To put it simply, earth if a finite system. It has a set amount of every chemical element, drinkable water, breathable air, and farm land. The earth's population will most likely reach 9 billion plus inhabitants by 2050. Additionally, our industry runs as a linear system with in our earth's finite system. This contradiction is beyond repair with the nearly 7 billion people we have now, let alone 9 billion.
The only way to bring a resolution to the problem is to turn to the infinite resources of space. We can break the limitation of the finite earth, by bridging the gap between it, and space. A space elevator would serve this purpose, and O'Neill type colonies would provide room for a growing human population.
The human race may even escape it's own extinction from a catastrophic impact. Sooner or later, something, as big, or bigger, than what killed the dinosaurs will collide with the earth, it's not a question of if, it's a question of when. O'Neill type colonies may very well become Arks floating through space.
How we do this is a topic of growing debate, as the technology needed presents it self at a steadily increasing rate. What is lacking is the political vision. While a manned mission to mars is both exciting, and tempting, it is ultimately a goal that should come after human kind has a steady foot hold in space, and is able to build a mars lander primarily in space. Going to mars means little if we can't even live just a few thousand miles above our own earth.
Ultimately my argument is this, the human race doesn't desire a space elevator, and colonies It needs a space elevator, and colonies for it's future survival, and we need to keep this in mind during our efforts in the 21st century.
iReporting
Keith.J.Lemire
Showing posts with label human survival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label human survival. Show all posts
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