The first human-made object to reach space was the Soviet Union’s Sputnik 1 satellite, which was launched on October 4, 1957. This marked the beginning of the Space Age and the start of human space exploration.
Since then, humans have continued to explore space through a variety of missions and programs, including the Apollo missions to the Moon, the International Space Station, and numerous unmanned missions to other planets and celestial bodies.
Humans shouldn’t interfere with the development of other planets
Researchers are urging humans to adopt the Prime Directive of Starfleet Command, as seen in the TV series Star Trek, which states that space explorers should not interfere with the social, cultural, or technological development of any other planet, as The Guardian reveals. This principle should guide space exploration and avoid a colonial approach, which could impinge on the rights of others to explore space.
Such interference can also threaten indigenous traditions and knowledge systems, such as through light pollution, and researchers are calling for greater engagement with indigenous peoples and a move away from rhetoric about “building colonies” on other planets.
Dr. Pamela Conrad stated, as The Guardian quotes:
Regardless of who or what is out there, that attitude of exploration being almost synonymous with exploitation gives one a different perspective as you approach to the task,
Because if something that’s not here [on Earth] is seen as a resource, just ripe to be exploited, then that [perpetuates] colonialism.
Humans have not yet gone to another planet. So far, humans have only sent spacecraft to explore other planets and their moons, such as Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. However, there are plans to send humans to Mars in the future, with several countries and private companies working on developing the technology and infrastructure needed to make this possible.
