In childhood, many of us loved science fiction. And if the latest book contained a story about space and aliens, it was the best of all. The books told tales of extraterrestrials who came and invaded our little planet with their high-tech weapons and spaceships. For centuries, people have enjoyed crafting stories about them and the mysterious cosmos. Such tales inspired a sacred awe.
Over time, a multitude of literary works has been written. Numerous films have been made. However, imagined aliens continued to remain imaginary, despite many studies and experiments conducted in their search.
Several decades ago, humanity sent aboard the Voyager probes evidence of its existence. We launched these probes into the vast unknown in the hope that our extraterrestrial neighbors would notice them and learn about us—if they indeed exist. But so far, there has been no result.
The nuance is that in our search for imaginary extraterrestrial civilizations, we have come very close to becoming one of them. When humanity first sent a person into space, we were about fifty percent ready to become an interplanetary species. And someday, we may be able to call ourselves the main characters of science fiction. But how do we achieve that?
Moving Towards the Stars
From the day Yuri Gagarin first orbited our beautiful planet, humans have worked tirelessly to reach space and stay there longer. Then Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon, which proved to be a breakthrough. These lunar missions demonstrated our capabilities in space travel.
Over time, space stations have been built. Many astronauts from around the world continued to explore space, helping us better understand our possibilities. Numerous discoveries and inventions have been made as a result of these space explorations. The results of this work have gradually shaped us into an advanced species in many respects.
Finally, with the advent of reusable rockets and advanced technologies, landing humans on another planet seems less unattainable. After all these years of invention and progress, humanity stands on the brink of becoming an interplanetary race.
In light of all this, several questions arise:
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Where are we headed?
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What will our future look like?
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Can we already be considered that alien civilization with advanced weapons and ships that we once wrote and read about?
Our Stellar Future
Most people would not agree to call themselves aliens from science fiction. But the truth is that over time, we will indeed become that alien civilization. And the very thought of it sends chills down the spine.
You might say, “That’s nonsense.” But everything is developing so rapidly that it’s not easy to dismiss that thought. And believe me, many people who share similar views find it hard to let go of it too.
Several centuries ago, people still believed that Earth was the center of the universe. If you had told them that space travel was possible, they would have likely called you mad or a heretic.
But look at us now. Within a few centuries, we are almost ready to land humans on Mars. And judging by current developments, landing on the moons of gas giants does not seem too far off either.
Today, we even have theories about warp drive technology! And with the ability to detonate nuclear bombs and alter planets, we can say that we are already a species that raises concerns.
Admit it, that sounds creepy. But the speed at which humanity is progressing only leads to such a future. Humanity has the opportunity to spread within the Solar System, provided we don’t encounter Judgment Day before then.
What Comes Next?
Many are convinced that beings different from the intelligent species of our planet exist. In such a vast universe as ours, that possibility is high. Perhaps these beings are not particularly intelligent. Maybe they are just microbes! But they could exist, although an encounter with a civilization like ours is extremely unlikely.
Although we cannot yet invade any planet with civilization, humanity is ready to take on the role of an interplanetary race. This forces us to think differently about ourselves. We will no longer be “insignificant humans,” as aliens call us in science fiction books.
We will have bases in many places beyond our planet. These bases will welcome visitors year-round. And we will look at the Moon and the twinkling planets in the night sky and wave, knowing that our people live there. Just the realization of this makes us want to tell our imaginary alien neighbors, “Hey, we’re coming to you, wait!”
Until then, let’s keep our fingers crossed.
“There are two possibilities: either we are alone in the universe, or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.”
–Arthur C. Clarke