February 20, 2015
By Alexandra Petri
A recent Monmouth University (click here) poll of Americans on the subject of space travel found that most people were not exactly screaming to leave Earth. “If you won a free trip on a private company’s rocket ship into space, would you take the trip, or not?” the poll asked.
Sixty-nine percent said they would not. Only 28 percent were keen on the idea.
Seriously?
Here are a few possible theories of why we’re chary about leaving terra firma....
There was a time when space travel entertained the imagination of Americans, but, that has diminished. It is kinda neat to look through the pictures of Mars, but, live there? It is somewhat unrealistic. There needs to be a lot more research to the idea of a livable environment on another planet that is far colder than Earth.
Mars and Earth are the same age. The real question is what makes anyone think Mars is the optimal choice for their next residence?
I think we need to realize we are launching into extra-solar system travel. If that is the case and any Mars launch means no one is coming back, then follow Voyager as a marker to exit the solar winds. The ship that will be their life long residence is complicated, but, it may possible. At least as possible as Mars.
By Alexandra Petri
A recent Monmouth University (click here) poll of Americans on the subject of space travel found that most people were not exactly screaming to leave Earth. “If you won a free trip on a private company’s rocket ship into space, would you take the trip, or not?” the poll asked.
Sixty-nine percent said they would not. Only 28 percent were keen on the idea.Seriously?
Here are a few possible theories of why we’re chary about leaving terra firma....
There was a time when space travel entertained the imagination of Americans, but, that has diminished. It is kinda neat to look through the pictures of Mars, but, live there? It is somewhat unrealistic. There needs to be a lot more research to the idea of a livable environment on another planet that is far colder than Earth.
Mars and Earth are the same age. The real question is what makes anyone think Mars is the optimal choice for their next residence?
I think we need to realize we are launching into extra-solar system travel. If that is the case and any Mars launch means no one is coming back, then follow Voyager as a marker to exit the solar winds. The ship that will be their life long residence is complicated, but, it may possible. At least as possible as Mars.
