Human Consequences of the Exploration of Space

Abstract

When Columbus set sail into the Atlantic, he knew he was going to do something great, but he did not know what. This remark about Columbus is trite. It has been made a hundred times before by people discussing man’s activities in space, yet it is the truest thing that can be said. In my personal view of the human situation, the exploration of space appears as the most hopeful feature of a dark landscape. Everything I say may well be as wrong and irrelevant as Columbus’ reasons for sailing West. The important thing is that he did sail West and we do go into space. The true historical consequences of these events can only be known much later.