Planets Alive: Part Six – Earth

Introduction

Naming all the planets, rejecting dwarf and extra solar planets whilst proving that life is possible all over the solar system, brings us to Earth. She simply teams with life; the only living planet in the Solar system. Located in the, “Goldilocks Zone,” Earth is just at optimal-distance from the Sun conducive to thriving life. If you push Panspermia you should expect to contest that although precious life may be everywhere, there are only very few places, such as Earth where it would truly thrive. Earth is perfectly placed, just the right distance for the blazing Sun, to produce fecund-life.

 
Can You Export Life?

Image via Wikipedia

Jupiter is cold and far. Mars seems sucked of any life-force whilst Saturn is too distant for our reach at this point in time. We have seen that there is no shortage of resources near Jupiter.  Getting there, and then using them, is a short-way off. Importantly, pictures have given us a better view. We now have 3 permanent satellites spying Mars 24/7. Can we live beyond this Earth?

It could be argued in the affirmative that, “We Can.” We already live in space. The International Space Station is real, showing us it’s perfectly possible, dwelling in the sky. Close is the day we build a space-lab near or on Mars. In fact, NASA will have a finished a Moon-base by 2020, if all goes according to plan. 

Russia furnished the first space-tourist, in 2008, for a cool 20 billion dollars. Now, if you so wish, for $199 999, you can wake-up one morning and book your trip into space. It’s already real.

Navel Gazing

As we are about to leap into the unknown perhaps we should ponder:

• Before Solar system settlement let’s solve Earth’s needs?
• Instead of mining Earth why not import what we need (there are tons of minerals in space) from the neighborhood?
• Or, should we forget about Earth and move onto entirely new horizons?

We’ve done it before. 

Every Glorious Wonder

Across every part of the Earth’s surface and oceans, there are unlimited wonders of life that literally, can take your breath away. Vast, beautiful, blue oceans or snow-capped mountains with secret forests where the exotic creatures cry to one another whilst enjoying natural fruits and seeds found nowhere else. What about delightful cities filled with happy people buzzing around in glorious commerce? Even in the ugliness of smog-choked mega-cities life continues as a vast symphony to human endeavor and natural wonder. This is Earth, our home, and faced with environmental challenges like none other in our past.