Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
Not everyone who feels that the colonization of other planets is an essential step for humanity thinks that we should urgently be pursuing this goal. They cite a variety of reasons for this position ranging from the fact that the technology we need isn't here yet to the idea that other issues should take priority.
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Adapt Mars, Not Us
Terraform - to transform (a planet) so as to resemble the earth, especially so that it can support human life. |
One big argument for having patience regarding actual colonization often given by scientists is that terraforming Mars will be much better in the long run. While it is a lengthy process that could take from 1000 to even 100,000 years to do effectively, a green Mars engineered to naturally support human life without special enclosed habitats would result in a much more pleasant experience for future Martian colonists.
In an interview with the New York Times in the early 1990s, biophysicist Robert H. Haynes vouched for this approach saying, "I don't see how adapting humans is possible at all. The climatic situation on Mars is so far beyond the range of human adaption that it's crazy to contemplate." Of course, such a scheme still requires action now. We will need to put a lot of research into terraforming and get started on the ecological adaption of Mars today if our distant ancestors are to live on a Earth-like Mars. In addition, many of these bioengineering skills we learn could be applied here on Earth as well - to reverse the effects of global warming for example. |
Technology First
While many people, including Elon Musk and Bas Lansdorp, founders of SpaceX and Mars One, respectively, think that we have the technology to colonize Mars today, others, including some ultimately in favor of colonization, are skeptical.
For example, according to Space.com, a group led by MIT students has poked holes in some of Mars One's technological plans for settling the red planet within the next ten years. Olivier de Weck a professor at MIT who co-authored the study said, "We're not saying, black and white, Mars One is infeasible, but we do think it's not really feasible under the assumptions they've made. We're pointing to technologies that could be helpful to invest in with high priority, to move them along the feasibility path." However, Lansdorp and Mars One are standing behind their plans, making it difficult to say who is right. |
Priorities, People!
Professor Tom Murphy thinks that we should focus our time and money on more immediate problems. |
Another reason often given for delaying the colonization of other planets is that there are other bigger priorities that our money should be going to right now. Many of the practical things that colonizing other planets can serve as an insurance policy against are extremely unlikely or might be better addressed by directly focusing our money and collective intelligence on the issue at hand.
For example, some scientists worry that we risk creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of environmental destruction by devoting our time and resources towards a back up plan, as opposed to specifically trying to solve the problem here on Earth. On his blog, Tom Murphy, physics professor at UC San Diego summarizes this concern with the apt metaphor, "When driving, fixing your gaze on the gleaming horizon is likely to result in your crashing into a stopped car ahead of you, so that your car is no longer capable of reaching the promised land ahead." |