Space Exploration: The Key to the Future of Mankind

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While the origins of our planet stretch back some 4.6 billion years, the existence of modern man can be correlated to a single minute in the entire span of our geological calendar. Mankind has progressed from the primitive innovations of building fire and wielding stone-age tools to the achievements of industrialization and globalization. In our increasing world of interconnectivity, population explosion, and technological and scientific discoveries, how do we manage the accompanying challenges that threaten our existence? In short, how do we survive? Research suggests that space exploration and colonization is of vital importance to mankind, because our planet has a finite resource base for future populace support, we are at an increased risk of mass extinction without dissemination and cosmic expeditions promote innovation to stimulate growth and technological advancement.

In our brief history, Homo sapiens have occupied our planet for nearly 200,000 years. From our origins, we banded together in small nomadic groups, as the hunters and gatherers that foraged the Earth for survival. The resources of our lands were abundant, supplying ample sustenance for population development. To date, our growth has advanced to over seven billion people and there is no decrease in sight. At our current rate of progression, our world population is expected to double to thirteen billion inhabitants by the year 2067. (Rosenberg, 2009)

This current trend of population growth is a substantial threat to the non-renewable water and arable land that is essential to human survival. As our numbers increase, the rate of resource consumption becomes disproportionate to the degree of availability and replenishment. Although human survival is dependent...

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...ieved April 4, 2012, from http://www.jayhanson.us/page174.htm

Risks to civilization, humans, and planet Earth. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 4, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risks_to_civilization_humans_and_planet_Earth#References

Tyson, N. D. (2012, March 07). past, present, and future of NASA: U.S. senate testimony. Retrieved April 4, 2012, from http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/read/2012/03/07/past-present-and-future-of-nasa-us-senate-testimony

Wilson, J. R., & Ross, H. (2008, August 27). Space program benefits: Nasa’s positive impact on society. Retrieved April 6, 2012, from http://www.nasa.gov/50th/50th_magazine/benefits.html

Rosenberg, M. (2009, October 16). Population growth rates and doubling time. Retrieved April 10, 2012, from About.Com Geography: http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/populationgrow.htm

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