HUMAN IMPACT
"Earth is the cradle of humanity, but it is impossible to live forever in the cradle." ~ Tsiolkovski, 1912 (Russian rocketry pioneer & futurist)
 
 
 

Behind all the cool technology and allure of universal unknowns, the quest for interstellar flight is really about people. This is a goal for, and by, humanity. Our survival as a species depends on learning how live beyond our -one- and only home, Earth. And it's up to us to make it happen. As much as it might be appealing to think that some benevolent alien race will save us someday, that's not the best way to get things done. But the quest for interstellar flight impacts humanity in more ways than just living beyond Earth. It is also about making life on Earth better right now. By reaching for these grand and honorable goals we stand more to gain in the process. Would you rather help humanity conquer new frontiers, or be left with no other prospect than for humans to conquer each other?

This plays both ways. As much as interstellar prospects affect humanity, the nature of humanity affects what we choose to do and how we choose to do it. Consider the popular appeal of science fiction and its inspirational affect on past pioneers. Consider the nature of how we work together, how society evolves and on how this affects if, and how, we work to ensure our survival beyond Earth. Imagine the collaboration required to get the diverse cultures and governments on Earth to jointly launch a colony ship. This is the human element in action.

 
 
 

Humanity Surviving
Our entire future is presently tied to this one, small planet Earth. If a global catastrophe ever befell Earth, whether by natural causes or our own actions, humanity would end. Mars and the Moon are conceivably within our reach, but they are not intrinsically habitable by our standards. Even after getting there, residents of these worlds would be living inside boxes with precarious supplies of air, water and food, and without simple Earth-like amenities like gentle breezes, flowing rivers and the vast array of plants and animals we routinely enjoy.

Imagine what it would be like to have another Earth-like planet within our reach. Imagine the new natural wonders to explore, and to live in. It would be an opportunity to start over. It would be a place where humanity could continue if a global catastrophe ever befell Earth. The prospects of encountering new life, perhaps even intelligent life, are mind-boggling. Take a moment to ponder what it would mean if we had a whole new Earthlike planet within our reach.

Consider too what it takes for people to get things done. To respond to any of these crises or opportunities requires a scale of international and intercultural cooperation that could be as daunting as the technology. Understanding how we - humans - operate is an integral part of the quest for interstellar flight.

Humanity Thriving
Imagine the benefits from having the technology to cross interstellar space – comprehensive and self-sustaining habitats for enduring the journey, ample energy, and the ability to move objects across vast distances. If a lone spacecraft could sustain its crew without re-supply for long interstellar journeys, then why not apply these same techniques to sustain people on Earth? Could this end world hunger? Would this provide the technology for pollution-free life-support? In much the same way that prior advances in communication & transportation brought the world closer and forced us to face the responsibility of using our newfound powers wisely, so too will such future technology further the maturation of our society.

This is a hopeful vision; an alternative that looks beyond the limits of short-term returns and beyond an Earth-only humanity. Given our ever more crowded and strained Earth, it would be socially irresponsible to neglect such ambitions. These are the stakes of our future and they are astronomically high. Answering this unmet need is the purpose of the Tau Zero Foundation.
 
Reduced Symbolical Chart of the Vastness of Space Yet to be Explored Commonly known as Cosmos by Humankind Spacefarers and Interstellar Navigators drawn for the Tau Zero Foundation.
Credit: A. Szames / AntiGravite for the Tau Zero Foundation
 

This list includes some questions for how interstellar flight might affect humanity and how humanity affects its own prospects for surviving and thriving. The intent is that this Tau Zero Foundation will explore these questions in turn and provide you with the current most relevant thoughts on these issues.

  • Why Try?
  • What If?
    • Another habitable planet is found
    • Extraterrestrial intelligence is discovered
    • Doomsday asteroid is on its way
    • We are destroying Earth's habitability
    • The Earth loses its protective magnetic field
    • Multi-generation spacecraft become feasible
    • Warp Drive becomes feasible
  • Predicting Our Prospects
    • Chances and implications of finding another habitable planet
    • The Living Drake Equation and the Fermi Paradox on extraterrestrial existence
    • Debate on sending messages to unknown extraterrestrials
    • Probabilities and human responsibilities for dealing with a Doomsday asteroid
    • Prospects and human responsibilities for dealing with Earth's habitability
    • Social implication of multi-generation spacecraft, onboard and back home on Earth
  • Human History, Past and Future
    • Which culture is most visionary, most likely to survive?
    • Migration
    • Panspermia
  • Inspirations
    • The role of science fiction
    • Words from the wise
      • The late Carl Sagan
      • Stephen Hawking on exiting Earth
    • Does religion have anything to do with this, pro or con?
  • Complications
    • Incessant Obsolescence Postulate
    • No "practical" Solutions
    • Projections of Progress
  
 
Multi-Generation Spacecraft
Artist concept of Gerard K. O'Neil's vision of a multi-generation spacecraft, as pictured in the mid 1970s.
Credit: NASA
 
Science fiction provides physicists and engineers with fascinating visions of what future highly advanced technology may be capable of achieving. Noteworthy is the particular emphasis on exotic propulsion and transportation concepts, now part of our popular cultural identity.
Credit: A. Szames / AntiGravite. with source material from C. Flammarion (etching) and famous science-fiction spacecraft silhouettes.
 
 
 
 
Tau Zero Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity
Your donations are tax deductible
Last revisions by Marc Millis 2008-Feb-17
 
 
 
 
 
Copyright 2010. Tau Zero Foundation. All rights reserved.
Graphic + layout design : AntiGravite / Szames for the Tau Zero Foundation