Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has called for a "new era" in space exploration similar to that of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World in 1492.
Stephen Hawking in 2006 during a press conference at the National Library of France to inaugurate the Laboratory of Astronomy and Particles in Paris. Credit: Wikipedia
Speaking at a special function honouring the 50th anniversary of NASA, Hawking compared the current situation in space exploration to that of Europe prior to Columbus' travels.
"People might well have argued it was a waste of money to send Columbus on a wild goose chase, Yet the discovery of the new world made profound difference to the old," he said, adding mischievously: "Just think, we would not have a Big Mac or KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)."
"Spreading out into space will have an even greater effect," he told an audience at George Washington University, Washington DC. "It will completely change the future of the human race and maybe determine whether we have any future at all."
Stressing the very existence of the human race depended on space travel he added: "...if the human race is to continue for another million years, we will have to boldly go where no one has gone before."
Professor Hawking urged the colonisation of the Moon and called for the building of a new propulsion system to explore other suitable planets outside our solar system between 200-500 years.
Hawking, 66, who suffers from motor neuron disease and speaks through a special machine, also considered that there was a likelihood that other life existed in our universe. Musing as to why we haven't come across evidence of alien life (no "alien quiz shows" quipped Hawking), he said there was a possibility that unintelligent forms of life existed that had no way of being able able to communicate with us.
"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare," he said, then quickly added: "Some would say it has yet to occur on earth."
Despite being paralysed from his disorder, Hawking was able to get out of his wheelchair and experience zero gravity with the help of attendants on a special plane last year. He said he hopes to repeat the experience on board the maiden voyage of Virgin billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic when it flies into space next year.
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