Anyone else excited that we are finally seriously working on going to Mars?

[EricHiggin]

Whenever planning for anything, the core or base must be solid then engineered (overbuilt), then tested.

Our planet is sound, for the most part, but is changing and most likely somewhat due to humanities technological evolution. This can be fixed but must be done first. Hoping we have time to figure out how to build space colonies or warp ships and then running out of time is not an option. You might as well not even bother at that point. Assuming we can do it before things get to hostile on Earth is over arrogant and a very poor way to plan. Setting up shop on another planet, just to ruin it like this one, and have to leave again, is just plain stupid. We have to figure out how to do things in an environmental friendly way, which can be done.

You could say the species is overbuilt, as there are more than enough brains in the world to fix all of our problems on Earth, and figure out how to get to Mars and beyond. Everyone needs to be fed, housed, and educated first before that can happen. Business and politics needs to change as well for this to work. A tough task indeed.

As for testing however, that's where thing's get really complicated. With our mindset, a race such as ours that's taught to make sure you take care of yourself in a way, that your far ahead of the competition (other people) before you even consider helping them, we will never properly become a space faring species. This is partially a natural way of thinking as well. Changing this mindset will be a very tough and slow process, unless a worldwide effort is made to assure equality across the board. If no one has anything to gain or lose, then we can all do whats best for all of us as a whole. Like I said though, thats going to be tough. The thought of worldwide equality scares people because it seems dull and boring, which it might be as compared to the way things are now, but if the way things are now lead to the downfall of all species, then a little boring is better than nothing. I bet some people may even disagree with that to though.

Space is fun to talk about and imagine, but until those 3 key items are met, its not worth it. What we have now is more than enough to deflect an asteroid, and thats the biggest space threat we need to worry about for a long time. If we keep killing the planet with pollution, or continue to house nuclear weapons (for use against each other, and no, if aliens show up and are hostile, nukes aren't going to solve that problem) then we're not fit to leave anyway. Any other advanced species out in space that we ran into, wouldn't want anything to do with us after the first meeting. They may try to help, but most humans being so arrogant and short sighted, would tell them thanks but no thanks, thats not how we roll, even if its for our own good. The human race has a very very long way to go before going anywhere but here is a good idea.