how are we gonna get their? You can't just start another planet to live on.
2007-12-05 15:31:50 · 4 answers · asked by halfpint6844 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I would imagine, that when Earth begins to colonize other planets, those details will have been worked out, and the means to do it will be at hand,
2007-12-05 15:36:01 · answer #1 · answered by bgee2001ca 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, the idea is that we can "just start another planet to live on"; the process is called Terra-forming. The popular movement suggest that we would start with Mars (not too far from Earth) and turn it to a viable planet over many decades. Perhaps the moon, or other planet's moons could be lived on as well.
Eventually we could leave our solar system and perhaps find "Earth-like" planets in near by solar systems. If we could travel at near-light speeds we could reach these other worlds in a few decades. I hope the space ship is comfortable!
2007-12-05 15:47:33 · answer #2 · answered by stupidity_of_pride 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Thats the big question for the space frontier. As humans we are so small and almost incomparable to vast emptiness of space. Mars is the next planet out from Earth and it is about 36 million miles away from here. It would take about 6 months of space travel to get there.
One thing hindering us is our technology. If it were possible to go at the speed of light it would take somewhere around 20-30 light years to get to the closest star with an orbiting planet. Advances though have been made in trying to travel at the speed of light but even the speed of light is so slow compared to the distance of the KNOWN universe.
What humans may have to do in order to explorer the depths of space is planet hop. Start off from one planet, build it up so it is a livable place and then future generations may go out further. One possibility is some sort of "freezing" mechanism that will stop you from aging/living and will wake you back up when you arrive at your destination.
2007-12-05 15:41:56 · answer #3 · answered by drfark 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well if we don't keep spending money on the space program, then we will not be able to get there, because our space flight technology is woefully inadequate as it is now. I suppose if such a planet were found then people would be MUCH more interested in funding the space program. For example, if Mars were just like Earth, do you think anyone would complain about the amount of money being spent to get there?
2007-12-05 15:36:48 · answer #4 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