AZADPAKISTAN2009
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Search for Signs of Life outside Earth
Defence & Politics
By AzadPakistan2009
Across Human existence the one question which every human has asked themselves every night is , while looking at night sky is “Are we alone ?” Every tribe and civilization which has existed at least in the last 5,000 years of human civilization documentation has attempted to answer in their own ways. The present age Humans are in a prime position to perhaps unlock the question by discovering life in confines of our Solar System. We now have a ideal mix of Technology and capability to expand beyond the limits of our Earthly existence and go beyond our comfort zone around moon. Scientist claim we are now on verge of discovering life outside our planet . Some attribute this search as fine line between establishing military strength , some feel this discovery may have great influence on religion and politics. Space during Regan era was seen as the next battle ground for humans instead of a avenue of discovery and unity.
Various civilizations have attempted to answer the riddle and infact looked to sky and documented the star constellations. The Egyptian Civilizations which constructed the Pyramids created the Pyramids to align themselves with the Orion’s constellation. The fascination was not a secret , some claim that the Egyptians believed they had a connection with the star system in Orion constellation. [ii]
The Mayans on America’s continent were also aware of their skies and used various techniques to calculate motion of Sun and predict the seasons for farming [iii] Mayans associated themselves to the Sky God , and that the priests were representatives of the Sky God on planet.
Ancient Mayan Observatory
So this idea existed in minds of people that there is another livable place outside what we call Earth. In Islamic Faith of course there is a concept of Miracle of Miraj, where Prophet Mohammad travelled beyond the confines of planet Earth and he ascended into Heavens on a device ( a creature named Buraq). Buraq is claimed to have tremendous speed which in modern scientific term can only be associated to a Space craft. The heaven itself is a reference to an existence of an Earth like place perhaps the idealistic earth beyond earth. This desire to find the other earth or livable place is embedded in our psychology. Whenever we hear these events, we are drawn towards these incidents naturally.
Muslim Astronomers were quite active between periods of 900 A.D and 1200 AD[iv]. Example Al-Sufi (903-986) , Al-Biruni (973-1050), Ibn Yunus (d 1009), Al-Farghani, Al-Zarqali (Arzachel) (1029-1087) and Jabir Ibn Aflah (d. 1145). Various sea navigation systems were created by muslims which depended on the observation of constellation in skies.
However on merely a scientific level in modern times, the love of Space has to do with finding life beyond earth, and exploring the space to find usable minerals and resources. Since the race began to conquer the Moon , people have been dreaming to explore the next destinations with in our solar system. The aim is simple to find traces of life and find a conclusive answer to question “Are we Alone?”
For many nations of world the expense associated with Space exploration was deterrent, however the Russians, Americans and later the Chinese joined the search to expand the human foot print across the Solar System. The American search with their NASA organization launched various probes which visited Mars, and other outer planets the Voyager 1 was launched by NASA on September 5, 1977. Voyager 2 is a space probe launched by NASA on August 20, 1977, to study the outer planets. Both the Voyager missions helped increase our knowledge with various planets on the outer rim of Solar System. The Russians were more successful with reaching Venus. The Venera program [v]was the name given to a series of space probes developed by the Soviet Union between 1961 and 1984 to gather information about the planet Venus. The most promising move in term of discovery of life outside earth was the sending of Mars Landers to mars by United States starting in 1996 [vi] with Mars Pathfinder and Sojourner missions. This was eventually followed by much technologically advance Rover missions Opportunity and Spirit Missions. While life was not discovered Scientist were more confident that finding some form of life was only matter of time.
Presently the most ideal candidate which many scientist claim could be a possible life harboring destination could be one of the moons located in Jupiter’s orbit called Europa or one of the Moons of Saturn called Escalades both of these planets have a ice rich environment , perhaps covering a large water source below the surface ice.
Scientist are more confident to discover life in these two moons, is because of existence of water vapor. It is quite possible that some form of life may exist on the surface which may be in a very primitive state which is able to live close to volcanic vents and region between the ice and volcanic vents where temperature may be ideal for sustaining life. Humans have succeeded in sending Landers to Mars so it is only matter of time when Landers would be sent to these moons to uncover the mysteries they hold.
The exploration of these areas is not impossible considering that the fact that budgets for these missions is less than1% of GDP for advance nations of world or even less, while much much more is invested in Military gear and maintaining bases across the globe for geopolitical influence. NASA budget for instance was less then 0.48% of 2 Trillion USA’S GDP [vii] in the year 2020. While 19 Trillion dollar were spent in wars between 2005 and 2018. If the Humanity’s focus was on discovery we would already have bases on Moon, Mars and 2 Moons discussed above. China is the emerging leader in term of financial capability and ingenuity who is a new player in field of Space exploration[viii]. China[ix] became first nation to land on the Dark Side of Moon in 2019 and registers themselves strongly in Space race to discover life.
The joint space missions so far have had limited fruition the local earth politics eventually impacts this area on a on going basis. The only limited success has been the International Space station program which orbits the earth which constantly feels the effects of political tussle between Americans and Russians
Space Exploration is a area perhaps only restricted to rich nations of planet countries like Pakistan due to financial constraints have not been able to invest in this segment. However even in Pakistan large interest exists in Astronomy and exploration of space using Telescope.
