On Space Exploration

The other day my daughter, having obviously heard someone she respected say something disparaging about the amount of money we spend on our exploration of space said, “Why do we spend good money to send things into outer space anyway?”

The argument is a good one. When one goes beyond the immediate joys we get from Satellite communication (Google Earth, Television, Around the Globe Calls, etc.), it is hard to put a definitive dollar value on the value of things like the Hubble Space Telescope, Mars rovers, and even the moon race. But I’d like to argue that even basic science research in space is a positive thing.

Two caveats before I start:

1) If any “moon landings were faked” people are reading this, you can stop right here. You won’t ever agree with me because you’ll think I’m a stooge for the Illuminati, and I think you are a kook.

2) Recognize that the part of me that holds or wants to hold to apocalyptic ideas about the end of the world, doesn’t support the more rational part of me that will be making the argument below. I realize that there is a part of me that, because of my upbringing and religious convictions, is so sickened by the state of this world that I can see value in its coming to a violent end that wipes humanity from the molten husk of this world in one big retaliatory (and possibly rapturous strike). But (referring to my earlier committee in my head) that isn’t the majority opinion at this time.

I think it is necessary for humanity to put resources into space exploration for the following reasons:

- Space exploration is a goal that we can reach for together. Having a common goal has a positive net effect upon societies.
That one I can leave without much comment.

- Space exploration has led to, and will continue to lead to technical advances.
Again, many of our modern technologies are outgrowths of the space industry.

- Space colonies and exploration would serve as a continual pressure relief valve without which humanity might eventually destroy itself.

I may need to explain this one more fully. Humanity, unless we initiate some drastic social and medical engineering, will continue to reproduce at a rate that grows exponentially. At some point the carrying capacity of the planet will be reached. There are many possible scenarios that would cause a huge amount of destruction: the pollutants we produce might destroy or cripple our food chain. The advocates of global warming might be proved correct and huge swaths of formerly arable land might become desert with the concomitant decreases in food production. Our eventual massing together might produce some new super-strain of virus or antibiotic resistant bacteria that will overwhelm us with sickness. We might start a nuclear war that snowballs into a nuclear winter. All of these things are bound to happen at some point in the future, in the same way that you know that if you keep putting more people into a house that eventually tempers will flare and there will be a blowup. In the long run, humanity’s only chance is to have an outlet for our continual procreational abilities. Some short term activist and rather draconian fixes are mandatory sterilization or family planning laws such as those in China. Another possible class of responses would be various versions of ignoring the problem and hoping that it goes away by itself. That seems to be our collective choice right now, but, as in real life, this sort of non-problem-solving rarely ends well.

If we could transcend the gravity well and use space as a sort of infinite colony, it is very possible that we could avoid this problem, and give the teeming and eternally reproducing masses a possibility for a better life not marred by hunger, disease and want.

If you aren’t aware of the Living Universe Foundation and the Millennial Project, you should take a look. Marshall Savage, the author of the book: The Millennial Project: Colonizing the Galaxy in Eight Easy Steps, makes a very strong case for the fact that once certain technical barriers are overcome, life in space could be a very pleasant way of living, filled with a variety of experiences, possible habitats, and almost infinite energy (there are no clouds to block the Sun’s rays and there “is no night there.”) Take a look at the Wikipedia entry for a basic idea of his thesis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Millennial_Project

- Space exploration leads to the possibility of protecting ourselves as a species by not putting all of our eggs in one basket.

If some celestial or human inspired event were to make the earth even temporarily uninhabitable (a large asteroid or a nuclear holocaust), if we had colonists in space, the human race would have a good chance of surviving and eventually returning to the earth to recolonize it. If we don’t have other colonies in space and something horrible happens, it will be the end. And while some might desire such an end, it isn’t necessary or desirable. Even as a Christian who believes that there will be some sort of end of the cosmos that will make all things right, I have to acknowledge that that “end time” may not have to be equated with the end of the biological carrying capacity of this particular large piece of rock. I’ve always been baffled by the thought that space exploration and that especially the discovery of extra-terrestrial life somehow invalidates the ideas of our religion. It would make us have to rethink a good number of things, but it wouldn’t necessarily invalidate everything we’ve always believed. And so, I’d argue, that in the same way that one ought to diversify your assets and not invest your entire retirement in your company’s stock (i.e.. Enron and Wachovia), I’d also say that it would be worth a good bit of effort to avoid linking our entire species fate to that of this planet.

From a selfish point of view, I hope that the United States chooses to make the choice to extend its efforts in space. If we do not, some other country will. From a military point of view, the nation with the high ground will have tactical advantages over those who do not. Also, there may be some genetic and cultural advantages to have a country that allows for ethnic and religious diversity among those who live above and beyond our mother planet’s atmosphere.

It was in this way that I answered my 10-year-old’s question. I’m not certain I convinced her. I’m not certain I convinced you.

But here is a final question for you to ponder.

If we discovered that a huge asteroid was on a collision course with the planet. Let’s say one that was similar in size to the one they think helped create the moon – We’re talking extinction level event – And if there were no real ways off of this planet -- If we had approximately 6 months to prepare and all other options seemed pretty hopeless, what would you do? If you had the opportunity during that six months to put together a 500 word essay that would be sent into space on gold plates (so it wouldn’t rust or decay) or to beam the same essay into space with the thought that either the physical or the electromagnetic remnant of your life might be captured by some other intelligent form of life, would you do it? If so, what would you say?

That will be my next essay.

Until then. Kiss your children on the head and remember to love each other.