Beyond Earth (ATWG) - Chapter 27 - Planetary and Solar Resource Management, Biospherical Security and the New Space Adventure by E. and S. Maynard

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Chapter 27

Planetary and Solar Resource Management, Biospherical Security and the New Space Adventure

By Elliott and Sharon Maynard

There are three reasons why, quite apart from scientific considerations, mankind needs to travel in space. The first reason is garbage disposal; we need to transfer industrial processes into space so that the earth may remain a green and pleasant place for our grandchildren to live in. The second reason is to escape material impoverishment; the resources of this planet are finite and we shall not forego forever the abundance of solar energy and minerals and living space that are spread out all around us. The third reason is our spiritual need for an open frontier. The ultimate purpose of space travel is to bring to humanity, not only scientific discoveries and an occasional spectacular show on television, but a real expansion of our spirit.

Freeman Dyson, 1979 - Disturbing the Universe. (1)

Introduction

Over the past few decades, the development of computers, communications devices, cheap mass- transportation, satellites, and the global internet have expanded the human worldview from the few square miles surrounding a local community, to an area which encompasses the entire surface of our Planet - extending beyond, into the most distant reaches of outer space. With this historically explosive leap in technology, we humans have acquired a "toolbox" of unique new technologies, which can be applied to monitor and protect Earth's precious biospherical resources, and also to extend the limits of our awareness and intellect. These are the issues explored in this chapter. The critical need for humans to manage Earth's precious natural resources is highlighted as follows, by author Stephen Hackin in his" transformative book, Global Renaissance: "Since time immemorial the falling rains and changing seasons naturally cleansed the smoke and waste in the biosphere. But this is no longer true. Now in the global age, humans must manage the environment in ways which avoid the accumulation of materials contrary to our health, either directly or indirectly through the atmosphere, farmland and oceans which support life." (2)

A Holographic "Virtual Earth," A New Type of Global Information Resource

Through the global network of remote sensing satellites - the "Eyes" of Gaia" - we have, for the first time in history, achieved the capability to accurately monitor and diagnose Earth's vital biospherical parameters: atmospheric and water pollution, glacial and polar ice thickness, forest cover, desertification, oceanic current patterns, migrations of marine mammals, the status of global fish stocks, and the intricate dynamics of planetary weather patterns. Supercomputers connected into this satellite network can be used to create a holographic "Virtual Earth," a multidimensional model that could serve as a dynamic, real-time scientific information resource for citizens of every nation on our planet. Such a digitized Earth Program could be run either backward in time. to examine historical trends from past geological records, or forward into the Future, to simulate biospherical scenarios such as the melting of the polar ice caps, rising sea levels, or fluctuations in the Arctic and Antarctic ozone holes. Such a "Virtual Earth" would allow scientists, scholars, school children, or anyone with access to a computer to virtually "fly" over the surface of the Earth, plunge into the deep ocean depths to explore thermal vent communities, or climb to the top of Mt. Everest - all without ever physically leaving their chairs. The concept of a Central Computer, which monitors and regulates global society, was envisioned by futurists Ken Keyes, Jr. and Jacque Fresco as early as 1969, when they described a six-foot diameter sphere named Corcen, which would network and integrate computerized information, and serve as a "knowledge bank" that would regulate the lives of individuals in future global society, and coordinate what they referred to as a "humanized man-machine symbiosis". (3)

Earth as a "Natural Space Ship"

Earth has evolved in the form of a "Natural Space Ship," which orbits the Sun as part of our Solar System, and moves through Space in a spiral dance with the other celestial bodies of our galaxy. (4) Over many millennia Earth evolved a biosphere, which nurtures a rich and incredibly diverse abundance of life. To successfully sustain a sustained human presence in Space, we must first learn how to create and manage balanced, sustainable biospheres for our Orbital, Lunar, and Martian colonies. These "Oases in Space" not only provide the critical functions of carbon dioxide and waste recycling, but are also important for food production, and for providing a valuable psychological "Earth analogue" for astronauts who are confined in ships during long space voyages.

