10/14/2019
Since the discovery of liquid water flowing on its surface, the idea of colonizing Mars has become more and more feasible. Elon Musk and his company, SpaceX, have already begun the push for the colonization of Mars. By 2050, the company plans on launching ten different missions to begin growing a city on the red planet. After a series of small tests, the first rocket, Starship, is set to launch in 2021. This rocket will focus on refueling and relaunching mechanisms [1]. With this plan set in place and SpaceX already working intensely to reach upcoming launch deadlines, the colonization of Mars could arrive very soon.
Many people are very excited by the idea of colonizing Mars, believing it could ensure the survival of the human race and bring the Earth more resources. In fact, the United Arab Emirates has created a plan to colonize Mars by the year 2117. The UAE Space Agency has already spent over $5.4 billion in research to bring the Hope Probe, its first Mars mission [2]. The UAE has always been at the forefront of innovation, having the world’s tallest skyscraper and many other extravagant projects in its capital, Dubai. With the colonization of Mars they hope to continue to advance the human race.
However, while the potential to have a city on Mars seems exciting, it does come with various concerns. First of all, colonizing Mars could potentially harm any life forms that are indigenous to the planet. Because of the discovery of flowing water on Mars, the planet does potentially house life forms that could be destroyed if they came in contact with humans or any Earth material [3]. This poses a big ethical dilemma. Additionally, colonizing Mars also presents the problem of who gets to go and why? Should the race, sex, ethnicity, occupation be taken into account? A ticket to Mars would be extremely expensive, meaning that only a select few wealthy individuals would have the opportunity to go. This discounts the majority of the human population that may want to be considered for the journey. These are all ethical questions that must be carefully analyzed. With mission dates scheduled and plans for colonization approaching quickly, we must evaluate the consequences of invading the planet and the potential harm it could cause to both human beings and Mars.
References
[1] M. Brown, “SpaceX Has a Bold Timeline for Getting to Mars and Starting a Colony,” Inverse . [Online]. Available: https://www.inverse.com/article/51291-spacex-here-s-the-timeline-for-getting-to-mars-and-starti ng-a-colony. [Accessed: 10-Oct-2019].
[2] A. Simmons, “The United Arab Emirates launches a plan to colonize Mars by 2117,” Los Angeles Times , 31-May-2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-uae-space-20170531-story.html. [Accessed: 10-Oct-2019].
[3] J. D. Stemwedel, “Would It Be Ethical To Colonize Mars?,” Forbes , 30-Sep-2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetstemwedel/2015/09/30/would-it-be-ethical-to-colonize-mars/# 423634755015. [Accessed: 10-Oct-2019].