SPACE WASTE
Who can resist a headline like this? Whose soul is so hardened against science and human progress as to resist the glow of pride at this latest breakthrough? Well... for one, Me!
Actually, I was delighted to see this headline on the science press-release site because it epitomized what I consider to be the folly of the area of scientific/industrial/entertainment devoted to colonizing the moon, Mars and beyond. It matches press releases about recycling astronaut urine for fuel and drinking water. https://srch.eurekalert.org/e3/query.html?col=ev3new&col=ev3oneyr&col=ev3rel&col=ev3rel1&qt=urine+astronaut&charset=iso-8859-1&pw=100.101%25
And even, for those longer space trips, turning urine into plastic or nutrients, https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-08/acs-thw073117.php
This gives me an opportunity to elaborate on the worldwide mental disorder to which I will give the name "spacephrenia". Its symptoms show up in the proliferation of news about, among many other spacey things, the discovery of other Earth-like planets, water possibilities on other planets, and, of course space "tourism."
I believe this area of "news" is promoted by the military/industrial complex whose real objective is building an industry devoted to space militarization, exploration and colonization. And the final objective? Money and power. Can you imagine? I'm taking the risk of being seen as someone who is an enemy of science and human progress. HERESY! (In reality, true progress would be a balanced attitude towards those areas of so-called "progress" whose goals are illusory and even harmful.) Limiting myself to outer space, I have reached the conclusion it is not an appropriate zone for human progress.
Here are some Swiftian objections:
First, we have not nearly finished the job of ruining our home planet. There are still places where the water can be drunk without filtration and decontamination. There are still places where the air is lacking noticeable pollution. There are still many species of animal we have not driven to extinction, up to and including the obsolete form of our own species, Homo sapiens.
Second, we are nowhere near accomplishing the replacement of the weak human body and limited human mind (totally unsuitable for the conditions of travel and settlement on other planets),with the new, techno-human, the Homo mechanica that will be needed to live and work and build civilizations in the rest of the universe. Among other frailties, (as is presently being demonstrated conclusively in the corona virus pandemic), we are susceptible to attack by barely-living biological entities known as viruses and we are subject to bodily deterioration due to lack of gravity, penetration by cosmic rays and mental deterioration due to lack of internet.
Finally, we have not even begun to eliminate the human trait most antagonistic to expanding into the rest of the universe (whether in a fleshy body or mechanical form) - our sense of individuality and personal ambition. It will take a complete eradication of those traits and a transformation of humans into something much closer to the components of a termite colony or beehive.
The universe outside our lucky little planet will make short work of any intrusive creatures who are not impervious to its harsh realities. It will obliterate delicate organisms encased in puny layers of protective gear. Our manipulation of urine and other biological materials will not mean a thing. Unless, of course, the manipulation goes so far as to create something we would not recognize as human. Possibly something more like a cross between a lobster and an ant.
I conclude by offering a slogan for those who see the emphasis on space exploration for what it is, a wasteful, foolish and hopeless project kept in motion for the financial benefit of a small segment of the ruling class. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THE GOOD SENSE TO WANT TO REMAIN ON THIS PLANET, CONTINUING THE NATURAL AND ESSENTIAL WORK OF DESTROYING IT, LET US SAY:
"PISS ON EARTH!"
END
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