Immersion, Observation and Intuition, as Powerful Tools for Understanding Earth and In Space

In many respects, Earth's Biosphere can be compared to an incredibly complex computer program. From this viewpoint the Natural World can be perceived as a constantly shifting mosaic of dynamic interactions. One of the best ways to learn how such a complex system operates is to become totally immersed in the Natural Environment, observing, for example, the subtle intricacies of a tropical rainforest, or the colorful tapestry of interacting life forms, typical of a coral reef. Great thinkers like Leonardo da Vinci and Charles Darwin, provide us with prototypical examples of how a keenly honed intellect, selectively focused observations, and a well-developed intuitive sense can function synergistically to decipher the complex patterns of Nature, and distill these natural coordinates into valid scientific principles. The resulting information resources can then be passed on as a legacy for future generations, and will subsequently become part of the evolving scientific social consciousness. Immersion, focused observation, and intuition are thus powerful and effective tools for understanding "the unknown" These same concepts also apply to Space exploration, especially regard to surviving in hostile environments, and creating a solid technological foundation for establishing human colonies in the "New Wilderness" of Space.

A New Paradigm for Planetary Management

A new Planetary Management Paradigm could serve as a catalyst for humans to make the shift to new and ecologically appropriate ways of thinking and action. This new paradigm would integrate the best aspects of more traditional technologies such as Natural Selection, Hybridization, and Tissue Culture, with advanced technologies such as Cloning, Genetic Engineering, and Nanotechnology. The ultimate objective of such a new paradigm would be to monitor and nurture the "health" of our planetary biosphere and to improve the basic living conditions of all its human inhabitants.

The ultimate effect of any such Super-Technology Paradigm, which synergistically combines the best of conventional, leading-edge, and alternative technologies, would be to shift our scientific thinking from simply managing natural biological systems, to improving existing systems - eventually expanding this concept to create entirely new ecosystems - "Space Oases" - which could be especially tailored for Orbital, Lunar, or Martian Colonies. This type of out-of-the-box thinking could also open up exciting possibilities for designing new, fast-growing, disease-resistant ecosystems, and intelligently managed biospheres here on Earth, such as Global Forests, or Pan-Oceanic Marine Ecosystems - evolved ecosystems, the likes of which have never before existed on our planet. Any such powerful new technologies must, of course, be very carefully tested, monitored, and managed with the best human brainpower, skills, and wisdom we can muster, as our creative scientific discretion and vision in the Present will most certainly determine the constitution, health, and value to humans of our natural planetary resources in the Future.

"Quantum Leapfrogging:" New Thinking; New Technologies

To achieve a quantum leap from operating within a traditional scientific thinking context, into more advanced modes of "super-technology thinking," we must first learn to develop clear Conceptual Models which incorporate future-focused "group thinking," bringing into play the powerful analytical, intuitive, and creative powers of the human mind and spirit. Essentially, creating conceptual models is no different from creating architectural models, except that it requires working within a constantly evolving matrix of creative thinking, and exploring new enlightened applications of collaborative synergy. We would thus shift into a new methodology of thinking, which exists in a constant in a state of flux. As is true of thinking and behavioral memes through the animal kingdom, (5) human thinking strategies will continue evolving in order to insure their own survival. As each new strategy is developed, it will, in turn, influence the leading-edge thinkers who created them, feeding back to ramp up their intellectual powers and the advanced concepts they develop to ever new and evolved levels.

New Perspectives for Earth from Space

Recent advances in space technology now allow the human consciousness to span vast interstellar distances, and to view even the most distant galaxies. This quantum expansion and evolution of the human external perspective has been reflected in corresponding shifts in the very depths and character of human consciousness itself. Similar shifts in consciousness occurred when Europeans discovered and colonized North America, and later, when inhabitants of the East Coast moved west to seek their fortunes in California. In both cases, major shifts in the social consciousness occurred when these pioneering settlers had to adjust their worldviews to function effectively in new and unfamiliar environments. Certain aspects of these shifts were subsequently reflected back to the regions where these pioneers came from. As communications and transportation improved, these shifts were correspondingly accelerated. The historical basis for shifts in human thinking from their exploratory voyages is expressed in past historical context by Indiana University School of Public Affairs Professor Emeritus, Lynton K. Caldwell, as follows: "...voyages into space had an effect similar to that of the sea voyages of preceding centuries - they added cumulatively to the true process of discovering the true nature of the Earth." (6) Yatri, in his provocative book, Unknown Man: The Mysterious Birth of a New Species, eloquently depicts the transformative effects of changes in geography and technology on the human social consciousness as follows: “With the addition of new artificial intelligences to the network and the developing richness and quality of the flowing information, Marshall McLuhan’s ‘Global Village’ has changed into the ‘Global Brain’ - an entirely new kind of consciousness and a new kind of planetary species.” (7)

