Space Exploration – Beyond Imagination
We are in a race for space travel once again and through the imagination of movie producers and the real advancements in technology, we are all hooked. Movies like Star Trek, Star Wars and a few others did a great job at capturing our feelings and imagination. Even though it may have been science fiction, it’s the sheer possibility of space exploration that drives our love of astronomy and our desire to learn more.
Space is not infinite and somehow there must be an end to it. But if there is, nobody on Earth has figured out where it is, at least not yet. The only thing that has brought us to “the end of the universe” is our limited ability to see deeper into space.
We are getting closer though with advances in technology and propulsion like the 123 000 mph plasma engine. The Ad Astra engine could allow us to finally send astronauts to other planets saving considerably on time and money. Using and recycling space resources to terraform other planets are a distinct possibility and it really is just a matter of time.
Conquering the Final Frontier
Not only do we want to see more stars and planets, or build the biggest telescope humanly possible; we want answers. Advanced space exploration technologies will allow us to conquer the final frontier and learn so much more about what lies beyond.
There are some mind blowing concepts about how space works. The big bang, wormholes, solar flares and the expanding universe alone can get your mind racing. Einstein’s theory of relativity sets the entire idea on its ear. All of a sudden space is not just three dimensions but the dimension of time becomes exportable and even time travel seems likely.
The frontier of space is as much a journey of the mind as it is of distance. Steven Hawking showed us the mysteries of black holes and suddenly, time and space could collapse and change in those intergalactic events. If not for the wonders of radio astronomy, these ideas would remain just ideas but science is slowly catching up with theory.
Unified Field Theory: The key to the future
The brilliance of mathematicians and genius minds like Hawking and Einstein continue to stretch our concepts of space. Now we have the string theory that could revolutionize everything we know about space, time and how the universe relates to itself.
There is a hurdle still ahead and it’s called the Unified Field Theory. Those in the know, tell us that once we understand and crack the theory, everything else will fall into place.
The First Space Colony
The love of astronomy, maybe unlike any other force on earth, has brought together mankind toward a common goal of conquering the universe.
The mission to Mars is already well on its way with the Mars 2020 rover tasked to study possibility of oxygen levels. According to NASA, the first ‘Earth Independent’ Mars colony is set for 2030. Is this a realistic forecast based on current technology?
Mars is not the only potential planet though. Venus is another possibility due to the rocky surface but in 2014, scientists discovered Kepler-186f; a planet slightly larger than Earth with a dimmer Sun than ours. According to its size and positioning, Kepler-186f could have surface water and a thicker atmosphere.
This in itself makes the planet a great candidate for colonising. It is 490 million light-years away so chances are that only a future generation will be able to know more. Perhaps exploring it by then would be more within their reach.
Traveling through our galaxy and beyond with space exploration hopes and dreams may in fact be our destiny. If so then our love of astronomy is more than a hobby, it’s a calling.