why space colonization is important

Low delta-v (change in velocity by the thrust of rocket engines) is needed to reach the Earth from Phobos and Deimos, allowing delivery of material to cislunar space, as well as transport around the Martian system. And space exploration with colonization of other planets is the only solution in the long term. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. The benefits to humanity created by the resources and knowledge create a moral obligation to colonize space. [22], Sheri Wells-Jensen, PhD, Associate Professor of English at Bowling Green State University, argues that the moral imperative goes even further than simple preservation: [W]e have a moral obligation to improve: that is, to colonize yes, but to do it better: to actively unthink systems of oppression that we know exist. It would be like, Good news, the problems of poverty and disease have been solved, but the bad news is there arent any humans left. I think we have a duty to maintain the light of consciousness, to make sure it continues into the future. [1], According to some philosophies, humans are the only beings capable of morality, and, thus, preserving humanity is the highest moral imperative. If a workable solution were found and implemented, a project of that magnitude would cost billions, perhaps trillions. 1996. Although they would generally also take a few days to reach with current technology, many of these points would have near-continuous solar power capability, since their distance from Earth would result in only brief and infrequent eclipses of light from the Sun. One of the major arguments for Martian colonization is its contribution to our science and technological development. Also, seeing the Earth as a single, discrete object instills a powerful sense of the unity and connectedness of the human environment and of the immateriality of political borders. Richard Branson launched himself, two pilots, and three mission specialists into space [as defined by the United States] from New Mexico for a 90-minute flight on the Virgin Galactic Unity 22 mission on July 11, 2021. The solar energy available (in watts per square meter) at distance d from the Sun can be calculated by the formula E = 1366/d2, where d is measured in astronomical units. ], ProCon.org, "Space Colonization Top 3 Pros and Cons,", ProCon.org, "Space Colonization Top 3 Pros and Cons. Curiosity is the embryo of all sciences; without it . Alternatively, the waste heat can be used to melt ice on the poles of a planet like Mars. Crowdsource Innovation. To learn what can happen above low-Earth orbit, NASA studies how radiation affects biological samples using a ground-based research laboratory. Another near-Earth possibility are the five Earth-Moon Lagrange points. But science fiction also gives us a way to . The Moon has nights of two Earth weeks in duration and Mars has night, dust, and is farther from the Sun, reducing solar energy available by a factor of about 1/2-1/3, and possibly making nuclear power more attractive on these bodies. Harvard Univ., $29.95 By 20th century expectations, we are way behind schedule on colonizing the solar system. Opponents say AI poses dangerous privacy risks. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Ross Andersen, Exodus: Elon Musk Argues That We Must Put a Million People on Mars if We Are to Ensure That Humanity Has a Future, aeon.co, Sep. 30, 2014, Anne Collins Goodyear, Space Travel Was a Dream for Artists Long before Armstrong Stepped on Moon, business-standard.com, July 15, 2019, Authors Calendar, Savien Cyrano de Bergerac (1619-1655), authorscalendar.info (accessed July 23, 2021), Mike Wright, Article on Von Braun and Walt Disney, nasa.gov, Aug. 3, 2017, Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Yuri Gagarin, eb.com, Mar. In 2014 Elon Musk stated, Its obvious that space is deeply ingrained in the American psyche SpaceX is only 12 years old now. There is a strong scientific interest in colonizing Mars due to the possibility that life might have existed on Mars at some point in its history, and may even still exist (in the form of microbes) in some parts of the planet. They have determined that there are ample quantities of the necessary materials on the Moon and Near Earth Asteroids, that solar energy is readily available in large quantities, and that no new scientific breakthroughs are necessary. The inhabitation and territorial use of extraterrestrial space has been proposed to be realized by for example building space . Heres Everything You Need to Know,", Associated Press, "The 1st Private Astronaut Mission to International Space Station Is Back on Earth,", Jasmine Wright, "Harris Congratulates NASA Astronaut Who Spent Record 355 Days in Space,". Humans are soft and squishy and they die. Several of these factors are discussed below. Particularly in the weightless conditions of space, sunlight can be used directly, using large solar ovens made of lightweight metallic foil so as to generate thousands of degrees of heat at no cost; or reflected onto crops to