Why only go so far to Mars? Why not go further?
When a National Public Radio interviewer asked some children why they thought the Mars explorations were important, they gave some interesting answers.
Most of these youngsters had similar answers. Some said it is important because we may have another place to live in case something catastrophic happens to earth. And another said it would make a great vacation spot.
Earth, We Have a Problem...
I could not help but to think how these innocent 8 to 12 year-olds must have been echoing the feelings of their parents, and those of the politicians and scientists that fan the dream of living on the Red Planet.
In fact, this is what one NASA representative said: "The dream of human
exploration of Mars is intimately tied to the belief that new
lands create new opportunities." - Dr. Michael Duke
Does that sound like a modern Christopher Columbus? I guess that we are getting too numerous to hold on earth. The NASA Johnson Space Flight Center representative continued by saying, "In human history, migrations of people have been stimulated by overcrowding, exhaustion of resources, the search for religious or economic freedom, competitive advantage, and other human concerns."
So we really have problems. Overcrowding, plus we are running low on resources.
Solution: Mission to mars
The pictures from the mars rover show a lot of unused real estate. The expansive virgin territory we see reveal either myriads (or a mirage) of opportunities.
NASA says, "Rarely have humans entered new territory, then completely abandoned it. In the past, there have always been a few people who were adventurous enough to adopt a newly-found territory as their home." So...
Will we soon need a Martian stock exchange? Will we be able to build faster space ships to make quicker trips to our 3-year destination spot near the Galilei Crater?
How about a horticultural society on mars, or a department of agriculture? Is anybody thinking of martian airports, and Walmart-ian chain stores? How about a Home Depot Store on Mars?
Farfetched ideas? Well, those who run the political engines of earth don't think so...
Politicians Hope Mars Exploration Hold Solution to Earth's Problems
In his vision for the US space program, President Bush said America would turn its focus from low Earth orbit to “a new foothold on the moon ... and new journeys to the worlds beyond our own.”
Bush said “We choose to explore space because doing so improves our lives and lifts our national spirit. So let us continue the journey.” The president also outlined a timetable for making the first human trip to mars within this century. - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3950099/
So the scientists and the politicians do not think that mars is too far. Neither do I. In fact, I think mars is too close. That is why I cannot see a solution to earth's problems in exploring mars.
I Say, "Let's Go Further!"
We should encourage a more cosmic view regarding the causes and solutions to earth problems. When we realize that sin is at the root of all our problems, we realize that the solution is beyond human efforts.
If we carry our natures to Mars or to Pluto, we still have to contend with the sin problem. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." - I Corinthians 15:19 (KJV).
Let's aim to go to heaven. Mars pales. The prospect of better life on mars is worse than the barrenness of the landscape - which will get worst once we land there with our pickaxes and our treasure chests.
Let's plan to go further than mars.