If The Moon Could Talk, It Would Say No

The Moon should not become a permanent settlement, due to the uncertainty of being able to live comfortably and the known irresponsible lifestyle of Humans. Studies have shown that Space Colonization could become a permanent habitation for Humans because of ample resources and extra civilization space, but the negatives heavily outweigh the positives. The encyclopedia states, “Space settlements would have to provide for nearly all the material needs of hundreds or thousands of humans, in an environment out in space that is very hostile to human life." This move would have an immense amount of negative effects on the human body due to the change of atmospheric pressure such as muscle atrophy, deterioration of the skeleton, nasal congestion, sleep disturbance, and excess flatulence. Humans would never be able to live comfortably in this environment thus, more money will be spent going towards healthcare and providing, than expanding the colonization, eventually defeating the whole purpose of moving. Many may argue that humans will be able to adjust as time goes on, but accustomed physical changes will not be able to fix the mental changes already experienced.

Furthermore, mental health will have a huge role in this move. Humans will have to adjust to a two-week day/night cycle which makes use of solar power more difficult. This means there will be a substantial loss of functional technology. With a move as significant as this one people will constantly want to keep in contact with loved ones, but with no connection, it will be impossible. For weeks, humans will be lonely, isolated, and driven to insanity and when they finally reach a breaking point, heading back to earth will not be a quick road trip. It costs $81 million per seat to send an astronaut to space, so the cost for multiple humans traveling back and forth is not an out-of-town plane ticket. Humans will have to be 100% sure they are ready for this enormous change, and no human can be 100% sure. It will be a very unpleasant experience if one is unhappy, physically deteriorating, regretful, and 238,900 miles away from home.

Besides, before moving on to futuristic developments, humans need to focus on reality. Space colonization is just another way to ignore the major climate change and pollution Earth has endured for centuries. Humans’ carelessness for the planet they live on now, will redirect to space. The encyclopedia uses information from Holocene extinction which says, “expansion of humans and technological progress has usually resulted in some form of environmental devastation, destruction of ecosystems and their accompanying wildlife, and encroachment to genocide." Humans have ruined everything they’ve come in contact with and moving habitations will only expand the problem. Slowly but surely, resources will start to diminish, and pollution will be inevitable as the human population grows uncontrollably. Earth only has one moon to spare, so destroying it is not an option.

In conclusion, humans are not ready to take such a significant step. There are way too many risks and uncertainties that come with colonizing space. Rather than building a new environment, more attention needs to be given to the already inhabited environment. No matter how cool the stars may look up close, it’s safe to say watching them from a telescope on earth, is the best option.