There’s a movement in the scientific community to create managed preserves on other planets and moons, to keep them pristine for future generations.
Posted 01.17.2013 at 3:01 pm
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Proposed 'Parks' On Mars
Cockell/Horneck
There’s an old proverb that states “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” And if some in the scientific community have their way, that sentiment will extend to other planetary bodies as well. A movement among some in the spacefaring community believe that humans need to set up a kind of national parks system for planets prior to human and further robotic exploration to ensure that pristine environmental value--both scientific and intrinsic--is preserved beyond Earth orbit.
Earth orbit might be a good example as to why. The area of space where human activity has been most prevalent is filled with debris--the leftovers and byproducts of our presence there. And with private spaceflight now rapidly making up technical ground on even the world’s most capable space programs, it’s only a matter of time before manned exploration is happening elsewhere in the solar system and outside of the strict oversight of a state-sponsored space agency, advocates argue.
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Technology, Clay Dillow, Mars, moon, planetary parks, private spaceflight industry, Space, space explorationSo why not preserve sections of them now, as we do on Earth (at least somewhat) for our great forests, jungles, gorges, mountain ranges, wetlands, and so on? Such park designations wouldn’t have to render these areas entirely off limits for exploration, of course, but would create rules like no landing of unmanned spacecraft, no spacecraft or human debris left behind within the park, and more rigorous sterilization standards for any object crossing the boundary to mitigate microbial contamination.
In the land and resource grab that very well may be in the offing on bodies like the moon and Mars, advocates say, having a parks framework already in place could quell future potential-use conflicts and ensure that irresponsible exploration is limited to the spaces outside of the most scientifically interesting regions of planetary bodies. If you have thoughts on this (or some really good spam!) drop them in the comments below. We’re interested to hear what you think.
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Shouldn't they wait till after we terra-form before they start drawing out stuff like this lol? Or Martian-form lol..
I don't think it makes any difference what rules we make up here on Earth. The future residents of Mars will make and enforce their own rules.
While the focus maybe on reserving National Parks On Mars, what they are really saying, they can and will do all they want elsewhere on Mars!
Terraform means to transform a foreign telestial body to match conditions on Earth. The term applies to pretty much every planet/moon/astroid.
What country here actually thinks this would be enforceable? If any colonies ever get put on these places and become self-sustaining, they will likely have been put there by cooperations, even if they are put there by a nation they aren't likely to stay apart of that nation for terribly long. If they then want to do this, it'll be their property.
But honestly why would you? Outside of some historical significance (like the moon landings) why would you preserve any of it? There is no life there that we didn't accidentally bring. There is no ecosystems to leave pristine. They are cold dead rocks.
"Robot National Park", ah yes, has a nice ring to it... lovley..... happy sigh.
Pointless at this time. Just more unnecessary bureaucracy.
Leave the near side of the moon for aesthetic purposes.....mine the crap out of the rest so we don't have to tear up the earth.
First establish the national parks, then interstates to get around and get to the national parks, hotels to stay at the natial parks, just outside the national parks some amusement parks, next to the amusement parks, resturnants and more hotels, the national parks will need rangers and outside the national parks they will need police to patrol outside the parks, with so many living there they will need hospitals, fire departments, then a military to fight off groups attacking from another national park community, unions will have to formed with the fire departments, police departments, a election will have to be made for the mayor of Mars, a community center must be built for the familys and children, schools, a water processing centers...etc..
... later a dig going on in a national park and a cave it open, then millions of Martians come out and start attacking and destroying everything in sight. Earth sends military spaceships to dominate Mars and destroy all the Martians and establish the USA way of life on good old Mars.
God bless Mars, oh and America too!
A nice idea, but impossible to implement until its inhabited. Perhaps olympus mons will be the most desireable spot for an orbital tether?
Wouldn't it be prudent to establish 'ownership' first before thinking about 'national' parks?
"Historical Park" - I thought we just got to Mars. I did not realize we had developed a history of being there yet?
Who knew!
What makes you arrogant enough to believe you have ownership enough to give permisson to grant that? Mars belongs to me!...Well why not, I own it just as much as anyone who thinks otherwise...not even the government can lay claim to it! Seems to me the 1st one that can control it owns it...but don't count on that in your life time....You don't even have a NASA now.....You can think your love Barack for that, If you can't get over your penny annie problems here on Earth, why infect Mars with your crap!....Grow up 1st!
Yup, deforestation, loss of habitat, extinction of species, and loss of biological diversity all seem to be serious problems that would be solved by making the moon a nature preserve.
" A movement in the scientific community" . These guys really must be bored, alternatively and likely the idea arouse near closing time at the pub, just after the 23rd round.
Well, if it's like THIS already, then shouldn't The Fed be opening up space mining money for lending?
Seems to me that these places picked are largely arbitrary at this point, based on what looks interesting, or what we think this nation might want later.
It's meaningless though. There's no space accord that's actually binding, other than if you blow up our crap, we'll blow up yours. Have all nations staked claims they are willing to live with already?
Mars does not belong to us; it belongs to the Martians. This is largely disinfo as Mars is currently inhabited and we have been there for at least four decades. I am a photo analyst for MARS(Mars Anomaly Research Society) and am 100% certain that my statement is the truth. We are going to Mars via advanced space craft and teleportation. We have established bases on Mars. The general population has been lied to but that cover-up is in the process of vanishing.