Paper 157 Details

Title

Engineering artificial extraterrestrial life?

Abstract

We present an outline of steps to engineer the physical embodiment of a universal constructor-based self-replicating machine. Given the centrality of self-replication to life, we offer some insights learned in our design of our universal constructor. Nevertheless, our self-replicating machine serves a practical purpose – to generate high productive capacity on the Moon at low-cost by exploiting its exponential population growth. The core of this machine is 3D printing technology that bears more than a passing resemblance to the universal Turing machine concept and the biological ribosome device. Our focus is on a fully functional end-to-end system capable of full selfreplication. We present prototype components of our self-replicator concept.