Envisioning a New Internal Humans-in-Space Program

A new, international Humans-in-Space Program could best be developed by using an expanded global resource base, which could tap into the financial, intellectual, and manpower resources of every nation on Earth. This type of international approach would allow the human space program to function much more efficiently, by incorporating international guidelines for standardization, modularization, and manufacturing criteria. Such an approach would supersede the present bureaucratic duplication of funding and technology development, by establishing a coordinated global network of manufacturing and launch facilities, and manpower training centers. This approach would function to encourage and facilitate new levels of international cooperation (such as already exists with the global airline industry) between established space organizations such as NASA, the European Space Agency, their counterparts in Russia and China, the developing space centers in South America, Canada, and India, and in conjunction with the emerging Space Entrepreneurial Sector. Such a new international collaboration-based space program would function to effectively harness the basic human drives of corporate competition and synergy, to re-structure and re-energize the existing global space infrastructure - actively bringing it to the mainstream global media venues.

Any such international program should be structured to include a balanced group of leading-edge scientists and from Government, the Military Sectors, the Aerospace Industry, Academia, NGO's, and the emerging Space Entrepreneurial Sector. This new integrated global approach could thus effectively serve to create a far greater financial, scientific, commercial, educational, and manpower base than presently exists. Most importantly, a new Global Space Initiative would open new gateways of opportunity for people everywhere on Earth, and draw on previously untapped financial, brainpower, and scientific resources. The objective would be to maximize the "Return on Investment" from Space back to Earth, by creating new industries and commercial flows, developing new nonpolluting energy technologies, and ultimately improving the lifestyles of people everywhere.

New Global Problems and a New Emerging "Collective Intelligence"

As we move forward toward developing Orbital, Lunar, and Martian colonies, and eventually move out into interstellar space, the extraordinary aspects and revelations of this pioneering experience will translate into equally profound shifts individual human consciousness, both in human society, and in the composition and health of the planetary biosphere itself. A wealth of new space-based concepts and technologies will be brought back to Earth. In one way or another, all individuals in every nation will reap the benefits, as these advanced technologies becomes integrated into people' daily lives. There is no more poignant example of this "return on investment" than has occurred during the past two decades with the social transformations driven by communications and technology, which been a direct result of space-based satellite technology. Personal computers, cell phones, and the global internet provide practical and ubiquitous examples of this transformation. What seems to be emerging from this shift is a new kind of "Collective Intelligence," perhaps best expressed by Professor Pierre Levy, Professor of Hypermedia at the University of Paris: "A new anthropological space, the knowledge space, is being formed today, which could easily take precedence over the spaces of earth, territory, and commerce that preceded it." (8)

As we cross the threshold of the Third Millennium we face a multitude of overwhelming social and environmental problems. These major global "crisis events" (i.e. international armed conflict, social violence, tsunamis, earthquakes, major storms, atmospheric and water pollution, disease epidemics, and overpopulation) have increased to the point where they have become the daily entertainment fare for the global media. Although conventional science and technology have attempted to address these problems, in most instances - especially in the case of global environmental problems - practical solutions simply do not yet exist. We need fresh approaches, new thinking, and new technological approaches to enable positive transformation at a Planetary Level.

Creating new "Hybrid Synergistic Technologies"

Entirely New Technologies can be created by combining the best of leading-edge conventional technologies with "orphaned" alternative technologies - some of which have been around since the 1940's, but were rejected by mainstream science because they did not fit within the paradigms of the times. Examples of such unique "Hybrid Synergistic Technologies" would include: Lewis Karrick's Low Temperature Carbonization Process for extracting Oil from Coal, (9) the Solar Tower, a non-polluting technology which combines solar energy and wind power, (10) and Nobel Prize Nominee, Ruggero Maria Santilli's MagnGas Process, which defies analysis using conventional scientific methodology, but is apparently capable of tapping energy from a variety of fuels at the nuclear level in a process which is analogous to the function of nuclear reactors. (11) Thus, many of the ominous eco-social problems that we now witness nearly on a regular basis can be addressed and solved with creative new applications of Space Technology.

New Evolutionary Paradigms for Third Millennium Social Transformation

The type of Evolutionary Paradigms necessary for launching the New Space Adventure would be "openended," with built-in flexible, evolvable guidelines. This kind of new "flexible thinking matrix," when integrated into mainstream scientific thinking would effectively enrich mental and spiritual growth, encourage intellectual diversity, and supercharge human brainpower, ultimately generating new and creative solutions for the social, economic, and environmental problems we all face as citizens of the Global Commons. As visionary author Steven Hacken puts it, "We are on the threshold of the best and brightest of times. Those entrusted with the powers of government must make decisions for the common good, or new leaders will. Given the belief that national survival is at stake, conditions considered politically or economically impossible can be accomplished in a remarkably brief time." (12)

