COSMIC dangers like asteroid impacts and solar flares threaten to wipe out the human race, according to a scientist who thinks it is time to move to Mars.
AnasteroidImpact 66 million years ago wiped out two-thirds of life on Earth and triggered a chain of events that ended the reign of the dinosaurs. Other cosmic dangers such as solar storms and rogue gamma rays can be equally devastating for the planet. Because of these threats, Dr Weronika Śliwa of the Copernicus Science Center Planetarium in Warsaw, Poland, fears it is unwise for Earth to keep all of its eggs in one basket. One solution, the scientist argued, is to “diversify the risk” by moving to the Red Planet Mars.
The scientist told the Polish Press Agency (PAP): “It’s not good that humans only live on one planet.
“There’s a saying that you don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.
“Our planet is in danger from various cosmic catastrophes and phenomena that could unexpectedly appear on its surface.
” It would be better if humanity slowly starts to think about settling other bodies in the solar system and perhaps later – farther. ”
READ MORE:These are the biggest cosmic threats facing Earth – ‘We can’t stay forever’
Cosmic dangers: A scientist thinks the time is here to consider moving to Mars(Image: GETTY)
Cosmic dangers: A rogue asteroid could kill humanity like it did the dinosaurs(Image: GETTY)
The two most likely candidates for colonization are the Moon and the planet Mars.
Our planet is in danger from various cosmic catastrophes
Dr Weronika Śliwa, Copernicus Science Center Planetarium
The goal of NASA’s Artemis is to use the Moon as a stepping stone to Mars – a planet human explorers could visit as early as the 2030 s.
But NASA is not the only space agency with its eyes set firmly on Mars.
READ MORE:These are the most breathtaking phot os of the Red Planet from space
The European Space Agency (ESA) is expanding its exploration goals to Mars and private entities like SpaceX are equally invested in reaching the Red Planet.
On September 28, SpaceX founderElon Musk unveiled the company’s Starship prototype– a spacecraft that could one day fly hundreds of people to the Moon and Mars.
Developments like these suggest the technology is here to make interplanetary colonization a reality.
Dr Śliwa said: “In fact, it seems at this very moment that the technological capability is here for such a manned journey to Mars to take place.”
READ MORE:What is this ‘foreign object’ photographed by NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover?
Cosmic dangers: Giant asteroids lurk in the depths of space( Image: GETTY
Cosmic dangers: A scientists thinks we have the technology to send humans to Mars(Image: GETTY)
However, the astronomer noted there is an inherent risk of failure associated with sending human crews on journeys to other planets.
Dr Śliwa said each mission risks injury or death to its crews and would carry an incredible cost.
She said: “It will simply cost more than any government right now would be willing to spend.”
Another obstacle that stands in the way is the political will need to make these dreams a reality.
The astronomer said: “As far as the commercial point of view, for now, we do not see any profitability in this type of mission, but in principle, any exploratory mission that does something for the very first time is always unprofitable. ”
Ultimately, the astronomer said the first steps need to be taken before going to Mars becomes a worthy investment.
Quick facts about the Red Planet Mars:
1. The Red Planet measures roughly half the size of our home planet.
2. Mars boasts a paper-thin atmosphere of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon and water vapor.
3. Mars has two of its own moons: Phobos and Deimos.
4. All of the Red Planet’s volcanoes appear to be dead.
5. Ancient astronomers knew of Mars because it is visible to the naked eye at night.
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