I bet our descendants will get bored of exploring new planets faster than our ancestors got bored of exploring new lands.
Here’s why.
Here’s why.
1/ Unlike distant lands, we can observe space from far.
We know an insane amount of stuff about Mars.
Compare this to Columbus who didn’t even know that the Americas existed.
We know an insane amount of stuff about Mars.
Compare this to Columbus who didn’t even know that the Americas existed.
2/ Unlike exploring the Earth, we have no expectation of stumbling upon another culture or language.
We have no expectation of stumbling upon something new to trade with.
We won’t find cloves or silk on Mars.
Space is barren.
We have no expectation of stumbling upon something new to trade with.
We won’t find cloves or silk on Mars.
Space is barren.
3/ We can’t even expect to stumble upon new technology or inventions to make us intellectually richer.
No gunpowder or algebra on Jupiter.
No gunpowder or algebra on Jupiter.
4/ Stepping on another planet is a huge achievement but we know what we are going to find there.
Compare this to early Portuguese sailors who didn’t even know how big Africa’s coastline was.
That exploration was truly pioneering - stepping into the unknown.
Compare this to early Portuguese sailors who didn’t even know how big Africa’s coastline was.
That exploration was truly pioneering - stepping into the unknown.
5/ In that sense, each time scientists release something new about the space, we have already partly traveled there.
In that sense, humans have already reached the edges of the universe.
And that’s something we - as relatives or chimps - should be very, very proud of.
In that sense, humans have already reached the edges of the universe.
And that’s something we - as relatives or chimps - should be very, very proud of.
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