View source for Medicine:Space and survival

{{short description|Idea that long-term human presence requires to be spacefaring}}
[[File:MarsReconnaissanceOrbiter-Views-EarthMoon-20220422.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|[[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]] and the Moon viewed from Mars's orbit]]

'''Space and survival''' is the idea that the long-term survival of the [[Biology:Human|human]] species and technological [[Social:Civilization|civilization]] requires the building of a spacefaring civilization that utilizes the resources of [[Astronomy:Outer space|outer space]],<ref>{{cite journal |title= A Contemporary Analysis of the O'Neill-Glaser Model for Space-based Solar Power and Habitat Construction  |author= Curreri, Peter A. |author2= Detweiler, Michael K.| journal= NSS Space Settlement Journal |date=December 2011 | pages= 1–27}}</ref> and that not doing this might lead to [[Unsolved:Human extinction|human extinction]]. A related observation is that the window of opportunity for doing this may be limited due to the decreasing amount of surplus resources that will be available over time as a result of an ever-growing population.<ref>{{cite book|title=Our Final Hour|author=Rees, Martin|date=2003|isbn=0-465-06862-6|title-link=Our Final Hour|publisher=Basic Books }} (UK title: Our Final Century)<!--subtitle: A Scientist's Warning: How Terror, Error, and Environmental Disaster Threaten Humankind's Future In This Century--On Earth and Beyond--></ref>

The earliest appearance of a connection between space exploration and human survival appears in Louis J. Halle, Jr.'s 1980 article in ''Foreign Affairs'', in which he stated colonization of space will keep humanity safe should global nuclear warfare occur.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = A Hopeful Future for Mankind|jstor = 20040585|journal = Foreign Affairs|date = 1980-07-01|pages = 1129–1136|volume = 58|issue = 5|doi = 10.2307/20040585|first = Louis J.|last = Halle}}</ref> This idea has received more attention in recent years as advancing technology in the form of [[Astronomy:Reusable launch system|reusable launch vehicles]] and combination launch systems make affordable space travel more feasible.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Capabilities & Services|url = http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities|website = SpaceX|access-date = 2015-11-19|last = spacexcmsadmin|date = 2012-11-28}}</ref>

==Risk to humanity==

Many of the same existential risks to humanity would destroy parts or all of Earth's [[Biology:Biosphere|biosphere]] as well. Although many have speculated about life and intelligence existing in other parts of space, Earth is the only place in the universe known to harbor life. Eventually the Earth will become uninhabitable, at the latest when the [[Astronomy:Sun|Sun]] becomes a [[Astronomy:Red giant|red giant]] in about 5&nbsp;billion years. Mankind, or its intelligent descendants, if they still exist at that point, must leave the [[Astronomy:Solar System|Solar System]] long before that to ensure survival of the human species.

==Space settlement==
Human [[Biology:Extinction|extinction]] can be prevented by strengthening the physical barrier, or increasing the mean distance, between people and the potential [[Biology:Extinction event|extinction event]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2015}} For example, pandemics are controlled by placing exposed people in [[Medicine:Quarantine|quarantine]] and evacuating healthy people away. The human lineage of genus ''Homo'' has reduced from several species co-existing on Earth to just one — all others became extinct before the end of the last [[Earth:Ice age|Ice age]]. This illustrates that ''[[Biology:Human|Homo sapiens]]'' is not immune to planetary disaster and that human survival may be better assured through the colonization of space.

Although space colonies do not yet exist, humans have had a continuous space presence since 2000 in the form of the [[Astronomy:International Space Station|International Space Station]]. [[Engineering:Life support system|Life support system]]s that enable people to live in space may also allow them to survive hazardous events.

===Multiple locations===
Expanding the living area of the human species increases the mean distance between humans and any known hazardous event. People closest to the event are most likely to be killed or injured; people farthest from the event are most likely to survive. Increasing the number of places where humans live also helps to prevent extinction. For example, if a massive [[Astronomy:Impact event|impact event]] occurred on Earth without warning, the human species could possibly become extinct; its art, culture and technology would be lost. However, if humans had previously colonized locations outside Earth, the opportunities for the survival and recovery of the species would be greater.

