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Colonizing space has become one of the most relevant topics as of late, a result of discussion on when humanity will cease to exist in the struggle for existence. Resources on this planet are limited, and our population is growing faster than ever before. Are colonies in space a viable solution?

‘Interstellar’ As Our Future

Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster, Interstellar, is known to some as a sublime and sanguine science-fiction film. To others, it represents the transcending power of love. Some may also claim the movie to be an advocacy for climate change. Yet, many viewers often miss the fact that certain aspects of Interstellar could become our future sooner than we think. The movie is set in a dystopian Earth where ecological systems are nearly destroyed, weather patterns are radical, and shortages of essential resources are pushing humanity to extinction. In Interstellar, NASA scientists approach this problem by sending an ex-pilot named Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) on an expedition to find a suitable planet for the human population to call home. For many of us, this reality may seem centuries away. However, pressing questions still remain.

Space Colonization

What happens when Earth cannot sustain life anymore? Where do we go? How would we live? To answer these questions, many believe that space colonies could provide the solution we are looking for. However, before we even explore the possibility, we need to be aware of whether or not we are capable of creating the technology - let alone ethics and other morals that we are obligated to follow. Before we think about plans to build space colonies, we need to first talk about how colonists would survive on a new planet. For example, many medical issues arise from microgravity and radiation- situations we are unfamiliar and inexperienced with. Before we think about colonizing another planet, we need to be fully aware of the ramifications and the solutions.

Colonizing Mars - Obstacles

The first obstacle we would face is the sheer difficulty of trying to adapt to a new planet when we haven't even been able to adjust to our own. Sailors from American vessels landed on Antarctica in 1821 and were forced to endure the extreme cold. Even 200 years after this exploration, there are still no permanent settlements because it is nearly impossible to extract resources such as fossil fuels and ore. Since colonists don't live in Antarctica or even under the sea, why would we attempt to live somewhere considerably worse, knowing that we wouldn't stand a chance there? For example, let's look at Mars - a planet that scientists have been longing, yearning to colonize for years. As of now, we wouldn't survive in Mars's environment because our physiology isn't built to withstand the unrelenting conditions. For example, the air is 100x thinner than Earth's atmosphere and primarily composed of carbon dioxide, which is a lethal combination for humans. In addition, heat cannot be retained at the surface, which could lead to hypothermia. Mars also has less gravity than Earth, which allows for a 180-pound human to weigh a mere 68 pounds on Mars.

Terraforming A Planet

Scientists have also thrown around the idea of "terraforming," the hypothetical prospect that allows scientists to engineer a planet to make it habitable for humans and other life. In Mars's case, we would have to inject oxygen and other gases for human survival. But the keyword here is hypothetical. Mars would still be a hostile environment for human colonists - even with advanced technology. Another solution that experts have been debating is the idea of underground bases. This may alleviate some problems, but daily life would be complete and utter desolation. Colonists would have to live in artificially lit underground bases or heavily protected surface stations with nearly zero access to the outdoors. Living like this would result in health issues such as depression, ADHD, poor eyesight, and high blood pressure. Not to mention, a complete disconnection from nature and other life.

Would Humans Be Able to Reproduce?

Another issue that we have failed to address is human gestation. Can colonists reproduce on a different planet? And if so, how? There are several risks involved that we need to pay closer attention to. The radiation from outer space could have disastrous effects on the developing fetus, and zygotes may not even be able to form. We also don't know how mothers would be able to survive since the fetus could sit higher/lower in the womb as a result of gravity changes. On Mars, for example, it may press upon the mother's diaphragm, causing breathing issues. The low gravity may confuse the development of the child, causing health problems to the mother as well.

Space Colonization and Ethics

The most important problem we need to acknowledge before we pursue our research with space colonization would be whether or not it is ethically correct for humans to occupy a different planet. It is evident that we need rules, regulations, and justice, but this isn't possible unless we have peace and leadership on Earth. In 1998, the Intergovernmental Agreement on Space Station Cooperation was the only agreement created to enforce an international system that would ensure protection in outer space. Previously, many organizations got away with mistakes in experiments conducted in outer space. On April 11, 2019, Beresheet, a private Israeli lunar lander, crashed on the moon. Beresheet spilled its cargo - thousands of tardigrades (water bears/moss piglets) in the process. There were no planetary protection laws or transparency rules, and as a result, many people even suggested that the company was unaware of the animals aboard the lander.

Space Colonization - Is it Safe?

So, let's go back to Interstellar. If our society had to relocate to another planet, would it be a wise choice? As of now, we are not ready to even enter the planning phase. Our idea of space colonization has many holes that need to be addressed. We cannot send colonists into space without having sufficient data and evidence to solve the problems they will encounter. Is it fitting for us to send humans into space, knowing that they will be exposed to environments their bodies will not be capable of handling? Should we spend resources that could be used on Earth to colonize our solar system? Who would establish essential rules to be enforced in these colonies? How would we determine the people who could travel to space? What about people with economic issues? The answer to all of these questions is this: we do not know. We need to analyze the big picture - including science, technology, and ethics. Just because we are able to do something does not mean that we should- a wise saying that holds its truth, even in outer space.

Sources:

Keeter, Bill. “Space Colonization.” NASA, NASA, 4 Dec. 2018, www.nasa.gov/centers/hq/library/find/bibliographies/space_colonization.
Kennedy, Fred. “To Colonize Space Or Not To Colonize: That Is The Question (For All Of Us).” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 18 Dec. 2019 www.forbes.com/sites/fredkennedy/2019/12/18/to-colonize-or-not-to-colonize--that-is-the-question-for-all-of-us/#1393b022367f
Dvorsky, George. “Humans Will Never Colonize Mars.” Gizmodo, 30 July 2019, www.gizmodo.com/humans-will-never-colonize-mars-1836316222.
Cara, Ed. “Final Results of NASA Twins Study Show How Scott Kelly Changed After a Year in Space.” Gizmodo, Gizmodo, 11 Apr. 2019, www.gizmodo.com/final-results-of-nasa-twins-study-show-how-scott-kelly-1833955282

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