Should we expand our civilization to include other planets?
"We don't want to conquer the universe, we just want to expand the earth... We are humane and noble, we don't want to conquer other races, we only want to impose our values on them and take over their heritage". (S. Lem, Solaris)
Nina Karlström - 27.09.2019 @ 16:58
Hi, here are my thoughts about the topic.
Dangers of expansion
by Jakub Fenert, VIII LO/Poland
We are born to achieve great things. After all, where would we be without curiosity and the will to learn new things? Our ancestors travelled out of Africa, Marco Polo was one of the first Europeans to travel to China, Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas.
In the times of political crisis, overpopulation and rampant degradation of our own planet, taking a bold step forward (just like people in the past did ) and venturing into space is the only logical solution. We can mine all the resources we need from asteroids, harvest Sun energy more efficiently and reduce the strain on our home planet, while using other planets for additional living space… but should we? Do we have the right to expand into a place, that might be home to many different creatures?
I firmly believe that yes, we do. Mainly due to the fact, that most likely humankind will never have to face that problem, at least the Fermi Paradox says so. It reasons that there are billions of stars in the galaxy that are similar to our Sun and many planets similar to the Earth. And yet, despite a high chance of intelligent life evolving, we haven’t got any signs of their presence. It very well may be that we are alone in our galaxy. But what about plants and bacteria that could develop even in the harshest conditions, for example on Mars? Fortunately, scientists have answers for us. Right now, before we start to implement or research organic life on a different body, we have to be sure that we don’t destroy some sort of extraterrestial life under our boots. We don’t want to lose a chance to learn something new about the universe.
What concerns me, are the other dangers associated with expansion into space. Dangers that a man carries with himself all the way through his life. One of such great hazards is described in a book titled “The Martian” by Andy Weir – namely, loneliness. The main protagonist of the book, Mark Watney, finds himself stranded for about four years on the surface of Mars. He is alone, surrounded by rocks and dust deserts of the Red Planet, and in addition, his supplies are running low. It’s a great story about survival, creativity and overcoming all odds. The future pioneers and explorers of the vast darkness of space could learn a lot from the story – how to handle being lonely, and at the same time, how to be independent and rely on their own skills. In fact, everyone would benefit from the knowledge of those things.
Staying here, on Earth, most probably means a death sentence for both the humankind and the planet. We have to venture forward, guided by our curiosity. If we remember the lessons written in “The Martian”, then I’m sure that we won’t have problems with anything that the future will throw at us.
If we unexpectedly meet "the other Homo Sapiens" on another planet, we should instantly convey the following friendly message from Polish science fiction writer Stanisław Lem ("Solaris"): "We do not want to conquer space, we just want Extend the earth to its limits... We are humane and noble, we do not want to conquer other races, we just want to teach them our values and take their inheritance for them. "
Picture by NASA
Jakub Fenert - 11.11.2019 @ 23:24
Dear Jakub,
I really liked your article and I share your opinion. As you wrote, we have the right to expand into space, if we don’t destroy anything. Life on Earth will be impossible if we continue what we are doing now. Environmental pollution, climate change and exploitation of natural resources all contribute to our own fall. Sad to say, but it doesn’t seem that we can be fast and efficient enough to prevent the catastrophe. Expansion into space may be the only solution. NASA is already planning an expedition to Mars, which is the most similar planet to Earth in the Solar System, that’s why I think that this expansion into space isn’t impossible.
But what if we aren’t alone in the universe? The only thing I’m worried about is a conflict with an extraterrestrial life form. A lot of sci-fi movies are about “the big meeting”, and most of the time the result is a sort of war. Even so, I hope that humanity would be able to explore space, but I also hope that we could handle a foreign life form in the right way.
Kira Sztaskó - 19.12.2019 @ 08:04
Hi Kuba!
I have to give it to you, that your article is really thought provoking! I was always positive that there are some natural boundaries that people, because of some innate limits, cannot overstep. I thought living outside of space is one of these unachievable, unrealistic fantasies dreamed of by some crazy scientists from NASA. However, there is a lot of truth in your words when you say that ‘venturing into space is the only logical solution’. I think our planet is on the downward spiral and will eventually end its life, unless we find alternative ways to obtain energy. Using other planets or asteroids as sources of energy is one solution, although I do not agree with the idea of mining them, as after some period of time the desired minerals and elements will also finish, as they will soon do on earth.
As for the book ‘Martian’ I have to admit that it’s been waiting on the top of my ‘must read’ pile, but you most certainly motivated me to get it rolling. I’ve also heard of this book ‘The Collapsing Empire’ written by John Scalzi. It’s the first novel of a space-opera sequence set in a new universe. People on earth discover The Flow, an extra-dimensional field we can access at certain points in space that transports us to distant planets, stars, with the velocity faster than light. When people first set off, to try it out, it turns out to be unpredictable, and changes its direction. Will they be able to find a new way to survive, despite being lost in space? I guess you’ll have to read it and see for yourself!
Marianna Gawron - 27.12.2019 @ 15:52