enable photosynthesis to proceed. Indias planned human space flights have been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they may launch in 2023. Humans have made a mess of Earth. Space colonization (also called space settlement, space humanization, or space habitation) is the concept of permanent, autonomous (self-sufficient) human habitation of locations outside Earth. The flight marked the first time that passengers, rather than astronauts, went into space. [28]. As of June 17, 2021, three countries had space programs with human space flight capabilities: China, Russia, and the United States. This would test if thousands of humans can survive a century on their own before sending them beyond the reach of any help. Much of the current terrestrial communications already pass through satellites. Other means of communication that do not require live interaction, such as e-mail and voice mail systems, would pose no problem. Space is inhospitable to humans and life in space, if even possible, would be miserable. Space colonization is the next logical step in space exploration and human growth. It has been proposed that these materials could be used for the construction of space habitats for human settlement. Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to land two unmanned cargo ships on Mars in 2022. ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Colonization of Titan. New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article Ten Days That Vanished: The Switch to the Gregorian Calendar. Building colonies in space would require a combination of many factors, including access to space, food, construction materials, energy, transportation, communications, life support, simulated gravity (using steady circular rotation), entertainment, and radiation protection. 1. And we can do this while also pursuing colonization. [23], Jeff Bezos suggested that we move all heavy industry off Earth and then zone Earth for residences and light industry only. Space exploration benefits everyone through new technologies, including . Launching of materials from Earth is very expensive, so bulk materials could come from the Moon or Near-Earth Objects (NEOs, such as asteroids and comets with orbits near Earth), Phobos, or Deimos, where gravitational forces are much less, there is no atmosphere, and there is no biosphere to damage. The International Space Station has been continuously occupied by groups of six astronauts since Nov. 2000, for a total of 243 astronauts from 19 countries as of May 13, 2021. Colonizing Mars could speed up human evolution Colonizing Mars could speed up human evolution High radiation, low gravity and other environmental pressures could spur martian humans to mutate. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Book of Mars: $22.99 at Magazines Direct. Space colonization (also called space settlement, space humanization, or space habitation) is the concept of permanent, autonomous (self-sufficient) human habitation of locations outside Earth. To spread ourselves without thought or care would probably result in failure: more planets spiraling toward global warming or space settlements filled with social unrest. [23], Fred Kennedy, PhD, President of Momentus, a space transportation company, explained, Ill assert that a fundamental truth repeatedly borne out by history is that expanding, outwardly-focused civilizations are far less likely to turn on themselves, and far more likely to expend their fecundity on growing habitations, conducting important research and creating wealth for their citizens. In September 2005, NASA chief Michael Griffin made the following statement in which he identified space colonization as the ultimate goal of current spaceflight programs: the goal isn't just scientific exploration it's also about extending the range of human habitat out from Earth into the solar system as we go forward in time. https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-space-colonization. Space X and Tesla founder Elon Musk has a vision for colonising Mars, based on a big rocket, nuclear explosions and an infrastructure to transport millions of people there. A space colony can be the answer to philosophical challenges and economic expectations facing us here on Earth. Here are the proper bibliographic citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): [Editor's Note: The APA citation style requires double spacing within entries. But deGrasse Tyson, who also hosts the show " StarTalk " on the National Geographic Channel, argues that space colonization could have a tremendous impact on civilization, potentially. What was science fiction began to look more like possibility. The paltry amount of air that does exist on Mars is primarily composed of noxious carbon dioxide, which does little to protect the surface from the Suns harmful rays. The Space Studies Institute was founded by Gerard K. O'Neill to fund the study of space habitats. However, if such a goal were to imply human self-replication, it would treat people as machines, requiring genetic experimentation on humans and expecting that human nature and the human desire for a spouse and family life can be by-passed in some cavalier fashion. Space colonization is a controversial topic for some people, though definitely not for me, and for a number of reasons. 