Space Travel and Colonization: An Interview With Astrophysicist

Dr. William Craig

It took just over 94 years from when the Wright brothers first took flight for something man made to reach another planet. Today, all eyes and attention is on the red planet, and Mars has become a topic of focus from countries to classrooms.

Space exploration and colonization has gained real foundation in the last five to 10 years because of the emergence of cultural icon Elon Musk. With major companies like Tesla and SpaceX, the idea of what college students have the capability to witness in their lifetime is truly astonishing. In an interview conducted over FaceTime with William Craig Ph.D, an astrophysicist at the University of California Berkeley, he described what’s on the frontier as many students look to start their careers in science.

Q: What recent scientific developments have made the idea of space travel and colonization more of a reality recently?

A: It has been an issue for years that we have had the ability to launch thousands of kilograms of equipment cheaply, but not tons. Cheaply meaning tens of millions of dollars. The reason why it has become more of a reality is because companies like SpaceX are developing the technology that allows us to become capable of launching and landing supplies by the tons relatively cheaply.

Q: What preliminary measures should we be taking, or what have we we been doing to prepare for these things?

A: Some people in the field fully recognize the capability of space colonization and that it is a true game changer. Others are still waiting to see if these capabilities have the potential they say they do. What we should be doing is worrying about being confident of our abilities and developing the scientific instruments not restrained by mass because that is what leads to the cost of what it costs to launch things into space.

Q: What do you think the new Mars rover Perseverance is ideally hoping to find while on Mars?

A: They’re hoping to find what they have always wanted to find which is signs of life. Perseverance is doing a more detailed physical chemical analysis of the surface and materials. This was dropped deliberately in a place that at one time showed of evidence of having running water, similar to the Sacramento river delta. Scientists are hoping that this will give them a better chance of finding evidence of life on Mars on the surface. Perseverance is definitely the smartest rover we have sent to Mars technology wise and builds on a stellar series of rovers that have gone to Mars over the last twenty plus years.

Q: As a scientist, what is your opinion of Elon Musk?

A: I think he has a tremendous ability to transcend the common view of things. He has the ability to look at things with entirely different eyes. That allows him to ask questions that challenge the normal paradigm we live in. He is without a doubt the visionary of this generation and has very good intuition.

Q: What do you think the goal and best case scenario of space colonization will be?

A: That is almost an impossible question to answer. There are so many good reasons you could give. I personally resonate however with the Elon Musk argument that moving humanity to another planet is a fundamental step that must be taken to preserve our species. Understanding the universe more is the only way we are going to find our place in it.