4.8 Space Exploration & Travel

Introduction

The idea of setting up colonies on other planets is a popular science fiction topic. Imagine flying out into space and setting up a new colony on another planet (terraforming), it can't be that hard, can it?

There are many issues to consider when discussing the exploration of space. The impact of space travel is profound—and so is the funding required! Who decides which projects are valuable? Who decides if the potential benefits outweigh the potential hazards?

In this lesson we will examine some of the implications of space travel. It's not possible to discuss all of the problems that need solving, or all of the decisions that must be made in this lesson—there are too many. The important thing is that you begin to see that the issues don't fit neatly into compartments labelled “good” or “bad.” These issues require a weighing up of pros and cons.