Technical Civilizations in the Galaxy 2006-01-2005

This paper considers the possible current and future distribution of technical civilizations in our galaxy. Either we are the only technical civilization in the galaxy or there are others. Humanity will spread through the galaxy or not. If there are other technical civilizations, we may become aware of them or not, interact with them or not. Although we do not know the actual situation, there are only a few distinct possibilities. Thinking logically about the galactic future of the human race does not require that we know what the galaxy contains or how it will develop, only that we consider all the possible alternatives. This paper describes and develops models of the current distribution and possible future spread of technical civilizations in the galaxy.