The Human Manifesto

“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.’”
- Genesis 1:28

 

Those were the marching orders that God gave to mankind the day he created us, and ever since we have done all we can do to accomplish this goal laid out before us, and with the settling of the Americas by both Europeans and American Indians, we have now accomplished this task more than 5,000 years in the making. But it was not accomplished by just those who believe in God, but by non-believers as well. This is because there is a need, an insatiable desire in mankind to push the limits off our abilities and reach out into the unknown, and settle it. With our original task accomplished, we now ask, what’s next…… it’s the universe.

We now must include this galaxy in our goal to spread humanity far and wide; we must reach out to the planets and then the stars. Terri form them, subdue them, and fill them with humans. The universe is ours; all we have to do is grasp it.

Let us turn to the ever encouraging words spoken by the greatest sponser of space exploration in American History, John F. Kennedy;

“So it is not surprising that some would have us stay where we are a little longer to rest, to wait. But this city of Houston, this state of Texas, this country of the United States was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them. This country was conquered by those who moved forward--and so will space.”

He continues;

 “We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

It is for these reasons that I regard the decision last year to shift our efforts in space from low to high gear as among the most important decisions that will be made during my incumbency in the office of the Presidency.”

And what are those other things? What next great task after the moon is there for mankind to accomplish? Mars is the answer! Mars is where man must go. Mars is what Man must tame! And to those who ask why, the answer is found in what Kennedy said to those who asked why we must go to the moon. Why must people climb Everest? Why must we break records? Not because it is easy, but because it is hard! Because it brings out the best in Mankind, and the best in this country.

This is why either this current President, or the President to come, must make the same commitment to reaching mars as Kennedy made for us to get to the moon. The last 30 years, since we stopped going to the moon, have been the longest that this country has remained idle in its near 400 year history.  Since the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, this country has pushed forward, expanded, and become the greatest nation on earth.  However, we cannot hope to maintain such a title if we remain idle much longer.

 

                                        “If not us, then who?  If not now, then when?”
                                                                -Robert Zubrin, father of the “Mars Direct” Plan.

 

 

 

We could have have people on Mars in 1999.  Look up Mars direct, that was the original intention of it.

reifidom wrote: Yes, but it is now 2007, and all we can do is go from here. Ambition cannot start yesterday, it must stem from today and be renewed tomorrow. I agree that we should aim for Mars and beyond, it'll be good for our nation. The man knows far too much for his own good. Class is full of stories.

Yes I know, I was just giving an example of how much those in charge of exploring space lack ambition.

The next generation of spacecraft is in the works, and about time.

I was talking to a friend/mentor of mine at this camp i used to go to who now works for NASA.  He was telling me about the plans for the first actual colony on mars.  If we continue at the pace and funding we have now, we can have an operational colony on Mars between 2030 and 2040.  And hopefully, the atmosphere will be reconditioned to our needs within a 150 years of when we start putting down the machines.  It all seems pretty good on the big scheme of things if you ask me.

whack-a-mole wrote: reifidom wrote: The next generation of spacecraft is in the works, and about time. no kidding

I third that.

But I think that instead of a spacecraft reminicent of the Appollo spacecraft, they should have desighned a new type of shuttle, one that whould be 100% re-useable. But the orion (I think that's what its called) is better than nothing.

Personally i dont think it will happen, not in my life time anyway.

I think I understand why the space program exsists, but things like this drive me nuts, there is no need to go to another planet in my eyes, its not like there is any resources there we could use, and if were looking for a place to inhabit, how about we try the countless square miles in the south, the desert, or even the ocean, all of which would be much much much much easier to inhabit then mars.

although it would be nice and safe over there!

just because something is pointless dosn't make it hard, or a challenge

what are we going to do mine over there, then send it back to the earth a year and a half and a couple billion dollars later?

sorry if i seem arragont, i just dont understand

 

(im on old ie, i got no spell check, :-P)

Glassjaw wrote: FROG MAN wrote: just because something is pointless dosn't make it hard, or a challenge what are we going to do mine over there, then send it back to the earth a year and a half and a couple billion dollars later? sorry if i seem arragont, i just dont understand(im on old ie, i got no spell check, :-P) We are going to use our resources, and eventually destroy our planet.  Why not have a backup plan?

where are we going to get the resources and money to support life on mars if are planet gets destroyed? mars is not self sustaining, like earth

I'm pretty sure if it really started to look like we were going to make an attempt on mars, the news coverage would get people interested. I still think more focus should be placed on not breaking this planet than finding a new one, but I'm certain that eventually, it would prove to have been worth it.