===Objections===
Many challenges arise when travelling in outer space. One of the biggest issues that may affect the human body is interstellar radiation. While the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere protects all living forms on the planet, this cannot be said for outer space. According to researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center, a radiation equivalent to a mission to Mars can cause serious brain damage such as cognition problems and Alzheimer's disease.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Houston, We Have Another Problem - Newsroom - University of Rochester Medical Center|url = https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/3713/houston-we-have-another-problem.aspx|website = www.urmc.rochester.edu|access-date = 2015-11-19}}</ref>

==Space science==
The observation and study of space protects Earth, as space hazards can be seen in advance and, if discovered early enough, acted against.

===Near-Earth objects===
[[Astronomy:Near-Earth object|Near-Earth object]]s (NEOs) are [[Astronomy:Asteroid|asteroid]]s, [[Astronomy:Comet|comet]]s and large meteoroids that come close to or [[Astronomy:Impact event|collide with Earth]]. [[Astronomy:Spaceguard|Spaceguard]] is the collective name for some of the efforts to discover and study NEOs, though these efforts are not sufficiently  funded.

==Critique==
Some more contemporary reasons for space as a solution to survival have been identified as imperialist reasoning for space exploration, only relocating collective shortcomings and not solving them.<ref>{{cite web |author=Joon Yun |website=Worth.com |title=The Problem With Today's Ideas About Space Exploration. |date=January 2, 2020 
|url=https://www.worth.com/is-space-the-next-frontier-for-the-same-old-story-of-imperialism/ |access-date=2020-06-28}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Columns-list|
*Global catastrophic risks
*Human outpost
*[[Astronomy:List of microorganisms tested in outer space|List of microorganisms tested in outer space]]
*[[Astronomy:Planetary habitability|Planetary habitability]]
*[[Engineering:Space colonization|Space colonization]]
*[[Astronomy:Space habitat|Space habitat]]
*[[Earth:Terraforming|Terraforming]]
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space'', [[Biography:Carl Sagan|Carl Sagan]], 1994, {{ISBN|0-679-43841-6}}
* ''Realspace: The Fate of Physical Presence in the Digital Age, On and Off Planet'', Paul Levinson, 2003, {{ISBN|0-415-27743-4}}
* ''The Survival Imperative: Using Space to Protect Earth'', William E. Burrows, 22 August 2006, {{ISBN|0-7653-1114-3}}
* ''Space'' (also called ''Hyperspace''), BBC documentary narrated by [[Biography:Sam Neill|Sam Neill]], 2001 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20040925015230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/spaceguide/space_prog/ BBC web site])
* ''The Case for Space: How the Revolution in Spaceflight Opens Up a Future of Limitless Possibility'' by [[Biography:Robert Zubrin|Robert Zubrin]], Prometheus Books (2019) {{ISBN|9781633885356}}

==External links==
* {{curlie|Science/Technology/Space/Colonization/Essays_and_Manifestos|Essays and Manifestos about the Colonization of Space}}
* [http://www.spaext.com/ Spaceflight or Extinction] Academics and other leaders explain that we should colonize space to improve our chance of survival. Authors include [[Biography:Stephen Hawking|Stephen Hawking]] and [[Biography:Carl Sagan|Carl Sagan]].
* [http://www.arc-space.org/ Alliance to Rescue Civilization] Non-government organization founded by William E. Burrows, Robert Shapiro and others
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120716185255/http://www.edge.org/q2003/q03_shapiro.html Back up civilization] Robert Shapiro's response to ''Edge'''s hypothetical request from the American President: "What are the pressing scientific issues for the nation and the world, and what is your advice on how I can begin to deal with them?"
* [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1359562/Colonies-in-space-may-be-only-hope-says-Hawking.html Colonies in space may be only hope, says Stephen Hawking]
* [http://www.thespacereview.com/article/261/1 Sagan's rationale for human spaceflight] Article about [[Biography:Carl Sagan|Carl Sagan]] and [[Astronomy:Human spaceflight|human spaceflight]]

{{Spaceflight}}
{{Space medicine}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Space And Survival}}
[[Category:Space medicine|Survival]]

{{Sourceattribution|Space and survival}}