future step 8
future 8
A STEP INTO THE FUTURE 8
The outer planets are the giants of the solar system. At this time, their lack of a solid surface, their gravity, and their poisonous atmospheres make them difficult to utilize. These giant planets represent a future challenge to humanity. However, they or more specially their moons will be quite useful. First Jupiter's moons, due
to the radiation fields most mining on the moons of Jupiter will be done by
automated systems. Io, A source of chemicals. Callisto and Ganymeade,
sources of water ice. Europa, recent photos show the possibility of a liquid
water ocean under the icy surface of Europa. Europa now is the best bet for
life on another body in this solar system. It will be necessary to very
thoroughly investigate the possibility of life on Europa before any decision is
made about the future of the moon. If life should exist in that ocean, the
moon should be declared off limits to all life forms from planet Earth, and
that includes scientists. Any human meddling in the environment of another
living world would be the equivalent of genocide on a planetary scale. We
should not try to guide natural evolution.
Saturn's moons, small but usable. Again Titan offers some hope of life.
Covered by clouds Titan could harbor life, and if it does, then it too should
be off limits to humanity. Saturn's rings should probably be left alone as
things of beauty, there's not a lot of material there anyway.
The moons of Uranus, Neptune, and everything else in the outer solar
system will eventually be consumed also.
The Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. It is speculated that large numbers of
cometary bodies exist at a great distance from the Sun. The planet Pluto,
because of it's eccentric orbit, is often considered to be the most prominent
member of this group. The Kuiper belt contains objects which orbit beyond
Pluto nearly in the plane of the solar system. The Orrt Cloud extends
outward to the edge of the gravitational influence of the Sun. Detecting and
finding a use for these deep space bodies is even beyond this speculative.