There's actually a third intractable reality up against star travel:
A significant portion of the human species doesn't have adequate food or housing, much less modern health care or education. Even populating Mars is a ridiculous waste of resources given this situation.
The whole "sun runs out in 5B years" thing is so disconnected from our present situation, that it doesn't even matter if it's even actually true or not (I'm not doubting it, just it's influence on our current situation).
Does anyone really think our species will still even be here in 5B years?
With the current trends in eco destruction, and primate warfare, it's questionable if we'll make it to the end of the century.
Understanding and dreaming of the stars can certainly continue to intrigue and inspire humanity, but dedicating massive resources so people can live in underground shipping containers on Mars, while billions of people still live in mud huts, is just so outrageously wasteful, not to mention self-centered and selfish, that's it's literally a crime against humanity.
This is all emblematic of the incredible failure of perspective of our place in this world...
A significant portion of the human species doesn't have adequate food or housing, much less modern health care or education. Even populating Mars is a ridiculous waste of resources given this situation.
The whole "sun runs out in 5B years" thing is so disconnected from our present situation, that it doesn't even matter if it's even actually true or not (I'm not doubting it, just it's influence on our current situation).
Does anyone really think our species will still even be here in 5B years?
With the current trends in eco destruction, and primate warfare, it's questionable if we'll make it to the end of the century.
Understanding and dreaming of the stars can certainly continue to intrigue and inspire humanity, but dedicating massive resources so people can live in underground shipping containers on Mars, while billions of people still live in mud huts, is just so outrageously wasteful, not to mention self-centered and selfish, that's it's literally a crime against humanity.
This is all emblematic of the incredible failure of perspective of our place in this world...