It get's off it's home planet permanently. The difference in scale of resource potential between a planet bound, versus a (multi-)planetary system bound society are incomparable. Issues of life-span are generaly irrelevant, the two technologies develop hand in hand (there will of course be some synchronisation issues in particular instances) and will offset any fundamental distance issue. In general, such societies will be very rare. ____________________________________________________________________ He is able who thinks he is able. Buddha The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------