1) Global population continues to grow.
2) Earth has been hit by large meteors that have exterminated species (i.e.: dinosaurs).
3) The Sun will not burn forever.
Are all three inevitable? At least 1 & 3 are, with 2 having a strong statistical probability of happening.
For most of the past half century, the USA has led humanity with remarkable achievements in space exploration and development. In recent years, other nations have gained stature with the growing sophistication of their space exploration efforts - either independent and/or in collaboration with other nations.
However, this past week marked a bittersweet chapter in American space exploration history. The final mission of the Discovery Space Shuttle is underway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_space_shuttle). The 39th mission for Discovery - a record - only two additional space shuttle flights (by are Atlantis and Endeavour) remain before the 30 year old space shuttle program is retired (with no new manned space flight programs planned).So let's think about this. Economically, the USA is still suffering under the suffocating Great Recession. Each month, unemployment records get shattered
(currently the USA is in the depths of the longest duration of unemployment over 9% EVER [closing in on 24 consecutive months at this unsustainable level] ... with overall unemployment rates in the high teens neighborhood of the Depression era). Bank closings quietly continue nationally every week. Foreclosure rates remain at record levels, etc., etc., etc.Consider these basics: When a bridge is under construction, there is a hiring boom for a variety of jobs spanning designers, builders, transportation to bring in materials and supplies along with countless other direct jobs, as well as countless indirect jobs to provide food, lodging, entertainment and more.
Now go big picture. The USA is pretty developed - at least at a plateau for the early 21st century. From roadways (which always require maintenance), to hi-tech infrastructure ... since the baby boom America has grown on about all fronts. However, over recent decades as the average age of population in USA got older, infrastructure became reasonably built out (i.e.: the bridge was completed). In parallel, the global environment evolved. Economies of scale coupled with a more open and sophisticated global market facilitated shifting some significant job sustaining industries off shore ... partially due to demand shifting from the US to other markets and partially due to better economics in other markets ... freeing up US workers to pursue opportunities in emerging industries (which are now mostly sputtering).
The growth trajectory of the US is stalled (at best) and in a decline (at worst). Where is a meaningful growth sector (forget 'boom') for the foreseeable future? There isn't one (other than possibly mobile commerce).
So .... let's connect the dots. Last week there was an announcement by a large group of international scientists that the
demands from Earth's growing population (#1 above) of humanity will outstrip the world's food producing capabilities based on today's technologies in about 50 years.Assuming we can dodge any neighborhood asteroids over the next half century, how about a multinational 'investment' in the future of humanity by seriously accelerating efforts to colonize space?
With this opportunity presented to humanity on a silver platter .. instead, funding for NASA is in retreat.
Really? This is the best we can do? This qualifies as vision? When (not "If") humanity is facing extinction, no short term emergency undertaking will viably save our species (or any other species we could protect in a modern Noah Space-Ark).
A half century ago, would the US Space program gotten off the ground if there was not a Cold War threat from the USSR? (Did you know the the USA's Interstate Highway system became a reality by riding on the coattails of a Defense readiness bill back in the 1950s? Follow the lessons of history?) National policy planners (and voters who put these representatives into office) have minimal concerns for passing along financial liabilities to future generations to appease short-term voter demands for trash and trinkets, so the prospect of visionary policy makers having a snow ball's chance in you-know-where to get a visionary space colonization program off the ground seems impossible.
That said, we know by experience that the US Space program unleashed unintended innovation that spanned consumer entertainment,
safety, medicine and more. Similar to the notion of constructing a bridge and constructing national infrastructure .... authorizing a commitment to a space colonization program can have short term employment benefits, unleash a variety of growth industries and lay the investment foundation for spreading the risks of having "everything" in one place - the good ship Earth - which will (according to scientists last week) face a significant food shortage crisis in 50 years, and statistically will face another Cretaceous-Tertiary like extinction event that could dwarf the last one of 65.5M years ago.Vision, courage, commitment to capitalize on opportunity. This isn't that hard to embark upon if we have the maturity and discipline to understand and seize this short, intermediate and long term opportunity!
