THE SPACE OPTION
STUDIES
New:
The Space Option Website
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Human space activities have been underway
for approximately fifty years, yet the last and only time
a human set foot on another planetary body was over thirty
years ago. Although space technology is totally integrated
into the functioning of today’s society, the appealing
dreams of human exploration and adventure it once held
has been muted by the reality that the space frontier is
not yet really open. Yet more important than fulfilling
these dreams of adventure and exploration, the real and
immediate promise of continued space development is the
substantial contribution this will have on the sustainability
of human society – both in the immediate and in the
far future.
Already in the early years of the 21st century
it is becoming acutely obvious that the impact of an expanding
human species on a finite planet is resulting in situations
that are having major impacts on global issues such as
climate change, the environment, energy, politics and economics.
Indeed, the sustainability of human society may soon be
in question unless immediate and effective measures are
taken. To address these issues humanity will be forced
to look for and to implement either the “most innovative” or
the “most repressive” solutions imaginable.
Fortunately, space visionaries and pioneers
long ago recognized this eventuality and they and their
followers have quietly and consequently developed both
the scientific rationale and the technological concepts
to open the space frontier. Upon these works is the development
of a concept called “The Space Option” and,
because this option offers humanity the most “optimistic” pathway
to sustainability, it is a choice humanity will most likely
make in order to maintain its well-being and ultimate survival.
The Space Option concept is an evolutionary
plan to meet the basic and anticipated needs of humanity
through the utilization of near Earth resources - especially
that of energy from space. The wide-scale and successful
implementation of the Space Option could substantially
contribute to the restoration of the global environment
by its reliance on unlimited, clean space solar energy
to replace humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels
which are finite or nuclear fuels which have negative environmental
and political aspects.
Such a new energy source would not only maintain
and stimulate the global economy, the eventual exploitation
of other extraterrestrial resources would guarantee future
generations a sufficient supply of material resources.
Thus, the Space Option provides hope for the less fortunate
societies on our planet to aspire to reaching a living
standard substantially beyond their present situation while
the present advanced societies can maintain their standard
of living and continue their development - an approach
to the future that differs greatly from many of the current
scenarios for "sustainable development" that
are under discussion.
As such, the Space Option could and should
become the primary motivation for continued space exploration
and development - perhaps even becoming a more powerful
driver for space activities than national prestige, security
and scientific exploration have been. Indeed it should
be a catalyze for the opening of a “New Space Frontier” attracting
the energies and capital of a new generation of explorers
and entrepreneurs. If implemented in time and with sufficient
commitment, the ultimate reward will be a prosperous and
dynamic planetary civilization living in a healthy environment
and the creation of an infrastructure in space upon which
the expansion of the human species throughout the solar
system and beyond could be realistically anticipated.
In the words of science fiction author and visionary Arthur
C. Clarke:
" The challenge of the great spaces between the
worlds is a stupendous one, but if we fail to meet it, the
story of our race will be drawing to a close.
Humanity will have turned its back upon the still untrodden heights and will
be descending again the long slope that stretches, across a thousand million
years of time, down to the shores of the primeval sea."
We are keenly aware that
the issues mentioned above will affect essentially every
aspect of human society and, as the Space Option concept
potentially offers humanity some of the most viable and
optimistic solutions based on space technologies and the
exploitation of space resources, the impact on the space
industry and consequently on society will be enormous and
unprecedented.
These
links expand on the basic arguments.
