Is Space Our Future?

The idea of space colonization and the likelihood of life on a planet other than Earth has become a controversial issue recently. One day in the future there is a real possibility that Earth will no longer be habitable or maybe no longer exist. When that day comes there needs to be alternative options for humans to call home if there’s any chance of the human race surviving.

Numerous arguments have been made both in favor and against colonizing in space. Although opinions on both sides make valid points, it’s difficult to think that settlement on another planet is realistic, at least not for hundreds of years. The article, Space Colonization, even states that trying to create a colony in space would pose too many difficulties right now. The thought of being able to transport thousands of people from one planet to another is a challenge in and of itself, let alone the hassle of bringing along countless necessities. Just imagine, creating a sustainable living environment on another planet would require humanity to basically start from scratch. From paving roads and building buildings to figuring out how to have internet would not only be a struggle, but also a huge expense. Not to mention, the more obvious concern, being able to grow plants, sustain animals, and breathe may very well be obstacles that we can’t overcome.

Aside from the amount of time and extreme costs that would be required to even begin establishing settlement in space, there is no telling how humans will behave. Nothing like this has ever been done before, therefore there are bound to be mistakes and things that go wrong in the process. All of these things need to be taken into account because one minor setback or one miscalculation can be detrimental to the human race.

Although there are upsides to space colonization such as the fact that it might be vital for human survival sometime in the far off future, it’s unrealistic now. There is no use in wasting the money now that can be put to better use. Much more research and exploration needs to be done before the thought of colonizing on another planet becomes a logistic idea. For now, Earth faces no real threat and the worries of needing to move to space are none.