Generation ship dynamics

By at 5:50 am Sunday, Feb 17

A researcher in Florida has calculated the optimal population for a generation-ship on a 200-year-plus interstellar voyage.
For a space trip of 200 years, perhaps eight to 10 generations, his calculations suggest a minimum number of 160 people are needed to maintain a stable population.

This would produce around 10 potential marriage partners per person, he says, and if this seems a small number, "think about how many people you dated before you got married".

Link Discuss (Thanks, Bill!)

Cory Doctorow

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