Colonising Space

[spot]

Here's a comment from today's New Scientist:

One of Pratchett's preoccupations is with the natural world and what is happening to it. "I think we're doomed," he pronounces, "because politicians think in five years at a time. Every time I remember that we live on a planet, it scares the **** out of me, because they're such dangerous things to live on: two miles down there you burn, two miles up there you freeze. It's so delicate."

Terry Pratchett: Fighting to keep the fantasy alive - opinion - 04 November 2009 - New Scientist

There's been the occasional comment on FG to the effect that diverting effort into space colonisation is a waste of resources and that Earth should be the chief focus. Save the planet, keep the ecosystem running, prevent the destruction of the environment from pollution and runaway catastrophe.

I'm not convinced at all. Eggs in one basket, that's all Earth is. Given the choice of spreading to more planets and eventually populating the galaxy at the cost of leaving the Earth entirely dead, or putting the planet into pristine shape and staying here, I'd go for the all-out departure every time. One day, sooner or later but during the lifetime of this species, Earth is going to see the last of us die. If we're not out there by then, we're ended.

Here's a review in this month's New York Review Of Books, to indicate where we're headed:

this is precisely what Lovelock attempts to do—using his own computer modeling—in The Vanishing Face of Gaia. A new climatic jump, he concludes, will occur within the next few years or decades, and will involve an abrupt increase in average global surface temperature of 9 degrees Celsius—from 15 to 24 degrees Celsius (59 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit). Such a shift, he contends, will trigger the collapse of our global civilization and the near extinction of humanity.

The Vanishing Face of Gaia: A Final Warning: by James Lovelock

I don't mind what it takes or how much of our worldwide resources we have to plunder to get a permanent presence off-planet, we have to make it happen. If all we leave behind is a life-free cinder then that's a cost well worth paying.

[Snowfire]

I agree. I've never seen Space, or particularly in recent years, lunar exploration a waste of money or resources. I see it as a natural progression of human desire to explore. Man has always had this inherent behavior. Its in our genes to travel, explore and colonise.

The prospect of a "life-free cinder" makes it all the more urgent a task.

Sign me up. In anticipation of more rain and winds, I'm looking for a temperate planet with a Mediterranean feel and Caribbean beaches. I know, the reality would be much more stark and desolate

[K.Snyder]

Originally Posted by spot

I don't mind what it takes or how much of our worldwide resources we have to plunder to get a permanent presence off-planet, we have to make it happen. If all we leave behind is a life-free cinder then that's a cost well worth paying.

Make space exploration a commercial entity and I'd be all for that!

I'd personally hault all but 10% of the funding that is being thrown into a pit of "risky return"! The 10% serving to keep itself afloat by the taxes seen from the colleges most endowed.

It's already relatively known that inhabiting other planets besides Earth, while keeping the endeavor profitable in the least let alone sufficient, is quite frankly impossible! Utterly impossible!

[K.Snyder]

For some reason I see a parallel brewing relative to "jet compulsion packs"?

[spot]

Originally Posted by K.Snyder

It's already relatively known that inhabiting other planets besides Earth, while keeping the endeavor profitable in the least let alone sufficient, is quite frankly impossible! Utterly impossible!

Given that nobody's yet found even one earth-like planet as a possible destination I think you're jumping the gun slightly there.

How about if I throw in a quote from someone respectable.

The long-term survival of the human race is at risk as long as it is confined to a single planet. Sooner or later, disasters such as an asteroid collision or nuclear war could wipe us all out. But once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe. There isn't anywhere like the Earth in the solar system, so we would have to go to another star.

Stephen Hawking

[K.Snyder]

Originally Posted by spot

Given that nobody's yet found even one earth-like planet as a possible destination I think you're jumping the gun slightly there.

How about if I throw in a quote from someone respectable.

The long-term survival of the human race is at risk as long as it is confined to a single planet. Sooner or later, disasters such as an asteroid collision or nuclear war could wipe us all out. But once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe. There isn't anywhere like the Earth in the solar system, so we would have to go to another star.

Stephen Hawking

If I weren't so intelligent I'd say Stephen Hawking were jumping the gun but he's not! I just feel however that someone with such a tremendous intellect as Stephen Hawking he can't help but care for the human race over a much longer period of "time".

Earth like planets are rare comparative to the Universe let alone our solar system and even if there were Earth like planets discovered by humans it'd take 500 years to have the technology to get there!

Intriguingly, both orbit the same star, a dwarf 20 light-years from Earth called Gliese 581, European researchers said Tuesday.

Two planets identified as most similar to Earth - Los Angeles Times

1 light year

is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in 1 year; 5.88 trillion miles or 9.46 trillion kilometers

define: light year all you have to do is times that by 20 and you get 117.60 trillion miles or 189.20 trillion kilometers.

Commercial space would propel space exploration much faster than any confined to the "moral certainty" of any government.

[K.Snyder]

I'd forgot to mention the money we could save would go to help the hungry.

People are starving and "we" want to ride rockets.

[spot]

Originally Posted by K.Snyder

I'd forgot to mention the money we could save would go to help the hungry.

People are starving and "we" want to ride rockets.

There's scarcely any point in feeding the hungry if their descendants are doomed to species extinction. You need to prioritize. Firstly guarantee the survival of the species, then cater for their comfort as individuals.

[K.Snyder]

Originally Posted by spot

There's scarcely any point in feeding the hungry if their descendants are doomed to species extinction. You need to prioritize. Firstly guarantee the survival of the species, then cater for their comfort as individuals.

I disagree.

A life never haven taken a breath knows not a full belly.

[spot]

Originally Posted by K.Snyder

A life never haven taken a breath knows not a full belly.

That's as good a description of an extinct species as you could hope to find.