Definition
The concept of self-replicating spacecraft, as envisioned by mathematician John von Neumann, has been described by futurists and has been discussed across a wide breadth of hard science fiction novels and stories. Self-replicating probes are sometimes referred to as von Neumann probes. Self-replicating spacecraft would in some ways either mimic or echo the features of living organisms or viruses.
Related concepts
Anders SandbergAnimals in spaceAnvil of StarsApollo programApollo–SoyuzArtemis programArthur C. ClarkeArtificial intelligenceAsteroidAsteroid beltAsteroid miningAstrochickenAstronautAstronomyAutomatic factoryBerserker (Saberhagen)Berserker hypothesisBillionaire space raceBioastronauticsBiological warfareBracewell probeCarl SaganChina Manned Space ProgramChinese space programCommercial astronautCommercial use of spaceCommunications satelliteDarwinismDavid BrinDirect ascentDyson sphereEarth observation satelliteEffect of spaceflight on the human bodyEmbryo space colonizationEnvironmental disasterEscape velocityEuropean Space Agency Science ProgrammeEuropean Union Space ProgrammeExoplanetExoplanetsExpendable launch systemExponential growthExtraterrestrial lifeExtravehicular activityFaster-than-lightFermi paradoxField propulsionFlight controllerFrank TiplerFred SaberhagenFreeman DysonFuturistGalaxyGas giantGeneration shipGeocentric orbitGeosynchronous orbitGerard K. O'NeillGravity assistGreat FilterGreg BearGrey gooGround segmentGround stationHard science fictionHayflick limitHealth threat from cosmic raysHistory of spaceflightHuman spaceflightHungarian AmericanISROInitiative for Interstellar StudiesIntergalactic travelInternational Space StationInterplanetary spaceflightInterstellar arkInterstellar travelJapanese space programJohn von NeumannLander (spacecraft)Launch padLaunch vehicleLife-support systemList of spaceflight-related accidents and incidentsList of spaceflight recordsLiving organismMichio KakuMilitarisation of spaceMilky WayMirMission control centerMolecular nanotechnologyMoonMoon TreatyNatural satelliteNew ShepardNon-rocket spacelaunchNorth Korean space programNuclear warfareOrbital mechanicsOrbital moduleOrbital passOrbital spaceflightOuter Space TreatyOutline of space scienceOverview effectPandemicParsecPaul DaviesPhysicistPlanetary systemPrivate spaceflightProject DaedalusProject GeminiProject MercuryPsychological and sociological effects of spaceflightReconnaissance satelliteReentry capsuleRegistration ConventionRemote sensing (archaeology)Rescue AgreementResource depletionReusable launch vehicleRobert FreitasRobotic spacecraftRocketRocket engineRoscosmosRover (space exploration)SatelliteSatellite Internet accessSatellite imagerySatellite navigationSatellite phoneSatellite radioSatellite televisionSelf-replicating machineService moduleShuttle–Mir programSkylabSleeper shipSolar SystemSolar sailSouth Korean space programSoviet space programSoyuz programmeSpace Liability ConventionSpace RaceSpace Shuttle programSpace adaptation syndromeSpace and survivalSpace architectureSpace capsuleSpace colonizationSpace commandSpace divingSpace explorationSpace forceSpace launchSpace launch market competitionSpace lawSpace medicineSpace nursingSpace policySpace policy of the United StatesSpace probeSpace psychologySpace researchSpace sexologySpace suitSpace technologySpace telescopeSpace toiletSpace tourismSpace warfareSpace weatherSpacecraftSpacecraft electric propulsionSpacecraft propulsionSpaceflightSpaceplaneSpaceportSpeed of lightStanley KubrickStephen Baxter (author)Stuart Armstrong (scientist)Sub-orbital spaceflightTerraformingThe Sentinel (short story)Tiangong programTimeline of spaceflightTranscension hypothesisUniversity of AdelaideVirusVon Neumann universal constructorVoskhod programmeVostok programmeWeather satelliteWeightlessnessXenophobiaZygotes
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