Слайд 2Humans have always been fascinated by the idea of space travel.
Some even believe that colonizing new planets is man’s best hope for the future.
Слайд 3With our rising planet’s population competing for space and resources, some
people are convinced we need to look beyond Earth to help ensure humanity’s survival.
Слайд 4"Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped
out by a disaster such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers ... I think the human race has no future if it doesn't go into space," has said Stephen Hawking,
world-celebrated expert on the cosmological theories
of gravity and black holes.
Слайд 5What could a space colony look like?
One possible idea goes as
far back as the 1920s. Austro-Hungarian rocket pioneer Herman Potočnik imagined a circular spacecraft
that rotates
to create artificial
gravity while
a large, concave
mirror could focus
sunlight for an
energy source.
Слайд 6
Dr Al Globus, a contractor for the Nasa Ames Research
Centre in California, says humanity could soon begin to build space settlements. A space settlement would be a large structure like a town or city that would house hundreds or thousands of people. Popular concepts for them involve large rotating structures. These would have artificial gravity on the parts that are rotating.
Слайд 7Other experts favour the idea of setting up home on firmer
ground – a planet or moon – creating an artificial “biosphere” with all the necessary elements for human life to thrive.
Слайд 8
The Moon is the best place for humans to colonise first
– as it is close by and relatively easy to reach.
It could provide a base to travel further into the Solar System with Mars an "obvious" next target.
Слайд 9Mars has also become a main focus of attention.
Its surface
conditions and the presence of water on Mars make it arguably the most hospitable of the planets in the Solar System.
Слайд 10How would we cope with life in space?
There are a
number of obstacles that must be overcome before humans can live in space.
The cost of getting to space via rockets must decrease.
Life support; a future space colony will need to be almost self-sufficient, using indoor farms and solar energy.
A colony will also need radiation shielding to protect it from harmful cosmic and solar rays.
Слайд 11We need to progress through several hoops before settling in space
can really be a viable option. One of these is space tourism.
Слайд 12Several private companies such as Boeing and SpaceX are busy building
manned spacecraft, while others like Bigelow Aerospace are planning to build “space hotels”.
Слайд 13
“Space travel will save mankind”
Stephen Hawking
Слайд 14Resources:
Human Colonies in Space // http://www.truthcontrol.com/forum/human-colonies-space
Humans could live in 'space cities'
that orbit Earth - and beyond - by 2100, claims expert // http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2760587/Humans-live-space-cities-orbit-Earth-2100-claims-expert.html
Space Colonization: Future or Fantasy? // http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/10/space-colonization-human-species-future-or-fanatsy.html
Stephen Hawking on Space Colonization – The Human Future or SciFi Fantasy? // http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2010/08/space-colonization-the-human-future-or-scifi-fantasy.html
The expert guide to space colonies // http://www.truthcontrol.com/forum/human-colonies-space
What the future looks like // https://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/may/26/future-planet-earth
Will humans be living in space in the next 50 years? // http://science.howstuffworks.com/living-in-space1.htm