This post isn't in anyway a commentary on whether we should continue to explore space or how we should behave if we successfully find a way to spend a lot more time out there. It's just my way of sharing with you a Mother's Day wish for my children's future.
If we start mining an asteroid near Earth, will we have an impact on it's trajectory? What will happen to the patterns of movement of any celestial bodies or particles that are anywhere near the asteroid?
Does anyone have to file an environmental impact statement before they start mining asteroids?
If we start releasing the water trapped on the moon or on Mars, what impact will that have? Who has jurisdiction on the moon? How is that decided?
If we go after resources in space, will we take with us the lessons we learned about resource use here on Earth?
If we do discover life on other planets, will we have some sort of prime directive that dictates we leave other races in peace or at least invest time in getting to know and understand them before we start negotiating for resources?
So much for "why is the sky blue?" sorts of questions that children ask. Not that my kids ever asked that specific question, though I did gets lots of "why?" Up until recently, it seemed easy to look up answers I didn't have at hand, but quick searches on Google don't return easy answers any more. And I openly admit, my understanding of the physics of asteroids and planets is severely limited.
My kids are excited about the possibility of space travel in their lifetimes. So while they get that there are lots of problems you could solve here on Earth with all that money getting spent on probing asteroids, they also believe that some of the answers to our terrestrial woes may come from the development of technology that will allow us more time beyond the Earth's atmosphere and from what we learn out there.
I'm impressed (proud, happy) that my kids are asking questions about what happens as the human race continues to explore and discover, because we always will. It's in our nature. And it's great that their concern for the future of life here on Earth and beyond is informed by their knowledge of our past - good and bad. We're inquisitive and inventive and resourceful. And we are curious about each other. But we often become too attached to what we've discovered once we get over the newness of it. So attached sometimes, that we go after what we think we need even at the expense of others. Sometimes we have trouble backing out of roads we've been too quick to go down.
Seeing the world through the eyes of my children gives me hope, and I can't help getting caught up in their curiosity and excitement. So for today - for Mother's Day - I'm not going to dwell on so many of the backward steps we seem to be taking or suffering. I want to pause to appreciate the positive changes in human kind that I see in my kids - and in their friends. It's in them that I see the steps forward.
My wish for my children today (and always):
May you always be accepted for who you are, your strengths recognized and respected, your challenges supported. I hope that you continue to ask difficult and seemingly unanswerable questions, and that you actively seek out or are a part of discovering or demanding the answers. May you live and work alongside people who share a vision of investing in the care of Mother Earth. And may you always be willing to say, “I can help” - three words that may be more important than "I love you."
(My inner-geek hopes a few of you get the "I can help" reference).
Happy Mother's Day, everyone.