In a sense, these new Evolutionary Paradigms might be considered to be "self aware," since they would be endowed with the innate capabilities to change, grow, and evolve in ways that would provide the most appropriate models for the social and techno-ecological of any particular timepoint. Such new paradigms already exist in their early stages, but continue to develop and mature. As these new thinking modalities continue to evolve, the boundaries Quantum Physics and Consciousness become increasingly blurred. A special new breed of creative scientific thinkers is emerging. These new thinkers might best be described as, "evolutionary explorers - pioneers who have opened up new frontiers of self-transformation. Somehow they have managed to jump across a crucial threshold to entirely different evolutionary territory." (13)

A Global Eco-Military Force

Global military forces have a strategic role to play in planetary management. A new Global Eco-Military Force could be organized and equipped as a future-focused peacekeeping organization that would combine Cultural Sensitivity with Rapid Deployment and Lightning Strike Capabilities. Functioning within contexts of "Strategic Biosphere Defense" and "Enforcement of Environmental Regulations," the basic focus of this new global military initiative would be to manage and protect natural resources on a global scale, for the present and future generations of all life on Earth.

A renewed focus should be placed on improving America's image abroad, and especially on Conflict Prevention, Resolution, and Mediation, as viable, cost-effective alternatives to War and related social conflicts, both of which negatively impact our spiritual, financial, and ecological resources at national and global levels. This New Military Ethic could be organized around Social and Cultural Issues, Environmental Protection, and Environmental Regulations, with a new emphasis on Environmental Management, Ecological Restoration, and Global Disaster Relief. Such a re-formatted Military Ethic could create positive and challenging life experiences for Military Personnel by providing Superior Educational Opportunities, and Certifiable Professional Skills, which would carry over to civilian life, and engender a heightened sense of Pride and Satisfaction as a return for service rendered.

Embedded within the new Global Eco-Military Concept is also a new perception "Home-Planet Security." In order to achieve true Homeland Security we must learn to work together to develop effective strategies for achieving this transformation. Ultimately, both "Security" and "Peace" depend directly on our ability to monitor, protect, and enforce a reasonable balance between human needs and the broader planetary ecosystem. Our future depends on it!

Strategic Initiatives for Planetary Management

A "Strategic Initiative for Planetary Management" would include the following four basic areas for development:

1) Global Ecology Management Guidelines would focus on the protection and monitoring of Oceanic and Terrestrial Biological Preserves. "Biological Species Banks" would be created for the preservation of ecological diversity, and could be integrated with Ecotourism as a mechanism for providing jobs, training programs, and financial independence for indigenous and local people in selected geographical locations.

2) Sustainable Ocean Resource Management Plan would focus on eliminating destructive fishing methods such as Bottom-Trawling, Bi-Catch Wastage, and the Overexploitation of Global Fisheries Resources. A new and socially equitable Global Fisheries Management Program could be implemented and enforced through satellite remote sensing technology. "In the future, our global oceans should be used much like land: farmed for plants, harvested for fish, mined for minerals, and the marine environment regulated for pollution." (14)

3) A Coordinated Global Satellite Sensing Network would be specifically designed to monitor Pollution, Desertification, Forest Fires, Underground fires, and Illegal Poaching of global forest and marine fishery resources. This data could be coordinated by supercomputers into a Central Information Resource, which would be available to scientists and citizens of every country in the world.

4) An International "Environmental Earth Corps" would coordinate and train Global Military Forces to develop and implement Environmental Education and Earth-Engineering Programs, enforce sustainable Ecological Regulations and Guidelines, protect Strategic Natural Resources, identify and supervise Pollution Clean-Up, and play a major role in Mega-Scale Environmental Restoration and Enhancement Projects. Military personnel would be offered a wide choice of global service opportunities, and receive technical certifications which would allow them to continue on with careers in the civilian world as productive members of the global workforce.


The New Space Renaissance

The Spiritual and Creative Aspects of a New Space Adventure would embody the seeds of a new "Space Renaissance," which could include the following elements:

Space Eco-Tourism would accommodate those adventurous individuals who desire to explore the various areas and aspects of Space as "The New Wilderness," pushing exploration to ever higher limits, and contributing to our knowledge back on Earth.

Medical Research, Rehabilitation, and Rejuvenation would accommodate advanced space medicine, and establish Space-based Facilities for Research, Medical Practice, Healing and Rejuvenation. Medical research and treatment facilities represent a major financial resource for eventually establishing what perhaps might best described as "Orbital Medical Centers."

