Q & A | 10/09/2008 6:00 am
When Will Earth People Live on the Moon? (Audio)
Dr. Katja Van Herle courtesy of Mary Wells
KATJA (CON’D): First of all, it’s so important because we’re running out of space on this planet. We know we’re using the resources we have on this planet in a way that is so detrimental, because we are running out of limited resources. The moon will provide us with a new frontier. And there’s no question that if you look at the architectural mapping, and the goings-on of agencies such as NASA, JPL with the Mars system that they are looking at right now and, with the focus on the moon, we are seeing that the moon will eventually be inhabited — potentially our next colony. Why is that so interesting? And this is really what you’re getting at in your question – it’s so interesting because the moon is finite in the resources that it has, as well. And we are going in, with our intelligence of knowing that in finite spaces, we have to make choices. So, philosophically, I think the moon is actually streaming us back into a consciousness to say, “Oh, OK. So what are going to be our choices?” If there is only this much water in these pods, what are you going to grow? What is the most efficient plant? What are you going to use for oxygen? Do you use it [oxygen] to go exercise on the treadmill? Do you use it to take care of patients in the ICU? I’m giving you global big questions, but the idea is that it’s going to focus us back on making choices – very important choices — that are not only individually based, like every good grassroots effort, but they’re actually going to have big implications for the society that ends up inhabiting and living on the planet. This will comprise our great grandchildren and so on. This will happen in the next 20 to 50 years, we believe.
The other important part of thinking about the moon as the first example of a solar system object that we can inhabit is that we are trying to save our planet. Additionally, looking at the moon in this fashion is our way of understanding how we deal with the problems we’ve had here on Earth. So what are those problems? They are very simple. We need a lot of energy sources and to get rid of a lot of waste. In fact, waste is part of what is killing our planet here. We’re going to go to the moon with a very different architecture of how to deal with all forms of waste. That’s why I think the moon is the “green planet,” because of the insights that we’re getting from the choices we need to make ahead of time if we will live there. Because of compact spaces, smaller areas, no big dumping grounds – it’s actually all becoming very clever. And we are going back to basics and realizing that people have to be able to live in smaller spaces; they must be able to live with fewer things. We will have to generate food products, packaging and our industry practices in a very different way. And since we do not have endless lakes and oceans and landfills, we will have to have a smart, efficient and “green” strategy from the onset.
MARY: What will it be like?
KATJA: Well, that’s what we’re trying to look ahead to. I think of a highly aesthetic, pristine, almost immaculately clean environment. This is because it will have to be so, due to the consideration of enclosed spaces and thinking. People are living in indoor spaces, meaning they have to live in areas with re-circulated air. This can breed disease – so again, aesthetics and hygiene are paramount.
The other important part of thinking about the moon as the first example of a solar system object that we can inhabit is that we are trying to save our planet. Additionally, looking at the moon in this fashion is our way of understanding how we deal with the problems we’ve had here on Earth. So what are those problems? They are very simple. We need a lot of energy sources and to get rid of a lot of waste. In fact, waste is part of what is killing our planet here. We’re going to go to the moon with a very different architecture of how to deal with all forms of waste. That’s why I think the moon is the “green planet,” because of the insights that we’re getting from the choices we need to make ahead of time if we will live there. Because of compact spaces, smaller areas, no big dumping grounds – it’s actually all becoming very clever. And we are going back to basics and realizing that people have to be able to live in smaller spaces; they must be able to live with fewer things. We will have to generate food products, packaging and our industry practices in a very different way. And since we do not have endless lakes and oceans and landfills, we will have to have a smart, efficient and “green” strategy from the onset.
MARY: What will it be like?
KATJA: Well, that’s what we’re trying to look ahead to. I think of a highly aesthetic, pristine, almost immaculately clean environment. This is because it will have to be so, due to the consideration of enclosed spaces and thinking. People are living in indoor spaces, meaning they have to live in areas with re-circulated air. This can breed disease – so again, aesthetics and hygiene are paramount.
Read more about: Audio, Change the World, Dr. Katja Van Herle, Environment, Health, Medicine, Moon, Science, UCLA
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Eliza Dodd
Great Post and Informative!