I am rediscovering science and technology through the reading materials of our sons. From books on quantum physics, particles, and history of science to Focus Magazine (BBC), I am having a good time trying to make moral, ethical and religious connections: and these are numerous. One article in particular from the summer issue of Focus (2009) got my attention.
This issue looks at “The new Space Race” and the article by the Science Fiction author Stephen Baxter “The Next Giant Leap” made interesting reading. Baxter explores the future of space exploration and argues that this will be determined by what happens back “home” especially in a few nations states (US, China, India & Europe). Some of these factors or events will be: wars which will be more technologically intense and locally focused (in other words these will happen on somebody else’s land!); climate change which will dictate economics, the depletion of key resources and the superhighway of technology.
The latter, contends Baxter, will result in improved access to “orbit and beyond” which will then contribute towards “supporting our civilisation on earth” and towards creating more sophisticated communication systems – interplanetary internet spanning the Moon, Mars and asteroids. We will then be able mine outer space resources to solve our energy problems and climate change issues to the extent of even moving our heavy industries to outer space. Baxter reasons that by doing so we will then reduce our carbon footprint on earth “while sustaining a growing civilisation”. Then there will be the matter of finding life beyond that of mere earthlings.
All this sounds exciting – even promising and while I do wish to take the insights of a science fiction writer seriously (mindful that much of theology will also fall in the fictitious mode), there are a number of unanswered questions and contradictions from the imaginings or musings of Stephen Baxter.
For instance: there is still no hard evidence before me to suggest that human beings live responsible lives on earth (as it is our irresponsibility a fundamental factor to our present environmental demise) that will then be replicated in the ways we will treat and care for outer space. What guarantees will there be that we will not behave the same way in outer space? How can our tinkering in outer space enable us to change our life styles to that which is sustainable on earth? Interestingly, Baxter’s solution to climate, environment and energy matters is more about mining resources somewhere else rather than rethinking and changing how we live on earth. Baxter is certainly correct in noting that when humans occupy space that science and industry will transform our “corner of the cosmic neighbourhood”. The question is: for the good of whom, especially if a handful of super states will be calling the shots. We need more than Outer Space Treaty to deal with moral issues such as inequalities, greed and other human ambiguities.
© copyright Jagessar August 15 2009
