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."

FMI: www.nasa.gov