punctures or gas leaks or other faults and defects.
Ariel refers to *Seveneves* by Neal Stephenson to illustrate how robots operate on a spacecraft, linking it to her broader discussion on swarm robotics in space.
There's another idea out of Neal Stephenson, Seveneves, actually, where these arklets were decentralized spacecraft that could form and dock little temporary space stations with each other, then separate and go off on their way, adopting a decentralized approach to living in space.
Ariel discusses *Seveneves* by Neal Stephenson, illustrating how the arklets in the book serve as a metaphor for decentralized spacecraft architecture, which can form temporary stations in space before separating.
The Foundation Trilogy
Buy The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov on Amazon
What were your favorite sci-fi authors when you were growing up? Probably Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy.
Ariel recalls that one of her favorite sci-fi books growing up was 'Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy', sharing her thoughts on her favorite sci-fi authors during a conversation with Lex.