A. Military, especially in conflict
- civil development for readiness
- training and equipment
- weapons development
B. Praise of Deity or Royalty
- temples & ceremonies
- spectacles, parades & festivals
- games & contests
C. Promise of Economic Return
- trade routes
- improved transportation
- exploring for resources
How much do we spend on pure research?
1. CERN - basic particles - physics
2. ITER - fusion project (economic)
3. ISS - space station feasibility (peace)
4. Apollo - moon landings (military)
5. Human Genome Project - medicine
Stuff with uncertain benefits in fields that the public knows little about is poorly supported by government funding. But basic science, learning new stuff and charting unknown territory, paves the way for the innovation of the future. You can't expect to see how it's going to benefit you as soon as you discover something new. That's why governments should be the investors for basic science. Corporations only invest for profitable quarterly reports.
The Settlement of Space, going to the Moon, Mars, Asteroids and Beyond, can be the Enlightened Equivalent of all Three Motives:
A. a more moral endeavor than Wars
B. a quest for the promises of Heaven
C. uncorking the limitations of Earth
Basic Questions:
1. Who owns the real estate in space?
2. What resources will pay for the project?
3. Who will make money on this?
4. Why should we want to go there?
5. Who has authority over the settlers?
6. How can you make a living there?
7. Where is the best place to start?
8. How will it benefit people down here?
9. When will we be ready & able to start?
0. What commercial opportunities await?
But, we must also ask:
A. Does God want us to move there?
B. Can we build the Heavenly City?
C. Can we do all of this peacefully?
D. Will it be worth the political risks?
E. Will people be happy living there?
Whatever you are trying to accomplish, always have something more ambitious on the drawing board. Once you achieve a milestone, next time do it a little better and learn something else from it. Give the reporters some news to talk about. Don't let people get bored watching the same thing over and over again. "More of the same old stuff" will kill your program.
Space settlements must reach break-even, and become self-sustaining before people get tired of supporting and funding them. Mining and industry are going to have to show a profit. Then ...
The settlers must have a reason for being there that will be interesting enough for others to want to participate.
For Example:
1. adventure tourism & posh resorts
2. freedom from old world authorities
3. building eutopia & the heavenly city
4. getting wealthy & owning land
5. advancing the future's prospects
6. learning something new & exciting
7. escape the stagnant & crumbling Earth
8. understand the basic needs of ecology
9. building the garden of Eden in Heaven
0. perfecting humanity & society
Beginning Questions:
How much would you be willing to invest in a trip to space? Would you only go for a short visit? Would you work there for a year? Would you want to be a permanent settler? Would you save $20,000 to buy a single ticket to the Moon? Would you mortgage your house to buy tickets for you and your family to go there?
We, the people who vote and pay taxes, need to convince our governments that this is the future we really want. Building our future in Space will unlock the new era of Manifest Destiny and open the next to last frontier for everyone. Only the vast multitude of stars in the outer Galaxy yet lie beyond our reach, but not forever.
Final Questions:
Would you come up to help us build the Heavenly City? How about a new Eden? What if you could build one to suit your own religion and ideals for the afterlife?
There's room enough for all who come in peace.
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