Agree it's not likely that Musk/Bezos can create the technology to make anywhere other than Earth habitable for all of humanity. But they might be able to do so for a few humans? They have no interest is saving humanity. Their spaceships will be only for those who can pay the fare.
However, I must make clear - the earth will not "go down"…
Agree it's not likely that Musk/Bezos can create the technology to make anywhere other than Earth habitable for all of humanity. But they might be able to do so for a few humans? They have no interest is saving humanity. Their spaceships will be only for those who can pay the fare.
However, I must make clear - the earth will not "go down". It has survived for billions of years. Whatever calamities it faced, it regenerated. That is nature in a nutshell. It regenerates. The only decline will be whether it is habitable for humans. Forget "save the earth". "Save our human habitat!"
'Agree it's not likely that Musk/Bezos can create the technology to make anywhere other than Earth habitable for all of humanity. But they might be able to do so for a few humans? They have no interest is saving humanity. Their spaceships will be only for those who can pay the fare."
Trust me on this: there is ZERO possibility of them being able to do that. Going to Mars isn't like sailing off to an unknown continent here on Earth: Mars has no ozone layer or magnetic field, which means one solar flare can fry anyone living above ground (as well as anyone who's on a spaceship during the 7-month time it takes to get to Mars). It has no significant oxygen in its very thin atmosphere, and the soil (which is actually just pulverized rock) lacks nutrients needed for plant life and also contains high levels of perchlorates, which are toxic to humans. So when these settlers arrive, they somehow have to build an underground habitat (to protect themselves from the dangerous radiation) and find a way to create enough potable water, breathable air, and actual soil to eventually grow crops. And until they can grow their own food, they have to depend on supplies coming from Earth, which will only be sent every 2 years (because it takes way too much fuel to send those supply rockets except when Earth and Mars are aligned just right, and that only happens every two years). And everything mechanical they need (think parts to repair equipment, like the oxygen generator) will also have to come from Earth (because it takes a LOT of people to build all the factories needed to create those items).
At best, we might be able to send a short-term expedition to Mars, consisting of a few people who'd be willing to risk their lives to go there and stay for two years and then return. Long-term settlement is WAY harder, and simply isn't possible right now. Right now we'd struggle to even build a Moon base, and the Moon is only a 4-day trip from Earth!
As I said, the "Colonize Mars ASAP!' people have bene reading way too much science fiction, and studying too little actual science and engineering.
"However, I must make clear - the earth will not "go down". It has survived for billions of years. Whatever calamities it faced, it regenerated. That is nature in a nutshell. It regenerates. The only decline will be whether it is habitable for humans. Forget "save the earth". "Save our human habitat!""
And that is the truth. Earth doesn't need us, and will get along fine without us, but we need the Earth. it's time we wake up and start taking better care of our home!
Agree it's not likely that Musk/Bezos can create the technology to make anywhere other than Earth habitable for all of humanity. But they might be able to do so for a few humans? They have no interest is saving humanity. Their spaceships will be only for those who can pay the fare.
However, I must make clear - the earth will not "go down". It has survived for billions of years. Whatever calamities it faced, it regenerated. That is nature in a nutshell. It regenerates. The only decline will be whether it is habitable for humans. Forget "save the earth". "Save our human habitat!"
'Agree it's not likely that Musk/Bezos can create the technology to make anywhere other than Earth habitable for all of humanity. But they might be able to do so for a few humans? They have no interest is saving humanity. Their spaceships will be only for those who can pay the fare."
Trust me on this: there is ZERO possibility of them being able to do that. Going to Mars isn't like sailing off to an unknown continent here on Earth: Mars has no ozone layer or magnetic field, which means one solar flare can fry anyone living above ground (as well as anyone who's on a spaceship during the 7-month time it takes to get to Mars). It has no significant oxygen in its very thin atmosphere, and the soil (which is actually just pulverized rock) lacks nutrients needed for plant life and also contains high levels of perchlorates, which are toxic to humans. So when these settlers arrive, they somehow have to build an underground habitat (to protect themselves from the dangerous radiation) and find a way to create enough potable water, breathable air, and actual soil to eventually grow crops. And until they can grow their own food, they have to depend on supplies coming from Earth, which will only be sent every 2 years (because it takes way too much fuel to send those supply rockets except when Earth and Mars are aligned just right, and that only happens every two years). And everything mechanical they need (think parts to repair equipment, like the oxygen generator) will also have to come from Earth (because it takes a LOT of people to build all the factories needed to create those items).
At best, we might be able to send a short-term expedition to Mars, consisting of a few people who'd be willing to risk their lives to go there and stay for two years and then return. Long-term settlement is WAY harder, and simply isn't possible right now. Right now we'd struggle to even build a Moon base, and the Moon is only a 4-day trip from Earth!
As I said, the "Colonize Mars ASAP!' people have bene reading way too much science fiction, and studying too little actual science and engineering.
"However, I must make clear - the earth will not "go down". It has survived for billions of years. Whatever calamities it faced, it regenerated. That is nature in a nutshell. It regenerates. The only decline will be whether it is habitable for humans. Forget "save the earth". "Save our human habitat!""
And that is the truth. Earth doesn't need us, and will get along fine without us, but we need the Earth. it's time we wake up and start taking better care of our home!
makes sense re the impossibility of earthlings settling on another planet. good info.
We may be able to settle on Mars or the Moon some day. But that day is a very long way off.