We take it for granted that we live on a planet rich in life. With 14 million species identified, the vast biodiversity on Earth is simply amazing. We depend on this diversity for food and resources, which in turn enable us to thrive and spread across the planet. However, one has only to leave the fragile atmosphere of the Earth, and this symbiotic relationship will cease to exist.
Will we be able to live outside the Earth?
In The Beginning of Infinity, physicist David Deutsch invites readers to conduct the following thought experiment: Imagine that the universe is divided into cubes the size of our solar system. What would a typical cube look like?
It will be very different from the one we are in. In fact, a typical cube should be so dark that if a supernova exploded in it, we would not even see a reflection. A typical cube will have a temperature of 2.7 Kelvin, which is enough to freeze everything, and for each such cube there will be about one atom - we cannot create such a vacuum purity even on Earth.
Thus, in a cold, dark and empty universe, the Earth is not at all typical; our home is a rare and precious oasis.
This cosmic perspective reminds us of how we must cherish and protect life on Earth, our "pale blue point." It also reminds us of the hostile conditions in the rest of space.
As a cosmic species, we find it necessary to explore and inhabit other parts of the solar system and the galaxy as a whole. Over the past decades, we have made tremendous strides in space exploration. And yet, many scientists are wondering: is it possible to become an independent and resource-independent species in a universe that is for the most part colder, darker and more hostile anywhere except on our planet?
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Growing food in space
To create a self-sustaining human habitat in space, many components are needed. We need to understand where to get the raw materials for building the cities of the future, how to generate efficient energy and how to get access to power sources. Organizations like SpaceX, Blue Origin and NASA continue to push back the last frontier, and at the same time, access to resources in space is becoming increasingly important. The further from the solar system we travel, the more difficult it will be to rely on Earth as a source of resources.
When it comes to food, we've seen amazing progress just recently. China's Chang'e-4 lander has successfully grown seeds on the dark side of the moon. Due to the difficult conditions, the plants soon died, but the very fact of what happened is amazing.
Our ability to build a self-sustaining ecosystem - no matter how small - on the moon could be a huge boon to future missions. For example, a NASA mission to Mars will use the lunar surface as a potential “staging post” on the way to Mars. Blue Origins CEO Jeff Bezos is also determined to establish permanent settlements on the moon. What we learn from our attempts to grow plants on the Moon can also be applied to other colonies, such as those on Mars.
This is not the first time astronauts have grown food in space. In August 2015, astronauts on the International Space Station tasted the first vegetables grown in space. The space garden on the ISS, known as the Lada-VPU-P3R, is very similar to a greenhouse: the light and water in this module are automatically controlled.
These efforts are supported by genetically modified plants and seeds that are better adapted to survive in space. Seeds in space must withstand ultraviolet and cosmic radiation, low pressure, harsh temperatures and microgravity; change in their genetics and allows you to overcome all this. Genetic engineering, in fact, can become a tool for freeing mankind from dependence on resources: it will allow both rocket fuel and drugs, separated from the Earth.
NASA is also exploring the possibilities of 3D printing food in space. Last year, the agency allowed astronauts to 3D print a pizza in space.
Self-sustaining spaceships
One of the main motivators of humanity in space exploration was the desire to free its species from life only on Earth. According to science fiction writer Robert Heinlein, "The earth is simply too small and fragile for the human race to store all its eggs in it." Life on Earth is at the mercy of existential threats such as supernova, nuclear war or asteroids. Building colonies in other parts of the solar system and the universe will serve as an insurance policy for humanity.
Many science fiction writers have explored the idea of a generational ship or an interstellar ark. Such a self-sustaining ship could serve as a small human colony and reach its destination over several centuries or thousands of years. The original inhabitants of the ship will age and die, leaving their descendants for further travel. This is how independent space colonies can save humanity from extinction and allow us to spread our species throughout the rest of the universe.
Ultimately, projects involving the use of space resources - such as growing plants on the moon - are critical steps towards the future of space exploration and humanity.
Ilya Khel