The Space Option Studies
Human space activities have been underway for slightly more than sixty years, yet the last and only time a human set foot on another planetary body was over fifty years ago. Although space technology is totally integrated into the functioning of today’s society, the appealing dreams of human exploration and adventure it once held has been muted by the reality that the space frontier is not yet really open. Yet more important than fulfilling these dreams of adventure and exploration, the real and immediate promise of continued space development is the substantial contribution this will have on the sustainability of human society – both in the immediate and in the far future.
Already in the early years of the 21st century it is becoming acutely obvious that the impact of an expanding human species on a finite planet is resulting in situations that are having major impacts on global issues such as the environment, climate, energy, geopolitics and economics. Indeed, the sustainability of human society may soon be in question unless immediate and effective measures are taken. To address these issues humanity may be forced to look for and to implement either the “most innovative” or the “most repressive” solutions imaginable.
Fortunately, space visionaries and pioneers long ago recognized this eventuality and they and their followers have quietly and consequently developed both the scientific rationale and the technological concepts to open the space frontier. Upon these works is the development of a concept called “The Space Option” and, because this option offers humanity the most “optimistic” pathway to sustainability, it is a choice humanity will most likely make in order to maintain its well-being and ultimate survival.
The Space Option concept is an evolutionary plan to meet the basic and anticipated needs of humanity with the addition of utilizing near Earth resources - especially that of energy from space. The wide-scale and successful implementation of the Space Option could substantially contribute to the restoration of the global environment by its reliance on inexhaustible, clean space solar energy to replace humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels which are finite and contribute to ocean acidification and on nuclear fuels which have negative environmental and political aspects.
Harvesting inexhaustible and environmentally clean energy from space would not only maintain and stimulate the global economy, the eventual exploitation of other extraterrestrial resources would guarantee future generations a sufficient supply of material resources. Thus, the Space Option provides hope for the less fortunate societies on our planet to aspire to reaching a living standard substantially beyond their present situation while the present advanced societies can maintain their standard of living and continue their development - an approach to the future that differs greatly from many of the current scenarios for "sustainable development" that are under discussion.
As such, the Space Option could and should become the primary motivation for continued space exploration and development - perhaps even becoming a more powerful driver for space activities than national prestige, security and scientific exploration have been. Indeed it should be a catalyst for the opening of a “New Space Economy” attracting the energies and capital of a new generation of explorers and entrepreneurs. If implemented in time and with sufficient commitment, the ultimate reward will be a prosperous and dynamic planetary civilization living in a healthy environment and the creation of an infrastructure in space upon which the expansion of the human species throughout the solar system and beyond could be realistically anticipated.
In the words of science fiction author and visionary Arthur C. Clarke:
" The challenge of the great spaces between the worlds is a stupendous one, but if we fail to meet it, the story of our race will be drawing to a close. Humanity will have turned its back upon the still untrodden heights and will be descending again the long slope that stretches, across a thousand million years of time, down to the shores of the primeval sea."
We are keenly aware that the issues mentioned above will affect essentially every aspect of human society and, as the Space Option concept potentially offers humanity some of the most viable and optimistic solutions based on space technologies and the exploitation of space resources, the impact on the space industry and consequently on society will be enormous and unprecedented.
The Space Option studies were initiated in 1992 by the OURS Foundation and the results have been presented in various international astronautical forums and were integrated into the European Space Agency's Long-Term Space Policy Committee report: Rendezvous With The New Millennium and consulted by their Space 2020 Study Group concerning the future of space activities in Europe.
We believe the arguments for the Space Option are overwhelming and that this concept offers humanity its best opportunity for its well-being and survival in the 21st century.