1

Living on another planet:
How would we do it, why, and where?

GS 1140

2

Part 1
3
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was formally launched on October 1, 1958, with its headquarters in Washington DC. This was the creation of a pronounced history of distinctive scientific and technological triumphs in human space flight, aeronautics, space science, and space applications. NASA had originally believed itself to be the leader in space technology and missile development however when the Soviet Union satellite Sputnik 1 was successfully launched into space while the first two US launches had failed they were proved to be wrong. This led to the Sputnik crisis. Immediately the space race began and NASA quickly employed possibilities for human space flight.
Project Mercury was NASA’s first prestigious program, which was exploring whether or not humans could survive in space. With Project Mercury’s success Project Gemini was to follow, with a spacecraft built for two astronauts. With Project Apollo in 1969, Apollo 11 was launched and NASA put the first astronauts on the moon. Several test projects were to follow in the early 70’s. The Space Shuttle program was born in 1981 and it still continues today to assist with the building of the International Space Station.
In addition to their heroic achievements NASA’s humanitarian efforts are unmatched. This year NASA will begin to provide educational camps for underprivileged middle school children. With its launch of, Summer of Innovations (SOI) in response to President Obama’s Educate to Innovate National Campaign. The program’s goal is to keep students from losing skills learned during the previous school year. By incorporating the thrill of NASA’s missions they engage students with hands on projects. Using science, technology, engineering and math
4
students gain valuable experience. They are introduced with space related situations and are given the opportunity to propose solutions. With grants awarded to four additional states SOI will currently reach as many as 6,095 students through summer programs bringing the mystery of space home.
Growing up watching NASA grow and the Space Shuttle program being such a big part of my childhood NASA seemed to be the only organization to choose.

Part 2
5
Abstract
The world is coming to an end….The question raised is how or when. We already know that in a few billion years the Sun will expand and engulf our planet as it burns out its remaining supply of fuel. Planet Earth has gone through five mass extinctions over the course of 4.5 billion years. Is this to be our end? Or, will this possibility be a product of our own design through human based global warming or nuclear annihilation? Perhaps we will be destroyed by an alien race as the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking believes could happen. What are we to do about any of this? Is human relocation the answer? Well, if humanity is to survive a catastrophic disaster on a global scale than the answer is most likely yes. If humanity is to carry on at all costs then to have all of our eggs in one basket could be the end of all ends. Let us see where we could go and how we may go about survival once there.

6
Living on another planet:
How would we do it, why, and where? Today, on this day April 17, 2014 NASA announced that through the use of the Kepler Telescope, the first validated earth size planet in the habitable zone of its Sun has been found. There are a total of 961 confirmed planets so far and another 3,845 potential candidates.
Kepler 186f Tate,C. University of San Francisco

Kepler 186f Tate,C. University of San Francisco

Kepler 186f: * 500 light years from Earth. * 1.1 times the radius of the earth. * 32.5 million miles from its Sun. * It has a 129.9 day orbit.
Setting aside the current technological problems of actually getting there, let us examine what we would need to survive on a new world. The basics of Earth are much different than those needed on another planet, as many

7 things we have now we take for granted. Humanity now states that the basic necessities consist of: Food, water, shelter, and clothing. There are some psychological needs that go along with that as well including love, feeling safe, and esteem along with self-actualization.
Many of the threats that might lead to our demise or need for another planet are manmade. The amount of resources we consume each year already far outweighs what this planet can sustain. Some sources state that by the year 2030 we will be consuming two planets worth of resources annually. So what would we do on another planet? Live in a biosphere, sealed in a huge bubble? That would probably be the case for somewhere near earth like Mars. Everything we need would need to be generated from nearly nothing. Then every ounce of that left over nothingness would need to be recycled and/or re used. Water, one of the most precious commodities, would need to be recycled in ways that many would cringe to think of. What about food? Would we utilize greenhouse growing or raise animals? Perhaps Kepler-186 has its own established ecosystem full of all the necessities that we humans take for granted. With that, are we so arrogant to think we are the only intelligent life? Perhaps by the time we actually need to relocate, science will have devised a way for us to travel at near light speed, or faster, and we will have many choices.
Life on another planet would take on other new necessities as we have evolved to adapt to conditions on this planet. If there were too much gravity we wouldn’t be able to walk. Too little and our muscles would waste away. We need a certain temperature and a breathable atmosphere. Our bodies need to maintain a temperature of around 37 degrees Celsius to remain healthy. With just a few degrees change in temperature, either higher or lower, we could die of
8
hypothermia (cold) or hyperthermia (heat). We also need a certain mixture of air to breathe…too little or too much oxygen and we can die of hypoxia or oxygen toxicity. Now we have the social structure. The beginning phases of re-populating a new planet are very daunting. How many people can you take at first? If limited, who do you take and what roles do they play? Would it be the necessities required to lay the foundations of further habitants? Would we have those choices? Given a perfect situation we would definitely need one or more of several different classes of peoples. Agriculture, healthcare, researchers (in many fields), engineering, chroniclers, educators, peacekeepers, diplomats, lawmakers…etc. The list can be long. Depending on the reason for relocation and the size of the exodus, transportation would be another consideration. Obviously the first issue is just getting to wherever it is we are to end up. As it now stands that is impossible with the exception of perhaps our own solar system and even now that task is far off. No one knows the effects of long term space travel in that fashion on the human body. There are things out there that just have not been tested yet. For example; would humans be able to survive long term bombardment on the spacecraft from the Sun’s direct radiation even though we would be sealed tight inside of the craft? What about transportation around the planet once we arrive? Even as we speak science is coming up with new ways that may soon be able to address issues just as this. 3D printing is a fast growing industry and may solve many of the issues, not only in payload weight problems during space travel, but in many other areas as well. Simply bring along a 3D printer and print whatever it is you need, such as the parts to a vehicle. Houses are being printed on this planet
9
now in some third world countries. Some 3D printers are even printing food now similar to a replicator on Star Trek.
In conclusion; as you can imagine the lists of variables to consider is huge. It would be very difficult for humanity to survive a planned repopulation let alone an unplanned one. Look at the experiment done in Arizona called Biosphere 2. In less than two years’ time the scientists were now bitter enemies and the entire ecosystem was threatened by the lack of cooperation taking place amongst the two factions. With all of that, however, the inborn will to survive and ability to adapt could evolve and overrule all else.

10
References:

Garbe, S. (2013, July 8). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved from NASA history program office: http://history.nasa.gov/brief.html
Hawes, M. C. (n.d.). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved from NASA innvative summer camp: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/innovative-summer-camp.html
Kramer, M. (2014, April 17). Staff Writer. Retrieved from Space.com: http://www.space.com/25530-earthsize-exoplanet-kepler-186f-habitable-discovery.html?cmpid=514630_20140417_22155794
Moskowitz, C. (2010, August 10). Stephen Hawking; Humanity will not survive leaving earth. Retrieved from Space.com: http://www.space.com/8924-stephen-hawking-humanity-won-survive-leaving-earth.html
Tate, C. (2014, April 17). Kepler Planet 186f.