Thu, Apr 24, 2008
Compares Exploration To Christopher Columbus' Voyage
Professor Stephen Hawking honored
the 50th anniversary of NASA by calling for a space exploration
program which includes establishing an experimental base on the
Moon within 30 years.
Speaking before an audience at George Washington University in
Washington DC, the 66-year-old astrophysicist suggested a new era
of space conquest along the lines of Christopher Columbus'
discovery of the new world.
The BBC reported on Hawking's comparison of the current
situation to that of Europe before 1492.
"People might well have argued it was a waste of money to send
Columbus on a wild goose chase. Yet the discovery of the new world
made profound difference to the old... Just think, we would not
have a Big Mac or KFC."
Despite that quip, Hawking's overall message was quite serious.
"Spreading out into space...will completely change the future of
the human race and maybe determine whether we have any future at
all," he said. "It will not solve any of our immediate problems on
planet Earth, but it will give us a new perspective."
Despite near-complete paralysis caused by amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis, Hawking is already a veteran of zero-G flight. He hopes
to continue leading by example, scheduling passage on the maiden
flight of Virgin Galactic's suborbital space tours, set to start
operation in about two years.
On the question of whether we're alone in the universe, Hawking
commented, "Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is
fairly rare. Some would say it has yet to occur on Earth."
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