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Is The Colonization Of Space Possible?

To Colonize Space Or Not To Colonize

By AnthonyPublished 2 years ago 6 min read
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Is The Colonization Of Space Possible?
Photo by Shot by Cerqueira on Unsplash

The idea of humanity spreading in the vast universe through both scientific and technological advancement has been a popular topic in science fiction literature since the first landing on the moon.

A potential planet for space colonisation

Back then, this idea seemed to be fantastically far-fetched, but of course, we now recognize that this is not the case at all. In the last century, we have seen a lot of scientific advancement. We have learned a lot about our universe and created a few devices that have enabled us to break the bounds of our planet and even the solar system. But does this mean that we can actually colonize space?

There are a lot of different opinions on this topic. Some people think it’s impossible, while others think it’s very realistic. The problem is that all of these views base their opinions on facts that are spread in various fields. For example, when one looks at the facts gathered by scientists in the field of astronomy, things look pretty much impossible.

However, when you look at facts gathered by scientists in the field of engineering, you can easily see how it might be possible. With such a diverse group of people with such diverse views on this subject, it is easy to see why there is such a huge disagreement on whether space colonization will ever become a reality or not.

So, is it possible?

In order to answer this question, we will have to look at a few factors. The first factor is whether humans can even survive in space. The second question is whether we have the technology for space travel, and the third is whether we have the technology to build the facilities required for human survival.

The first factor might be the most important one of them all. If humans cannot survive in space, there is no point in going there. For example, if we consider the moon as a target for colonization, then this would be a very bad idea. The main reason for that is that the moon does not have an atmosphere or an ozone layer protecting it from the sun’s harmful radiation

Humans can survive in space only if there is a self-sustaining ecosystem, which means that it would have to be able to support humans for a very long time. In the case of the moon, this would mean that humans would have to construct a gigantic dome covering the entire moon’s surface and make sure that this dome is airtight.

This feat would not be easy to achieve, but it is certainly possible.

However, in this day and age, we do not possess any technology that could possibly protect us from the harmful effects of the sun’s radiation in such a way..

Another factor that might prove crucial for a long-time living in space is a constant supply of food and water. Right now, we cannot grow plants in space. The only way we can provide ourselves with plant food is through special greenhouses like the one on the International Space Station (ISS).

However, this solution is very expensive and time-consuming. It requires a lot of energy to power these greenhouses and they require constant maintenance. Obviously, this isn’t an option for space missions that might last decades or even centuries. Besides that, growing organic food in greenhouses like this also consumes a lot of water which you need to import into orbit by sending water tanks into space. In the long run, this method will also prove too expensive and will require a lot of energy.

The second factor

that might determine if humans are able to survive in space is the technology required for space travel or more specifically, for building a spaceship or other kind of vehicle that could enable us to travel into space.

The ISS is not a spacecraft! The ISS is simply an orbital outpost. It has modules like the living quarters and the laboratory modules, but it doesn’t have engines. It’s not designed to fly itself into orbit or even stay in space.

It’s definitely possible that we could build huge, huge spacecraft that could take us into space and land on planets like Mars, but there are several problems with this approach. First of all, such huge vessels would be too expensive to build and thus they would require a lot of energy to operate.

They would also prove too difficult for human astronauts to control, so it would be very dangerous. Finally, they’d have to undergo constant repairs and maintenance in order to prevent the crews from being exposed to radiation or even micrometeorites.

So if we are talking about economic viability, it’s definitely clear that the current spacecraft designs available are far too expensive and therefore they couldn’t be considered as viable options for colonizing space. The only way for us to achieve this is through the development of new spacecraft designs that could enable us to achieve these goals at an affordable price.

The final factor that might prove crucial is the technology required for building self-sustaining colonies or habitats. As it has been mentioned before, this is the main factor that will determine if humans are able to survive in space for a very long time.

Since there is no technology available right now that could enable us to create self-sustaining ecosystems, it’s certainly impossible to build these huge structures right now. However, with future technological advancement and a lot of engineering effort, these goals might become achievable within a few decades. After all, this was what happened with the ISS itself. It has been almost two decades since its first modules were launched into space, and only now have we created a space station worth something useful.

In conclusion, the ability to survive in space is a very complex issue that is full of different factors. Some of those factors are technological, others are economical, and some are even personal.

But as you can see from all those facts that have been provided, it is actually possible for humans to live in space one day. This will be done only if there are technological breakthroughs that could enable us to create self-sustaining ecosystems which would sustain us for a very long time. This might prove crucial for colonizing space within the next 10 years or so.

These goals might require major cost-cutting efforts, so it’s highly likely that this might not happen quickly at all.

However, if we are talking about mankind’s future in space, it’s highly likely that the biggest breakthroughs in this field will be achieved only when the entire world unites to achieve these goals. This is not something that can be done by just one country. It has to be done by everyone.

It might take years or even centuries before humans are able to do this but it will eventually happen. If the human race decides to stay alive, then this will become a reality one day.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: The original version of this story was posted on another platform. Over at - https://medium.com/@Anthony-Lam/is-the-colonization-of-space-possible-948256bf8bce

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About the Creator

Anthony

Just a guy looking to share his stories with the rest of the world.

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