"Will We Ever Leave Earth?" Topic

"For there to be future wars on off-world colonies circling distance stars, humanity will have to leave the comfort of Terra behind and finally push out into the stars. When we look at works like Star Trek, it seems easy, but then we see works like Avatar and 2001: Space Odyssey and read NASA article on fast-than-light travel, a sicking feeling begins to decedent into the stomach of sci-fi fans. That sick feeling tells our brains that we, as a race, may never leave home. Much like parents today wondering if their post-graduate son or daughter will land a job and leave home, Mother Earth must be wondering the same…So, why would we or wouldn't leave the Earth? In this blogpost FWS will examine motivations and stopping blocks to humanity leaving the Earth…."
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Amicalement
Armand

I'll believe it when we finally set up a vibrant permanent colony on the Moon first.

But we haven't even been able to match what we did in the 60s. We should have already sent humans to Mars and back.

Dan

"…we haven't even been able to match what we did in the 60s…"

Did we?… (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

While it's impossible to predict the future, I'm leaning toward no. Humanity will probably not do anything like that in the future. It seems to me we're regressing in cultural terms while advancing as far as automation and communication goes.
Those that make decisions will then have to decide how to control the huge numbers of people made idle by robotics and AI. Everyone gets a free virtual reality headset as a human right?

Between the private sector launching rockets and the Chinese planning on going to Mars, one never knows!

Yes, but not until after our impending next dark age. (Yeah, I'm feeling nihilistic).

Next Tuesday bring a towel

Rvandusen

You are right. I think the robots are going to turn Earth into a reservation for humans and they'll take over the rest.

We'll just be one of many animals in their biological petting zoo. :)

Who knows? If we behave, they might even take us out for a walk once in a while.

Dan

We only set foot on the moon because of the CW space race spurred on by Sputnik. That is, unless you're an X-Files conspiracy nut who thinks it's all staged like in 'Capricorn One.'

There's no priority for such "luxury" projects now given our self-imposed budget constraints. Maybe not even if earth is doomed.

As with many Americans, my family has a long history of fleeing/getting run out of places. I expect a more global government will eventually create a need to go further. At least, I prefer that to the obvious alternatives.

Yes and with my luck I will miss out on those as well.

Mithmee, the alternatives I was thinking of were ones you'd really want to miss out on.

Once I thought we would. Now I think not.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Simple economics says no we won't, unless there is a huge monetary payback.

Wow, what negativity. Apparently no Star Trek fans in this thread.

Permanently? Personally I don't think so, a colony on Mars maybe but they will always be tied to earth. Out of this solar system I don't think so.

We already have left Earth. Unfortunately, there's nowhere else in the neighborhood to live, so we keep coming back.

I like the idea of space colonization. But in order for that to happen successfully and sustainably, the habitat will need to be not only livable but inviting. It's not hard to get people to move to a place they can pretty much live in more or less the same if not better condition than where they were before. Not so much when it's not.

So the keys to colonization are going to be:
1.) An Earth-like environment people can exist in daily with a strong sense of safety.
2.) Profitable work, with profits that can be utilized on site, not merely to meet daily needs, but to allow for significant luxuries that match or exceed some levels of desirable living on Earth. Sustenance living won't cut it. In short, money you can spend there on whatever you want, rather than money you're just saving up to spend after a return to Earth.

So a better life, not just a different one.

Now, it's possible for colonization to begin in less than these conditions, but only if that colonization is working to believably achieve those conditions. Mars, the big orange dustball is not appealing. Mars, a terraformed second Earth, is highly appealing.

Otherwise all you're ever going to get are the equivalent of the science stations in Antarctica, with the occasional tourist dropping in to look at the rocks and jump a bit.