23, 2021. To know the unknown and explore new wonders of the Universe. First, space colonization means that the total future number of humans who will exist and whose lives will be worth living could be orders of magnitude greater than today (Baum et al., 2019, Beckstead, 2013, Bostrom, 2003). The scientist Paul Davies also supports the view that if a planetary catastrophe threatens the survival of the human species on Earth, a self-sufficient colony could "reverse-colonize" the Earth and restore human civilization. RSS. Many people think of space colonies on the Moon or Mars, but others argue that the first colonies will be in orbit. But 58% said they were definitely or probably not interested in going to space. Jupiter would be less suitable for habitation due to its high gravity, escape velocity, and radiation. Many space agencies build testbeds for advanced life support systems, but these are designed for long duration human spaceflight, not permanent colonization. That all being said, assume most 'wild places' as having strong 'right to exist as is' - which could be some or most of Earth, when other demands are lessened, in a due process, ideally. Billionaire Elon Musk explained that the SpaceX Mars colonization project would need one million people to pay $200,000 each just to move to and colonize Mars, which doesnt include the costs incurred before humans left Earth. And if we had a trillion humans, we would have a thousand Einsteins and a thousand Mozarts and unlimited, for all practical purposes, resources and solar power unlimited for all practical purposes. [25], Space, in particular, is connected to exploration and growth in the human imagination. We should colonize other habitable planets due to. According to Cassini data from 2008, Titan has hundreds of times more liquid hydrocarbons than all the known oil and natural gas reserves on . Colonizing space is one method of doing so. Remote research stations in inhospitable climates, such as the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station or Devon Island Mars Arctic Research Station, can also provide some practice for off-world outpost construction and operation. The long-term survival of the human race is at risk as long as it is confined to a single planet. Humans living in space is pure science fiction. The movies have visualized trips to those worlds in many different ways. Mars may have gone through similar geological and hydrological processes as Earth and may contain valuable mineral ores, but this is debated. The British Interplanetary Society, founded in 1933, is the world's longest established space society. According to one proposed scenario, "self-replication" could be an "ultimate" goal, on the assumption that it would lead to a more rapid increase in colonies, while eliminating costs to and dependence on Earth. 8, 2022, a SpaceX capsule launched, carrying three paying customers and a former NASA astronaut on a roundtrip to the International Space Station (ISS). The Space Frontier Foundation promotes strong free market, capitalist views about space development. N N A civilization that turns away from discovery and growth stagnates. Kennedy pointed out that while humans still have problems to resolve on Earth including civil rights violations and wealth inequality, Forgoing opportunities to expand our presence into the cosmos to achieve better outcomes here at home hasnt eliminated these scourges. We shouldnt avoid exploring space based on the false dichotomy of fixing Earthly problems first. Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) is a student organization founded in 1980 at. Inherent in exploration of all types is the opportunities that it opens up to the people doing the exploring. However, a great deal of engineering would be required. The advancement of this goal toward the mainstream is energizing the Movement. The late physicist Stephen Hawking believed that humanity needs to colonize another planet within the next century, if it is to avoid the threat of extinction [source: Kharpal ]. Some people believe we should not spend our money, time and resources on this enterprise, because there are problems on Earth we still haven't fixed. