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Mars Needs Millionaires, British Astronomer Says
By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 03:40 pm ET
07 July 2003
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MARS NEEDS MILLIONAIRES, BRITISH ASTRONOMER SAYS Future space exploration should be left to rich thrill seekers. That's the view of Martin Rees, Britains astronomer royal and a Royal Society research professor at Cambridge Universitys Kings College. In the July/August issue of Foreign Policy magazine, Rees questions the case for sending people into space. As a scientist, he's against it. "Most of what astronauts do in space can be done better and more cheaply now by computers and robots. Each advance in robotics and miniaturization only widens the efficiency gap between man and machine in space. Circling the Earth for months on end, the International Space Station is nothing more than a huge turkey in the sky. Now that only two astronauts are aboard the craft, the pursuit of any serious projects is even less likely; most of the work will involve routine maintenance and other housekeeping tasks. And, of course, the recent space shuttle tragedy has put even this program in jeopardy," Rees writes. On the other hand, Rees adds that he hopes human space exploration will continue. "I believe we will continue sending people into space, which raises important questions: Who will go? And where might they travel?" Private enterprise Rees argues that the kind of vibrant program he wishes to see is one of putting humans back on the Moon and sending them onward, with Mars being the ultimate destination. Doing so, however, will require two big changes, the astronomer argues. Firstly, the cost of space travel must decrease, Rees advises. Secondly, travelers should venture into space on behalf of themselves or private consortia, rather than nations. "Still, while I am optimistic about the ability of private enterprise to colonize the Moon and lead us to Mars, I am less sanguine about what space pioneers will do once they establish a presence there. Will they be as scrupulous in preserving the natural environment as, say, the governments involved in the Antarctic project have been? Or will they simply exploit the planets they conquer, much as was done to the American West? Ultimately, how we get there is less important than what we do when we arrive," Rees concludes. The Foreign Policy magazine essay by Rees is adapted from his latest book, Our Final Hour: The Threat to Humanitys Survival (New York: Basic Books, 2003). The essay can be read in its entirety at: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/story.php?storyID=13790
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