Space Art 4--- “Granjas de Naves”

What if space ships could be grown instead of built? Up to now and into the near future our manned space vehicles will be constructed from designed components made from diverse materials. Everything will be fabricated separately in space or on the surface of a planet or a moon, and then fit back together to make the construction work as planned. This is the way we have been building our transportation and habitat for many centuries. However, what if through controlled genetics and robotics, the whole working ship could be designed and then grown to specification…like an enormous and complex plant. Elements, minerals, compounds and nutrients could be genetically engineered to develop into these vehicles that would take man between the stars. You could grow everything from propulsion systems to hulls to living habitats. They would be self-repairing, and could be designed to better themselves in their functions and to improve themselves with use. They could be programmed to grow in size and complexity under the control of their resident populations. And they could be living worlds for their thriving crews.




They might be able to grow from a prepared surface on a planet or reengineered asteroid where they would be supplied and fed with the programmed ingredients required for its gestation. They would have capillary like networks for internal power, a solid structure for its power plant, internal farms for food supplies, along with all of the necessary structures and services to maintain its population alive, comfortable and prosperous while travelling in deep space. In fact they would be programmed to grow in size along with the ship’s population. Here are a couple of ideas on what my imagination has come up with concerning theses unique “farms.”