SEED
Catalysing technological intelligence elsewhere
Despite the vastness of the observable universe. Despite recently discovering that planets around stars is the rule not the exception. The more we consider the steps require for matter to evolve into technological intelligence, and particularly the uncertainty distribution within each step, the more we realise how exceptionally rare it is. That unlike planets around stars, technological intelligence is the exception not the rule.
As we consider how the universe is evolving over time through the stelliferous era (age of the stars), we realise too that the conditions required for life is time limited. That if it exists elsewhere, there is a very tangible chance it is not and never will be in our galaxy, nor within our cosmological horizon.
Life on Earth has for the first time in its 4-billion-year history developed the ability and courage to launch itself and its machines into space, onto moons and other planets. The grand task of making the next evolutionary step for life, becoming spacefaring, is on the edge of possible. And growing existential risks suggest the step must be made soon if it is to be made at all.
We happen to find ourselves living in an extraordinarily consequential time, we may well be the arbiters for life in the universe. Our role in securing the lives of countless descendants and civilisations across millions of galaxies and trillions of years cannot be overstated. There is no greater endeavour than safeguarding the future of life itself.
The only way to ensure the persistence of life is for technological intelligence to continuously spread it, to catalyse a “coral reef” of life throughout the cosmos.
The Seed Mission, an LFI initiative, is focused on building inter-stellar space probes. Vehicles compatible with the associated distances and timescales. Vehicles capable of automated navigation to and landing on exo-planets/moons.
Though this undertaking is monumental in scope, LFI is committed to iterative progress; launching demi-decadal probe demonstration missions to refine underlying technologies and test innovative ideas. Linked to this, LFI is supporting the development of enabling technologies in areas like self-healing systems, long-life power generation and storage, and durable data storage.
Commercial applications highly relevant to these activities include:
Long-life space infrastructure: secure servers and data storage, data-relay networks, resource extractors/depots, etc.
In-space manufacture and Earth-return: biological, electronics, pharmaceutical, crystallographic, etc.
Data storage resilience: durable, long-lasting data storage can drive innovation in terrestrial use cases.
Self-healing hardware and software systems: highly relevant to improving the lifespan and robustness in industries like robotics, electronics, and manufacturing.