There are some very odd beliefs here.
Is it really so crazy and arrogant to want ones own species to survive long term? The same people that claim this, that claim we aren’t worthy of survival, often strongly argue on the need for sustainability. Looking at the big picture, the ultimate in sustainability is utilising space, which means reducing ecological impact on Earth. Investing in space is far more beneficial for long term sustainability then any back to nature ideals can ever be. Arguing that humanity shouldn’t survive but also the need for sustainability is arguing two incompatible ideals. Arguing that we should just let civilisation die is psychotic.
Also, several people here seem to think the only way to develop space is to find another Earth-like planet. What about Earth orbit, the moon, Mars, the massive asteroid belt surrounding the inner solar system? These alone contain resources many orders of magnitude greater then the Earth has ever had. And that is before we even think about leaving the inner-solar system. Even empty space has the potential to provide far more energy then fossil fuels can ever provide.
People here insist that nothing has been happening in space development. We went to the moon a couple of times and that’s it, right? Utterly wrong. We have extensively explored the entire solar system learning a great deal about the massive world around us. We’ve landed satellites on asteroids and studied the composition of these valuable rocks. We’ve peered into the depths of other galaxies and have a greater understanding of the universe we live in. All without wasting money on manned flight.
But of course we’ve maintained manned flights. While we’ve done so with inefficient government bodies that waste money (it could, and will, be done much more economically), we have still made considerable progress. The Space Shuttle project has resulted in a cheap water filtrating system that is cleaning the drinking water of millions of third-world people as we speak. We have learned how to live more sustainably thanks to manned missions, we have learned how to reduce waste, recycle more effectively, how to grow food in space with obvious implications on future developments, we have mastered maintaining low orbits with minimal costs, how to generate sufficient energy without constant resupplies, how to greatly reduce the weight of our space technology reducing launch costs, and how to manage human survival in micro-gravity.
R&D in space has been increasing exponentially. Huge ongoing investments have been made and continue to be from the world over – current worldwide spending on space has increased to over $50 billion a year. NASA alone is expected to sign contracts totalling $400 billion over the next 20 years. The average person not interested doesn’t notice much happening, but in reality space is a major source of economic expansion.
And perhaps most importantly is the private sector. In 1998 the private sector surpassed government investment and the gap is widening. We already have the first private sub-orbital space craft, and soon (next year) Virgin’s fleet of craft will be operational with a long list of paying clients. Private space stations are also in final stages of development, soon to supplement government capabilities and in the years ahead greatly strengthen the booming space industry.
Peak oil doomers have been arguing economics. Take a look at what the oil tycoons have been doing for a hint of what’s to come, correct? Well apply this logic to other areas guys. Take a look at the aerospace industry: massive investment continues to grow and entrepreneurs are investing heavily in what they believe to be a future boom sector. Do you honestly think these guys, some of the most successful business people in the world, are unaware of declining energy reserves? Yet they continue to invest in space.
Profits in the private sector over the next fifteen years are predicted at around $115 billion. All of the worlds space agencies are vigorously developing moon colonisation plans. NASA is promoting prize driven challenges for sustainable space development, similar to those of the early aviation era. It may sound fanciful, especially to people who have undying faith in the end of the modern world, but the fact is it’s happening, and has been for many years.
Profits set to soar in outer space
Oh, and finally, this thread gets the usual response from the technophobic people dismissing anything about space or high technology as the fantasies of Sci-fi geeks. “Utilising space, huh? Were you wearing your Spock ears when you typed that?”
Don’t you realise how disingenuous it is for a doomsday believer to take this argument? Don’t you see that if one accepts this line of reasoning it destroys all of the peak oil arguments?
“End of civilisation huh? Were you wearing your Mad Max road warrior kit when you typed that?”.
