Spacefaring Species
Any civilization that does not challenge the impossible is doomed to fail. And the “impossible” for our civilization, is humankind’s conquest of the infinite space environment.
Willy Z. Sadeh
We are the kind of species that needs a frontier– for fundamental biological reasons. Every time humanity stretches itself and turns a new corner, it receives a jolt of productive vitality that can carry it for centuries. There is a new world next door. And, we know how to get there.
Carl Sagan
Space exploration is perpetuated through time by explorers, discoverers and seekers. Explorers venture into the unknown cosmos; discoverers pursue cumulative knowledge about space; and seekers search for underlying models and causal factors to explain cosmological phenomena.
We work with our partners – explorers, discoverers and seekers – to forecast for the exploration and utilization of space. We identify critical variables, model technological, scientific, and sociopolitical-socioeconomic impacts and consequences, and develop plans and scenarios for spacefaring activities.
We explore how prestige and leadership, exploration and scientific knowledge, economic growth and development, enabling technologies and technological innovation and international cooperation influence spacefaring activities.
We evaluate the prospects and opportunities for human exploration and development of space, including synergies between human and robotic space programs and projects. We explore scenarios for human spaceflight and exploration, which range from exploratory and pioneering phases that we are currently engaged in, to permanent space habitation, and ultimately spacefaring activities as to settlement of the Moon and Mars. We examine how institutional capacity building, organizational capabilities, technological development and risk, and political impacts, consequences and trade-offs will determine the course of events as to whether or not human space exploration endeavors are realized.
