2007-04-29 19:37:28 · 10 answers · asked by TOPOLLILLO 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Good question. There don't appear to be any planets in this solar system that can easily be colonized with large self-sustaining colonies unless they are terraformed first, a process which would take a long time. If we are to colonize planets in other solar systems, we need breakthroughs in both discovery and transport methods. Those breakthroughs are nowhere in sight.
If we don't launch some long-term, multi-generational rockets toward likely solar systems, strictly on a speculative basis, I suspect we'll disappear from the Universe rather than spread humankind into the stars.
What do you think?
2007-04-29 19:48:02 · answer #1 · answered by Husker41 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are several problems with this idea :
- Einstein stated that none could travel faster than the light. Even with maximum speed, reaching the closest solar system would take a long time. Could we survive during the travel ?
- The spaceship fuel ? First, we need fuel to accelerate the spaceship, then we need fuel to accelerate the fuel to accelerate the spaceship, then we need fuel to accelerate the fuel to accelerate the fuel to accelerate the spaceship and BAAM, we got an entire planet earth in tow.
- The food during travel ?
Still, there are some starting idea about this travel such as the Bussard-Ramjet idea about the fuel problem. Also, instead of travelling to another life-supporting solar system, how about making our own solar system more hospitable ?
I choose to live as an optimist. I believe that humanity as a whole has a tenacity of a cockroach. If there is a loophole in that Einstein theory, I assure you, humanity will find it.
Hope this helps,
-septerra-
2007-04-30 05:06:33 · answer #2 · answered by septerra 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that we have made consistent progress (as humanity) towards peace, prosperity, and the perpetuation of the human race. The question, as I understand it, is not if we are capable of reaching other planets to live...rather, will we destroy ourselves before we reach that point.
Of course we are capable and...
despite always having problems...different cultures clashing, wars breaking out, corrupt governments...I still see a lot of progress. I would have to say that today there are more countries working together to better humanity as a whole than anybody ever would have believed possible in our fathers' time. We will survive, and we will reach the stars.
I choose the view of the optimist.
2007-04-30 02:47:51 · answer #3 · answered by Ingeniero de Cervezas: Aarón 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We won't need other planets if we can create habitable space stations. Planets are single ecosystems that that can be destroyed too easily, taking everyone with it. Carl Sagan estimated that a single 1,000 megaton bomb can create a nuclear winter effect making the whole earth uninhabitable. With thousands of space stations (each perhaps capable of housing a million or more people), humans will be much safer as a whole than on one single planet, if we can build them. It would probably be easier anyway than sending billions of people light years away.
2007-04-30 02:54:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe I'm an optimist, but I believe the human species will survive and thrive on planets other than Earth. Hopefully meeting other intelligent species along the way. A loophole will be found to the current Einsteinian world-view that the speed of light cannot be broken and we will be able to travel interstellar distances much more rapidly than currently believed.
2007-04-30 02:51:04 · answer #5 · answered by Geoff W 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes some may reach other planets, or may live on a Mars colony etc. But the vast majority of us will be stuck here.
2007-04-30 03:39:42 · answer #6 · answered by Labsci 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a good question... unfortunately, only Time will tell...
I'd like to think that, as a race, we are smart enough to choose survival over greed and destruction.... but I'm an optimist ;)
2007-04-30 02:48:37 · answer #7 · answered by John T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We will not last long enough to develop the technology needed to go to and colonize other planets.
2007-04-30 09:38:20 · answer #8 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
we cannot answer this question here. anything anyone says is mere conjecture, guesswork or opinion.
i will say that it would be quite impossible to simply transport all the billions of people of earth away on a space ship, unless we have immensely large ships by then.
2007-04-30 02:42:11 · answer #9 · answered by Tim C 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Population growth dictates that yes we will inhabit other worlds one day
2007-05-03 21:44:57 · answer #10 · answered by hilltopobservatory 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