NationStates Jolt Archive

Will man ever develop the technology to live, say, in space, on the Moon, on Mars, or even further beyond? Will the year 3000 give us something like Star Trek or Futurama, or will mankind die off before leaving Earth? Will we decide that space exploration just isn't worth it? Or will space exploration remain very limited, with the occasional mission to other planets and possible research stations on the Moon and Mars?

Personally, yes. Humanity- from the start of recorded history- has been a very exploratative bunch, and I believe the next logical step will be space. Besides, once this planet is all but destroyed we're definitely going to search for something that's cleaner- it's just a matter of time.

Will it be in my lifetime? Who knows. Considering that in the last 100 years brought us the car, the televison, the Internet and the computer- all "essentials" now- who knows what the next fifty years will bring?

Do you really think we should be spreading our DNA around the cosmos?

Do you really think we should be spreading our DNA around the cosmos?
No, but I think it's inevitable that we spread the stupid.

Absolutely. Not anytime soon, but hey, we went from airplane to moon landing in...60, 70 years or so?

Yes. But first it needs to be profitable. This will happen in time. The moon has many useful materials under its surface. Mars is a giant ball of iron and oxygen waiting to be processed. Europa's surface is entirely mineral-rich water or watery-sludge. Right now we don't need to leave Earth, and it's really expensive. One day space will be more profitable than cost-consuming. At that point, it's just a matter of time.

This, of course, is assuming we don't bomb each other right into a Mad Max movie.

Yes. But first it needs to be profitable. This will happen in time. The moon has many useful materials under its surface. Mars is a giant ball of iron and oxygen waiting to be processed. Europa's surface is entirely mineral-rich water or watery-sludge. Right now we don't need to leave Earth, and it's really expensive. One day space will be more profitable than cost-consuming. At that point, it's just a matter of time.

This, of course, is assuming we don't bomb each other right into a Mad Max movie.
Yup. The government can't be the sole funder of all this. We need to get the combined power of the corporations into it. Same thing we did with airplanes. Made it profitable.

Most living things live outside of the Earth. They live on it

Most living things live outside of the Earth. They live on it

Ah, but they live within the atmosphere, do they not?

The answer is, without doubt, yes. It will take a long time, but we will have colonies. The question is: will we ever reach beyond our solar system? The sheer immensity of space is difficult to comprehend, and personally, I don't believe we will manage it. Not unless it's possible to "bend" space in some natural way, and I don't believe it is.

How long? Yes, the evelution of the last 100 years has been staggering, but it has to stop somewhere. Colonies within the next 200 years. Regualr transit to and from space within 300 years. And if we make it outside the solar system it will take at least 100 years. Probably more.

Private corporations are essential in this. Those left-wing fucknuggets will never get their feet off the ground unless they stop trying to impose freedom through restraint and servitude. Money is what makes the world go around.

It damn well better. It's the only way we can avoid eventual extinction.

Of course, as divisive and stupid as we have been recently I am only giving us 50/50 to survive the next century.

Ah, but they live within the atmosphere, do they not?
Why yes. Or we'd all die

Absolutely. Not anytime soon, but hey, we went from airplane to moon landing in...60, 70 years or so?

Ha! Moon? it was just usa`s big joke to world!

Why yes. Or we'd all die

Hence, you could say that all living things are within the earth as all living things are contained by earth's natural planetary system.

Not that it affects me, but it will be required for our survival unless we can stop the sun from becoming a red giant and engulfing the Earth in the next 5.5 billion years. That is assuming we've also found a way to survive without our natural resources which will surely be depleted by then. Oh and found a "solution" to overpopulation. And, as others have said, that within those 5.5 billion years along with all of those other things I mentioned, we manage not to screw over the ecosystem or bomb ourselves into oblivion. So for mankind's sake (that includes women) I hope we figure out how to get off this rock and start invading - I mean colonizing - other rocks. Besides, while Earth may be one HUGE "basket", I was taught not to keep all my eggs in one basket. One nicely placed meteor could end everything we've worked so hard to accomplish...

The earth has a planetary system? :eek:

BTW not all life. We've been out there. And so have dogs and monkeys

BTW not all life. We've been out there. And so have dogs and monkeys

But life hasn't been sustained out there. All those dogs, monkeys, and people either returned to earth or died horrible deaths. It's like saying humans can live underwater because we can swim for a little while.

But life hasn't been sustained out there. All those dogs, monkeys, and people either returned to earth or died horrible deaths. It's like saying humans can live underwater because we can swim for a little while.
And build under water researchstations.

Life on other planets or the moon will probably have to be sustained too. If we colonise the moon, do you still think we only inhabit the earth?

And build under water researchstations.

Life on other planets or the moon will probably have to be sustained too. If we colonise the moon, do you still think we only inhabit the earth?

Way to completely change your earlier statement. You said we HAVE lived outside the earth because of our manned satelites. If we build colonies, then yes, we'd live outside the earth. That has nothing to do with your first statement.

I agree that it has to be profitable, but I doubt that it will ever be. All technological evolution on earth has been made to make money or to make weapons. A moon-base would cost enormous sums to keep up and would be extremely dangerous to stay in. Nobody could profit from it. The moon is an unwanted rock. Considering that we can't even get to there anymore(the Saturn VI or V or wahtever plans have been "lost"), it will take a loong time before someone decides to spend a hundred trillion dollars on it. Before that days come, we will be extinct in the next mass-extinction.

I agree that it has to be profitable, but I doubt that it will ever be. All technological evolution on earth has been made to make money or to make weapons. A moon-base would cost enormous sums to keep up and would be extremely dangerous to stay in. Nobody could profit from it. The moon is an unwanted rock. Considering that we can't even get to there anymore(the Saturn VI or V or wahtever plans have been "lost"), it will take a loong time before someone decides to spend a hundred trillion dollars on it. Before that days come, we will be extinct in the next mass-extinction.

You're assuming we out-last our natural resources. What if the profits from the moon's minerals outweighed the cost of going there?

I've heard most of these people say that coperations are essetial in the process of space exploration. when the corperations get into space they want 1 thing, profit hence space explkoration should be carried out by some less profit drivin people.

I think that humans will eventually leave the Earth, but it will take a while to get our technology up to standard.

Way to completely change your earlier statement. You said we HAVE lived outside the earth because of our manned satelites. If we build colonies, then yes, we'd live outside the earth. That has nothing to do with your first statement.
And you contradicted yourself by acknowledging we have lived in space, but you do not count it as extraterrestial life, because it has to be supported and IF we would live on another spacial body WITH support, it would be extraterrestial life (according to you)

I think that humans will eventually leave the Earth, but it will take a while to get our technology up to standard.

When we do get our technology up to standard humans will still be stupid and not know how to work it properly. :rolleyes:

now that some private companies are getting more involved in space flight it should start to become more cost-effective over time. I do see us colonising the moon some day. maybe actually terraform mars, venus or titan? never know.
If we get into space we will leave the solar system. Even if it involves sending arks out into the void. Propagation of the species.