May 05 2008 / by futuretalk
Category: Space Year: General Rating: 12 Hot
By Dick Pelletier
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their
dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt. NASA Chief
Michael Griffin is about to realize one such dream: “In 2020, the
first manned-moon mission in two generations will blast off to
create an outpost that by 2024, will host permanent residents.”
The original lunar settlers will be scientists uncovering
geological and geophysical secrets of the moon and perhaps
operating an astronautical observatory. Later, entrepreneurs will
come to mine resources such as Helium-3, an ingredient used in
fusion technology, or to build solar power stations that beam
energy back to Earth. Finally, tourists are expected to arrive in
droves to experience spectacular views of Earth from the “high
frontier.”
In the beginning, the lunar station will operate as a science
laboratory to test survival technologies, prepare for manned
missions to Mars, and serve as staging area for flights to the Red
Planet. NASA’s Scott Horowitz says, “With
this outpost, we can learn to use the moon’s natural resources to
live off the land and make preparations for the long roundtrip to
Mars, scheduled for 2030.”
The moon is an extremely dangerous environment with low gravity
and the constant threat of being pelted by tiny micro-meteorites
(moon-dust). Temperature swings of 250º in daytime to minus 400º at
night would kill an unprotected person almost immediately. And of
course, these brutal lunar days and nights each last about 354
hours (two weeks). (cont.)
However, as technological prowess advances, futurists predict
that by mid-century, scientists will be able to genetically
reengineer our bodies, enabling humans to live comfortable in low
gravity and extreme temperatures; and in addition, develop immunity
to solar ray damage. Also, by 2100 or before, many forward-thinkers
believe that advanced nanotech will enable explorers to terraform
their extraterrestrial worlds, creating atmospheres, temperatures
and ecologies similar to Earth.
But today, such futuristic genetic and terraforming knowledge
remains only a dream, so scientists are focusing on current
technologies to create habitat modules and special clothing that
will protect our bold settlers from dangers they will encounter
living in the harsh moon environment.
Since the 1960s, more than 400 people have traveled off-Earth,
and experts predict numbers of space-residents will double each
decade. By 2050, 12,000 construction workers and residents are
expected to be living and working in space; by 2100, 384,000; and
by mid-22nd century, more humans could be living in space than on
Earth.
A question some ask: “Who will own the moon?” Although the
“Outer Space Treaty” forbids nations from claiming sovereignty over
celestial bodies, most experts do not believe this agreement will
ever be enforced. Even if a moon-base is occupied by only a couple
of astronauts, the government that sent them there will regulate
their lives. But consider third or fourth generation inhabitants of
these colonies. Will they allow a distant Earth government to
control their lives? Probably, they will not.
As we begin scattering our populations to the stars, freedom,
cooperation, and good old fashioned “Earthling ingenuity” will
enable our species to achieve a truly amazing “magical future.”
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