I agree completely. It's a point 've been trying to make. Sorry If I misunderstood Tom. It's the process of establishing an independent colony that will help protect Earth not reaching that point. Reaching that point will help protect humanity from global scale issues such as an accidental release of highly infective bioweapons, nuclear war, and far far in the future the suns increasing luminosity, etc. We can also get there through a thriving commercial space industry, but since both paths look difficult I prefer a two pronged approach.
Just having an independent colony would do little to protect Earth without the associated improvements in propulsion. A place of stability might help provide assistance, but the logistics would only allow helping a recovery not mitigating immense loss of life.
Regards,
Mark
Space/Science » in reply to re: A Slight Misunderstanding
re: A Slight Misunderstanding