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda. Zero-g recreation is available on orbital colonies, but not on the Moon or Mars. It appears to be some interpretation of Christian dominion, or dominionist, theology that drives colonization advocates to declare that humans are destined to fill the universe, that humans "must" colonize Mars, that outer space resources are there for the taking.The ideology of space exploration is in need of rejuvenation. It has been suggested that Mercury could be colonized using the same technology, approach, and equipment that would be used for colonization of the Moon. Colonies on the Moon and Mars could use local materials, although the Moon is deficient in volatiles (principally hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen) but possesses a great deal of oxygen, silicon, and metals such as iron, aluminum, and titanium. Why would the left hate colonization of space, because it becomes harder to . Mankind has been dealing with challenges since the first days of its existence. The Space Settlement Institute is searching for ways to make space colonization happen in our lifetimes. Space fantasies flourished after Jules Vernes From Earth to the Moon was published in 1865, and again when RKO Pictures released a film adaptation, A Trip to the Moon, in 1902. Accessed February 21, 2023. https://www.procon.org/headlines/space-colonization-top-3-pros-and-cons/, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Jma calls what's happening "green colonization," a term the Norwegian . By colonizing space, humankind could . ProCon.org. (For articles about the Movement, see The Space Movement ). SPACE colonization means much more than Antarctic-style research habitats on the moon or other planets for an elite group of astronauts. Proponents say the internet is reprogramming our brains. "Space Colonization Top 3 Pros and Cons." Since the population increase is projected to continue, living space is and will remain an important need for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, we shall prepare, for the brave sky-travellers, maps of the celestial bodies. [1], In popular culture, space travel dates back to at least the mid-1600s when Cyrano de Bergerac first wrote of traveling to space in a rocket. Even colonization advocates would be happy with colonization of the Moon, the asteroids, and many other destinations. However, nuclear submarines run "open loop" and typically dump carbon dioxide overboard, although they recycle oxygen. However, NASA ended its space shuttle program in 2011 when the shuttle Atlantis landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 21. NASAs ongoing Artemis program, launched by President Trump in 2017, intends to return humans to the Moon, landing the first woman on the lunar surface, by 2024. It is in my view a good idea to see if we can do this as one day Earth will not be livable and yes it is a very long time from now but one should learn now in order to do this in the future. Solar energy in orbit is abundant and reliable, and it is commonly used to power satellites today. Doing so could reverse some of the effects of climate change while colonizing space. It has the benefits of close proximity to Earth and lower escape velocity, allowing for easier exchange of goods and services. 5. There are plenty of creatives who . And would these changes be good or bad? [12], Paul Eckart wrote Lunar Base Handbook in 1999;[13] M. Dyson wrote Home on the Moon; Living on a Space Frontier in 2003;[14] and Harrison Schmitt published Return to the Moon, written in 2007.[15]. [31] [32], But, a person has yet to set foot on Mars, and no space station has been built on another planet or natural satellite. You want to send robots. As an alternative or addendum for the future of the human race, many science fiction writers have focused on the realm of the "inner-space," that is the (computer aided) exploration of the human mind and human consciousness. NASA astronauts going into space afterward rode along with Russians until 2020 when SpaceX took over and first launched NASA astronauts into space on Apr. Concepts proposed by scientists and in hard science fiction include: The most famous attempt to build an analogue to a self-sufficient colony is Biosphere 2, which attempted to duplicate Earth's biosphere. In highly electrified nations on Earth, per-capita electrical consumption can average 1 kilowatt/person (or roughly 10 megawatt-hours per person per year.[2]). To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here: The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia: Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed. Such a space habitat could be isolated from the rest of humanity for a century, but near enough to Earth for help. Many NEOs contain substantial amounts of metals, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon. The concept of quality of life should play an important role in discussions of human space habitat design and planning. It is disingenuous to say that the goal of space exploration is the colonization of Mars. [18] [19] [40], In Jan. 2022, Space Entertainment Enterprise (SEE) announced plans for a film production studio and a sports arena in space. The module will be named SEE-1 and will dock on Axiom Station, which is the commercial wing of the International Space Station. Explore George Dvorskys position that Humans Will Never Colonize Mars.. Lead author Bruce Jakosky, PhD, Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder, stated, terraforming Mars is not possible using present-day technology. [30]. Thus, the main living areas can be kept at 1g, whereas the Moon has 1/6g and Mars 1/3g.