While the idea of exploration into space may seem like a very adventurous endeavor, we must ask ourselves: are we really trying that hard to get to space? And even if we were to make it to another planet and populate it, would we be able to manage ourselves as humans and not abuse the new planet as we have our own?
As we are no doubt doing the research of what it would be like once we are in a space setting, how dedicated can we say we really are as country to get to space when we ourselves have cut back on the funding and research that we are doing in space. We have discontinued our space shuttle program with NASA rather than trying to improve our travel. This lack of basic interest in sending humans into space, not even to another planet, is a very troubling sign to our actual dedication. I read this week of a rocket that was being sent to the International Space Station to bring supplies and tools to the astronauts. While the mission was conducted by NASA, Antares was the actual designer and builder of the rocket. As most know the mission was a failure and blew up shortly after take off. While no lives were lost, I think a bigger lesson was learned here. The privatization of such missions has greatly compromised the ability of our country to build and send an effective rocket into space.
And assuming we would make it to another planet, what would we do differently while we are there to prevent what we have done to our planet? Any mass exodus from Earth would most likely be due to the deterioration of our planet due to the way we as humans have abused it. We already have the technology to vastly improve our energy consumption and to use alternate fuels but seem unwilling to do so. The expectation that just because we are faced with a challenge that could endanger our existance we would change is very smug. We as the human race have shown the inability to do it so far even with the proof of global warming all around us.
While the whole thought or idea of space colonization has been a dream of humans for almost a century I find that there is a void of actual human process in getting us any closer to the goal. While we have applied science to the situation, it does not mean that as a people we are any closer to being able to handle the true challenge. I personally see a total lack of effort into making the process be a reality.