As in the movie, the question remains, will mankind live and survive on earth until this time?
“As in the movie, the question remains, will mankind live and survive on earth until this time?”
That was my argument when we met with Congressmen, Senators, and NASA officials at a dinner to lobby for the funds to build the STS (Space Shuttle) in 1971. We emphasized the risk of running out of time in the event of NBC warfare, asteroid strike, or other calamity. We pointed out that humanity no longer has the quantities of natural resources that are easily accessible for a future emerging civilization to achieve spaceflight and colonization. it takes a certain critical mass of population and technological development to achieve a space faring economy. I argued this is humanity’s first and likely only chance of leaving the cradle before any humanity left in the cradle is destroyed. If humanity neglects this opportunity for survival, it is unlikely to have another chance.