The "Free-Flight" Aspect of Space would allow humans to free themselves from the chains of gravity, and experience Low-Gee and Zero-Gee Recreation. This free-flight environment would add an entirely new and unique dimension to the human mindset, similar to the way scuba diving opened the way for humans to discover and explore the undersea realm, or hang gliding presented new opportunities for humans to experience a technological analogue of avian flight in the atmosphere.

The Creative and Commercial Dimensions of Space would enable Artists, Athletes, Scholars, Scientists, and Spiritual Explorers to visit Space and have new experiences in orbital resorts and habitats and Lunar and Martian Colonies. Space Art, Space Entertainment, and Space Sporting Events would capitalize on already established multi-billion dollar earthbound financial industries.

In Space, a new and spirited Creative Renaissance could serve to bring profitable and exciting new dimensions to these already profitable Earth-based industries. The critical factor for implementing a New Space Renaissance is to effectively organize and activate the Creative Brainpower Synergy of our newly evolving "Planetary Consciousness Commons."

Conclusion

As we move collectively into the Future, creating Orbital, Lunar, and Martian Colonies, extending our Human Presence out into Space, this journey of exploration will undoubtedly represent the dawn of an extraordinary new experience that will be reflected in equally profound shifts in Human Attitudes, the Global Social Consciousness, and in the composition and health of our Planetary Biosphere. Although it is perhaps impossible to predict the specific effects of each new space experience, it would seem safe to assume that each new adventure and enterprise will return to Earth a set of improvements, which will add up and fractally disseminate to transform the global economy, the human social mindset, our relationships with each other, our Natural Resources - and ultimately the ways in which we humans perceive ourselves, and our place in the Universal Fabric of Time and Space. This kind of thinking is eloquently framed by authors Gary Schwartz and Linda Russek in their provocative book, The Living Energy Universe, as follows: "Just as the energy and information of distant star systems travel in space forever, if the universal living memory process is true, our personal info-energy systems - literally composed of photons of visible and invisible "light' - have the potential to travel, to journey and explore, and to evolve. This is the vision of The Living Energy Universe. If this vision is true, then the kind of loving intelligence that created such a process has given us both freedom and eternity. This is the kind of God that can make us all smile." (15)

References

  • (1) Freeman Dyson, Disturbing the Universe, Basic Books/Perseus Books, LLC, New York, 1979, p. 116.
  • (2) Steven Hacken, Global Renaissance: A Five-Year Plan to Save Our Planet, Globe Press, Los Angeles, p. 40.
  • (3) Kenneth S. Keyes, Jr. and J. Fresco, Looking Forward, A. S. Barnes and Company, New York, 1969, pp. 96-98.
  • (4) Frank White, The Overview Effect, Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1987 p. 20.
  • (5) Howard Bloom, The Evolution of Mass Mind from the Big Bang to the 21st Century, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 2000, pp. 57-59.
  • (6) Lynton K. Caldwell, "Discovering the Biosphere," in Paul R. Samson and D. Pitt, Eds., The Biosphere and Noosphere Reader: Global Environmental Society and Change, Routledge, London, 1999, p. 41.
  • (7) Yatri, Unknown Man: The Mysterious Birth of a New Species, Simon and Schuster, Inc., Cambridge, MA, 1988, p. 16.
  • (8) Pierre Levy, Collective Intelligence: Mankind's Emerging World in Cyberspace, Perseus Books, Cambridge, MA, 1997, p. 5.
  • (9) Robert Nelson, "Oil from Coal...Free: The Karrick LTC Process," Rex Research, Jean, NV, 1980.
  • (10) Michelle Nichols, "Australia Considers Grant for Solar Power Tower," Reuters, January 7, 2003; http://www.ennn.com/news/wirestories.
  • (11) Ruggero Maria Santilli, "Recycling Crude Oil and Liquid Wastes into MagneGas and Magne-Hydrogen," Presented at the Hydrogen National Conference, HY 2000, Munich, Germany, September 11-15, 2000.
  • (12) Steven Hacken, op. cit., p. 127.
  • (13) Yatri, op. cit., p. 148.
  • (14) Steven Hacken, op. cit., p. 81.
  • (15) Gary E.R. Schwartz and L.G.S. Russek, The Living Energy Universe: A Fundamental Discovery that Transforms Science and Medicine, Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc., Charlottesville, VA, 1999, p. 183.

About the Authors

Elliot Maynard

Sharon Maynard

Extracted from the book Beyond Earth - The Future of Humans in Space edited by Bob Krone ©2006 Apogee Books ISBN 978-1-894959-41-4

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