I have no problems with manned space flight, in some cases, it makes sense to send humans to conduct particularly complex missions that cannot be carried out remotely. I can visualize situations where having a geologist, biologist or even a good mechanic aboard might be useful, if not essential. Therefore, we should also be open to research on living and working in space so when those situations arise we are ready for them.
But this need to colonize, terraform, or otherwise exploit space industrially is childish and absurd. We already have a perfectly good planet.
But in the far future, when interstellar missions become technically feasible, I think mankind should go to the stars. But until we have the means to do that, furiously expanding into the Expanse in the hope perhaps someday we'll have FTL, or suspended animation, or laser-powered star sails or world ships is, at best, premature. Like all of us here, I hope for some kind of unexpected breakthrough to allow us to do this, but I see no point in preparing for a future technology which we have no idea will appear, or any clue as to how it will work, or even if Nature will allow it.
As far as FTL is concerned, I have no expectations it will ever be possible. But if it ever becomes theoretically possible, I'll be the first in line to support whatever R&D it takes to make it so..
Space/Science » in reply to The last work on FTL I remember was the Alcubierre drive
I agree.
The whole thread (35 posts)
- NASA's Moon Base User’s Guide
- Corrosion?
- The abandoning of the Lunar Gateway station was effectively spitting in the face of our European partners
- Mixed feelings
- No space station?