[Sputnik]

(Thoughtful) Discussion - (Involved) Consensus - (Productive) Cooperation

Jesus is quoted as saying "The meek shall inherit the Earth." I prefer the statement "The cooperative shall inherit the stars."

I believe humans should be actively pursuing the mechanical technologies which will allow us to colonize space. I also believe humans should be actively pursuing the social technologies which will help us to cooperate as a species before humans colonize space. I have thought long and hard about what it would take to accomplish this and I although I have many suggestions I will just offer a couple thoughts about each category.

Mechanical:
At present, some people are suggesting humans need a colony on the moon in order to be able to then expand out and colonize the rest of the solar system. In other words, humans need to use a lot of fuel to launch people and materials from the ground into space; then use more fuel to safely land those people and materials on the moon; then use more fuel to launch materials (and people?)from the moon into space so we can then explore space and colonize it [I think outside the factory the box was made in, but in my opinion the people who suggested this method of how to get into space were thinking inside a padded 10X10X8 box].
Colonizing space is not the same as colonizing (or terraforming) celestial bodies with gravity wells that are strong enough to attract killer asteroids. To colonize space, we do not need a colony on the moon or Mars or other large celestial object. What humans need to escape Earth’s gravity and colonize space is a platform “TO” space and small town sized celestial bodies to live in (manufactured craft and/or engineered objects) once we get there.
Rockets and spacecraft need a lot of fuel, but if our rockets and/or spacecraft were launched from 10 miles above sea level, they would need a lot less fuel. A platform “TO” space could be a hydrogen and/or helium filled airport/spaceport and manufacturing facility floating at the extreme ceiling of our jet aircraft; or a rocket strapped to the belly of a jet and then rocket could be launched from a great height (NASA has lifted a spacecraft on a jet already, but only to move it from place to place on Earth).

Social:
As an INTP, I tend towards "an eye for an eye" justice. But I recognize that my spiritual shortcomings should not be permitted to be perpretated on others. "Eye for an eye" justice is not just at all, it is an evil; it perpetrates more pain into a situation which caused pain in the first place. Both the wrongdoer and the victim(s) need compassion (rehabilitation) to heal the pain and ensure that it does not get perpetuated. Now as an INTP I think a wrongdoer should be confined, supervised, and re-socialized until he or she has been rehabilitated, but perhaps that would be unjust as well. [By the way, a just society must be a society of humane equals... no setting fire to your wife or telling her to hide her face in public while you expose your own]

What ideas do you have to get humankind into space? What do you think would best serve justice and society? If humankind is to get into space, or even merely to live in a just society, it is important for a dialogue to start with everyone contributing their needs and ideas toward building a new society (Discussion). Then everyone could examine the needs and ideas that were proposed and agree on which ones create the best society ([Majority] Consensus), and then everyone could agree to work on creating the new society (Cooperation).
PS: If you want to discuss bone loss and other medical issues due to living in space, then consider Evolutionary Theory first. Currently humans are adapted to live in gravity wells, but if humans lived in micro-gravity wells they should adapt to those conditions making humans a true space dwelling species (true the first generations of humans would find it difficult to live in space, but eventually the solar system and the galaxy could become our permanent home). Also, if you do not want to experience those medical difficulties first hand, you are entitled to decide to inherit the Earth.