How would a Crystalline species send a probe into space?
I'm creating an Alien race based on Silica-Quartz crystals. While their planet is inhospitable to humans, the tectonically and volcanically active surface has created an abundance of crystalline forms, which have achieved sentience. Their abilities are Piezoelectric in nature, but my biggest hurdle is this...how does a race of sessile crystals send a probe into space? It doesn't need to be anything fancy, it just needs to get up there. :)
Their ecosystem is Silicon based, as opposed to Carbon, and therefore has no fossil fuels as we understand them. They do however have an abundance of Minerals, Metals, Salts, Acids, Alkalines, etc. they have access to. The downside is that their toxic ocean has to bring them the materials they need, though they can create over time formations that help with this. They can't move, but they can grow just about anything silicon based.
So...could they grow a Quartz spaceship, fill it with some sort of fuel, and send it off into space without having it shatter?
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