“Starship will take humanity to Mars”, Elon Musk recently reiterated, along with his plans to colonise Mars, in a post to X. There is something profoundly fascinating and beguiling about the universe, with the allure of its mysteries beckoning us to explore it. I can’t help but wonder, however, how we know more about something as vastly infinite as the entire universe, than our own, microscopic in comparison, planet? Talks of colonising another planet are utterly non-sensical as we destroy our own eden. It’s time to embark on further exploration of Earth to find solutions crucial for both our survival and our aspirations beyond our celestial borders.
We spend money and time on finding out if at some point in the past thousands of years, there was ever a droplet of water on Mars. Yes, it is fascinating and may eventually be useful in the future, yet, how does such knowledge actually benefit humankind right now? Such research is irrelevant as we face issues on Earth that require immediate attention. Is this knowledge truly more important than ending world hunger? Than finding solutions to halt climate change? Than ending wars? As humans, our foremost duty should be to prioritise our society and planet over the vast expanse of the universe. Failing to do so would mean failing the generations to come.
Take one of NASA’s most recent discoveries - an Earth-sized, “lava hemisphere” planet 73 light-years away. While very interesting, this planet (and our knowledge of it) has no positive impact on our present world. Consider how the United States might change if a portion of the $24 billion designated for NASA were redirected elsewhere. For example, homelessness is allocated only $3.6 billion, despite its more urgent need.
It’s not just the United States misallocating their resources, however. Last year, India became the first nation to land on the Moon’s south pole. The budget for their space programme is roughly $1.66 billion - far less than NASA’s but still extremely significant. That’s $1.66 billion that could make a difference to the 190 million malnourished people in India. Or the 163 million that lack access to clean drinking water. Like the US, rather than helping their population, they pour resources into patriotic displays of knowledge and innovation.
Space exploration is not a necessity. Humans only need food, water, shelter, and medical care for survival. The pursuit of celestial knowledge is not a requirement; it is merely a curiosity at best. We desire an understanding of the origins and mysteries of the universe, yet the thirst for knowledge should not supersede the basic needs many humans are deprived of.
Moreover, humans have a dismal track record when it comes to addressing the needs of our planet; extinction, deforestation, and water contamination are all consequences of human actions. What will occur when humans venture to other planets? There’s no assurance that we won't repeat the pattern of exploiting and destroying each new planet we encounter, until we’re left with nothing but a path of destruction.
It is dangerously naive to ignore the pressing problems of our current world. Issues such as rape, starvation, climate change, trafficking, and war are ongoing realities. Humans need not resign themselves to a life of fear, however. It is not too late. We can still save our future. Before indulging in dreams of “giant leaps for mankind”, we ought to consider the small steps we can take.
The world is severely lacking in efforts to mitigate the escalating impacts of climate change. At times, it may seem hopeless, yet there is a path in which we save the world. It even has a price - $200 trillion by 2050; a bargain compared to the alternative. There is a solution. There is an alternative to a dystopian future. Yet, we seem to be doing everything but save ourselves. We are wasting precious time exploring and studying galaxies no human will probably ever see, and in the process wasting invaluable time and money that could save and restore the entire planet.
If we spared some of the billions dedicated to space exploration, we could instead explore solutions for our own planet. If every cent that went to NASA were moved to funding climate change mitigation, the US alone could provide 33% of the $200 trillion needed by 2050. We could instil hope in the future of our planet. Rather than abandoning this sinking ship and heading for the next planet, we could patch up the leak and restore Earth.
"We used to look up at the sky and wonder at our place in the stars. Now we just look down and worry about our place in the dirt”, Christopher Nolan wrote reprovingly in his film Interstellar. However, maybe that is exactly what we should be doing. It’s time to ground ourselves and save our cosmic oasis, rather than leaving it behind. It’s time to look at the earth beneath our feet. It’s time to look for the stars in the dirt.
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