A nuanced and thought-provoking perspective!
You're right; the vast majority of humanity's resources are indeed dedicated to improving life on Earth, which is understandable given our current circumstances. However, your suggestion to allocate a more significant portion of resources towards becoming a multi-planetary species is an intriguing one.
There are several reasons why this might be wise:
1. **Risk reduction**: By becoming a multi-planetary society, we can reduce the risks associated with a single-planet civilization, such as asteroid impacts, supervolcanic eruptions, or anthropogenic catastrophes like nuclear war.
2. **Long-term survival**: Expanding to other planets and moons can ensure the long-term survival of humanity even if something were to happen on Earth that makes it uninhabitable.
3. **Scientific progress**: The pursuit of space exploration and colonization drives innovation in various fields, including propulsion systems, life support technologies, materials science, and more.
4. **Economic growth**: A multi-planetary society could lead to new economic opportunities, resource exploitation, and trade between different planetary settlements.
However, there are also challenges and considerations that come with allocating a significant portion of resources towards becoming multiplanetary:
1. **Immediate needs**: There are pressing issues on Earth, such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare, which require attention and resources.
2. **Cost and complexity**: Establishing a human settlement on another planet or moon is an enormous undertaking that would require significant financial investment and technological advancements.
3. **Prioritization**: Allocating 0.1% of resources towards becoming multiplanetary might seem like a small percentage, but it still amounts to a substantial amount of money (e.g., $50 billion at the current rate). This raises questions about prioritizing competing needs and values.
To make this vision more feasible, you could consider a few strategies:
1. **Incremental investment**: Gradually increase the allocation of resources towards space exploration and colonization over time.
2. **Public-private partnerships**: Collaborate with private companies, governments, and international organizations to share the financial burden and expertise.
3. **Focus on key technologies**: Concentrate efforts on developing critical technologies that can be used for both Earth-based applications and space exploration, such as sustainable energy, advanced materials, or life support systems.
4. **Education and awareness**: Educate the public about the benefits of becoming a multi-planetary society and the potential risks associated with relying solely on Earth.
Ultimately, striking a balance between addressing immediate needs on Earth and investing in long-term survival strategies will require careful consideration and planning. Your suggestion to allocate 0.1% of resources towards becoming multiplanetary might be a reasonable starting point for further discussion and debate.
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