Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Robots are for exploring space; Humans are for colonizing space

humans will never colonize space

Humans in space are dependent on machinery for life support. That machinery invariably fails. Therefore it is not possible to create a stable ecology for humans in space, or on any other planet besides Earth.

Biotech might enable colonization eventually, but many things have to occur before this happens.

1. We must be capable and willing to modify various supporting species at the genetic level. This requires technology that might be available in the next century. But the political acceptance could take thousands of years. I have no doubt that wars will be fought over this within two centuries.

2. We must be willing to accept human subspecies living on neighboring planets & moons. They won't be the same as us.

3. The rules have to change. Our understanding of life has to improve ten thousand fold. Our culture has to absorb and accept new practices in reproductive technology. That could take 10 thousand years. I'm talking about evolutionary timespans, for an evolutionary process.

4. It won't be humans that colonize space.

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