Astronauts To The Moon and Back.

[Unique_Carpenter]

Originally Posted by txdot-guy

Putting people into space, while certainly inspiring, is clearly a massive boondoggle.

Humanity has evolved to live on earth and in earth conditions. Living in space or even in a low gravity environment like the moon is deadly for humans over the long term.

Unless there is some kind of economic benefit that can offset the effort and resources required I’m not sure it’s worth it.

Considering that we are being Locusts on our planet, we will most likely extinguish the human race here, unless we can reach other planets.
So yes there's an economic benefit.

[ICU 812]

This "Locust Thing" is not new.

Read Jarad Diamond's book, "Collapse".

Ancient and indigenous cultures, long past and recently, have behaved much as modern cultures are today.

[Unique_Carpenter]

Originally Posted by ICU 812

This "Locust Thing" is not new.

Read Jarad Diamond's book, "Collapse".

Ancient and indigenous cultures, long past and recently, have behaved much as modern cultures are today.

Correct, btw, Diamond's book is his "modern" take on the theory of "Malthusian trap" which is from Thomas Malthus' 1798 writing "An Essay on the Principal of Population". Wherein he connects population growth to food shortages and related issues.

Regardless, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
So yes, we need another planet, or two.
Hopefully the inhabitants of those can be easily defeated.

[adav8s28]

Originally Posted by txdot-guy

I don’t have a problem with space exploration or space science or even the commercial exploitation of space. I just think that our efforts should be centered around the utilization of technology and AI perhaps to do the science and exploration without the need for human presence in space.

Making space flight man rated increases costs to such a degree that it becomes economically impossible to do so without government assistance. Not to mention that every time someone dies every thing slows down and becomes even more expensive than before.

I just think that it’s inefficient in the extreme.

Once the Sun burns out (or does not shine anymore) humans will have to find another earth like planet to live on. This won't happen for a while, but might as well get a head start. Another earth like planet may be outside our galaxy. When the sun goes, humans won't be able to live on mars either.

[rooster]

Originally Posted by txdot-guy

I don’t have a problem with space exploration or space science or even the commercial exploitation of space. I just think that our efforts should be centered around the utilization of technology and AI perhaps to do the science and exploration without the need for human presence in space.

Making space flight man rated increases costs to such a degree that it becomes economically impossible to do so without government assistance. Not to mention that every time someone dies every thing slows down and becomes even more expensive than before.

I just think that it’s inefficient in the extreme.

Originally Posted by adav8s28

Once the Sun burns out (or does not shine anymore) humans will have to find another earth like planet to live on. This won't happen for a while, but might as well get a head start. Another earth like planet may be outside our galaxy. When the sun goes, humans won't be able to live on mars either.

Well....a lot can happen in the next 4 Billion years...which is the estimated time that the sun will remain "stable."

But your point does not necessarily negate tx-dot's (which, I gotta say, is VERY well done). Why can't the robots go find this planet for us? Far cheaper, given they don't need any real "life support" whatsoever, except for power.

I seriously doubt we will do anything more than a token manned mission to Mars, if that. We don't tolerate low-gravity high- radiation environments well AT ALL, and the cost to establish any kind of habitable outpost is not at all realistic.

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