Although more money is spend on weapons, the amounts of money involved for space exploration is large enough to think about the goals and targets of these spending. The direct results of space travel are limited to some answers to the questions about our surroundings and the beginning of life. In this perspective, the NASA may be considered just a hobby of man.
If we search for the meaning of life by examining animal life, the main and simple reasons for existence of all life forms, is to continue to exist (Well, life forms with other priorities have disappeared from the earth).
From the results from this century’s science, one can conclude that everything has a beginning and an end. The Universe of Stephen Hawking will eventually disappear in a singularity, long after James Lovelock’s Gaia has been swallowed by our burned-out sun.
It is certain that the earth will disappear completely in some billion years time.
Considering the present growth of world population, in combination with man’s success in the destruction of his natural environment, it is likely that the ending of mankind will take place rather in few hundred years than in a few million years from now.
Although one could argue if it is a friendly act to the universe, considering above, it would be a perfectly natural act for man, to shoot groups of people into space and to attempt to colonise other galaxies.
In this way the existence of our species could be prolonged for a long time.
If one of the targets of mankind is to survive, investment in space exploration, is eventually effective and justified.
And for all those who are less concerned in the prolongation of mankind, space exploration is, like warfare, a great hobby of man.
jmm Dec 1997
Back to the home page