By Calin Rugema
By SpaceEx via Unsplash.com
Introduction
Let's take a moment to look up—beyond our everyday lives, beyond the atmosphere, into the vast expanse of space, Space as we know it demands our attention. It’s a frontier filled with endless possibilities and mysteries that could reshape our understanding of life. But here’s something that might surprise you: despite all our efforts and technological advances, we’ve explored only about 5% of space. Now, whether that seems like a lot or a little depends on how you look at it.
But Consider this: we’ve explored roughly the same percentage of our oceans, yet the scale of space compared to our oceans is unimaginably vast. If we’ve barely scratched the surface of our own planet, what does that say about our exploration of the universe?
Discovery
Now, let’s explore the exciting discoveries we have made further. In 2009, NASA launched the Kepler Space Telescope, which has since discovered thousands of exoplanets—some of which could potentially harbor life but only about 2 to 12 show the most positive results of hosting life. Imagine planets out there, light-years away, with conditions similar to Earth’s. The closest one being Proxima Centauri b, is just four light-years away. But don’t be fooled by the word “just”—that is equivalent to about 40,000 Earth years or about 38 trillion km of travel with our current space technology.
These discoveries open up a universe of possibilities. Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic are not just dreaming; they’re actively working to make space travel a reality. Imagine a future where taking a trip to space is as common as hopping on a plane today. The idea of space tourism and even colonization doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore, and as exciting as that sounds, the technological advancements we will need to achieve are just some of the things to take into consideration.
Mars and Us
But let’s bring our focus a little closer—to Mars, our neighboring red planet. It is said to be a potential new home for humanity. Although we’re still in the early stages, progress is being made. NASA has found evidence of vast amounts of water trapped beneath Mars’ crust. Studies suggest that around 3 billion years ago, Mars had lakes and even oceans. But as its atmosphere thinned, these water bodies disappeared. Yet, the presence of water—even in its frozen state—is a promising sign. It’s the ingredient of life as we know it, and its discovery is one step closer to making Mars habitable.
How far are we willing to go to make these possibilities a reality? Mars, with all its potential, faces significant challenges, not least of which is its thin, frigid atmosphere—conditions far from suitable for life as we know it. Enter Elon Musk, a space enthusiast with a bold, controversial idea: detonate nuclear bombs over Mars' polar ice caps to release trapped CO₂, thereby thickening the atmosphere and warming the planet. At first glance, this solution seems radical—raising immediate scientific, ethical, and legal concerns. Yet, some researchers argue that improbable as it may seem, this approach could work, making Mars a more habitable environment.
Conclusion
But as we dream of new worlds and endless possibilities, we must ask ourselves: Should we be prioritizing finding life outside our atmosphere rather than helping our own? This is not just a question of science and technology; it’s a question of values and priorities. Especially since the world we know and love today is slowly dying due to the decisions we have made; deforestation, pollution, and global warming are just some examples of why changes need to be made. The exploration of space is not just about finding new frontiers—it’s about understanding our place in the universe and securing the future of humanity.
Works Cited
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● “NASA’s MRO Finds Water Flowed on Mars Longer than Previously Thought - NASA.” NASA.Gov, NASA, 26 Jan. 2022, www.nasa.gov/solar-system/nasas-mro-finds-water-flowed-on-mars-longer-than-previous ly-thought/.
● Mehta, Jatan. “Can We Make Mars Earth-like through Terraforming?” The Planetary Society, The Planetary Society, 19 Apr. 2021, www.planetary.org/articles/can-we-make-mars-earth-like-through-terraforming.
● Davis, Nicola. “New Hope of Finding Life on Mars after Indication of Water, Scientists Say.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 12 Aug. 2024, www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/12/new-hope-of-finding-life-on-mars-aft er-indication-of-water-scientists-say.
● Roeloffs, Mary Whitfill. “Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Launches First Tourists to Space since 2022 Engine Part Malfunction.” Forbes, 19 May 2024, www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/05/19/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-launches-first-tour ists-to-space-since-2022-engine-part-malfunction/.
● “Virgin Galactic, a Private Space Tourism Journey | NUBA.” NUBA -, 10 July 2023, nuba.com/en/experiences/virgin-galactic/. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.
● Montoya Bryan, Susan, and Marcia Dunn. “Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Flies Its First Tourists to the Edge of Space.” PBS NewsHour, 10 Aug. 2023, www.pbs.org/newshour/science/richard-bransons-virgin-galactic-flies-its-first-tourists-tothe-edge-of-space.
● Syme, Pete. “Elon Musk’s SpaceX: How the World’s Richest Person Leads the Space Exploration Pioneer.” Business Insider, 29 Mar. 2024, www.businessinsider.com/spacex-elon-musk?r=US&IR=T.