Humans in last 200 years have closest as we have come to discovering life outside of planet earth and it is quite possible we are only 20-25 years or less then conclusively finding evidence that life exists outside of planet earth. The discovery will have vast effects on the concepts of religion and defense and military of planet earth when it will eventually happen.
https://www.space.com/will-alien-life-be-found-2020.html
[ii] https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/1075135/egypt-great-pyramid-giza-orion-correlation-proof-spt
[iii] https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/maya/mmc07eng.html
[iv] https://muslimheritage.com/an-overview-of-muslim-astronomers/
[v] https://www.space.com/18551-venera-13.html
[vi] https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-pathfinder-sojourner-rover/
[vii] https://www.thebalance.com/nasa-budget-current-funding-and-history-3306321
[viii] https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2019/06/13/china-nasa-moon-race-000897/
[ix] https://www.space.com/42883-china-first-landing-moon-far-side.html
@Slav Defence or @webaster or @Horus or @WAJsal or @Irfan Baloch
Defence & Politics
By AzadPakistan2009
Across Human existence the one question which every human has asked themselves every night is , while looking at night sky is “Are we alone ?” Every tribe and civilization which has existed at least in the last 5,000 years of human civilization documentation has attempted to answer in their own ways. The present age Humans are in a prime position to perhaps unlock the question by discovering life in confines of our Solar System. We now have a ideal mix of Technology and capability to expand beyond the limits of our Earthly existence and go beyond our comfort zone around moon. Scientist claim we are now on verge of discovering life outside our planet . Some attribute this search as fine line between establishing military strength , some feel this discovery may have great influence on religion and politics. Space during Regan era was seen as the next battle ground for humans instead of a avenue of discovery and unity.
Various civilizations have attempted to answer the riddle and infact looked to sky and documented the star constellations. The Egyptian Civilizations which constructed the Pyramids created the Pyramids to align themselves with the Orion’s constellation. The fascination was not a secret , some claim that the Egyptians believed they had a connection with the star system in Orion constellation. [ii]
The Mayans on America’s continent were also aware of their skies and used various techniques to calculate motion of Sun and predict the seasons for farming [iii] Mayans associated themselves to the Sky God , and that the priests were representatives of the Sky God on planet.
Ancient Mayan Observatory
So this idea existed in minds of people that there is another livable place outside what we call Earth. In Islamic Faith of course there is a concept of Miracle of Miraj, where Prophet Mohammad travelled beyond the confines of planet Earth and he ascended into Heavens on a device ( a creature named Buraq). Buraq is claimed to have tremendous speed which in modern scientific term can only be associated to a Space craft. The heaven itself is a reference to an existence of an Earth like place perhaps the idealistic earth beyond earth. This desire to find the other earth or livable place is embedded in our psychology. Whenever we hear these events, we are drawn towards these incidents naturally.
Muslim Astronomers were quite active between periods of 900 A.D and 1200 AD[iv]. Example Al-Sufi (903-986) , Al-Biruni (973-1050), Ibn Yunus (d 1009), Al-Farghani, Al-Zarqali (Arzachel) (1029-1087) and Jabir Ibn Aflah (d. 1145). Various sea navigation systems were created by muslims which depended on the observation of constellation in skies.
However on merely a scientific level in modern times, the love of Space has to do with finding life beyond earth, and exploring the space to find usable minerals and resources. Since the race began to conquer the Moon , people have been dreaming to explore the next destinations with in our solar system. The aim is simple to find traces of life and find a conclusive answer to question “Are we Alone?”
For many nations of world the expense associated with Space exploration was deterrent, however the Russians, Americans and later the Chinese joined the search to expand the human foot print across the Solar System. The American search with their NASA organization launched various probes which visited Mars, and other outer planets the Voyager 1 was launched by NASA on September 5, 1977. Voyager 2 is a space probe launched by NASA on August 20, 1977, to study the outer planets. Both the Voyager missions helped increase our knowledge with various planets on the outer rim of Solar System. The Russians were more successful with reaching Venus. The Venera program [v]was the name given to a series of space probes developed by the Soviet Union between 1961 and 1984 to gather information about the planet Venus. The most promising move in term of discovery of life outside earth was the sending of Mars Landers to mars by United States starting in 1996 [vi] with Mars Pathfinder and Sojourner missions. This was eventually followed by much technologically advance Rover missions Opportunity and Spirit Missions. While life was not discovered Scientist were more confident that finding some form of life was only matter of time.
Presently the most ideal candidate which many scientist claim could be a possible life harboring destination could be one of the moons located in Jupiter’s orbit called Europa or one of the Moons of Saturn called Escalades both of these planets have a ice rich environment , perhaps covering a large water source below the surface ice.
Scientist are more confident to discover life in these two moons, is because of existence of water vapor. It is quite possible that some form of life may exist on the surface which may be in a very primitive state which is able to live close to volcanic vents and region between the ice and volcanic vents where temperature may be ideal for sustaining life. Humans have succeeded in sending Landers to Mars so it is only matter of time when Landers would be sent to these moons to uncover the mysteries they hold.
The exploration of these areas is not impossible considering that the fact that budgets for these missions is less than1% of GDP for advance nations of world or even less, while much much more is invested in Military gear and maintaining bases across the globe for geopolitical influence. NASA budget for instance was less then 0.48% of 2 Trillion USA’S GDP [vii] in the year 2020. While 19 Trillion dollar were spent in wars between 2005 and 2018. If the Humanity’s focus was on discovery we would already have bases on Moon, Mars and 2 Moons discussed above. China is the emerging leader in term of financial capability and ingenuity who is a new player in field of Space exploration[viii]. China[ix] became first nation to land on the Dark Side of Moon in 2019 and registers themselves strongly in Space race to discover life.
The joint space missions so far have had limited fruition the local earth politics eventually impacts this area on a on going basis. The only limited success has been the International Space station program which orbits the earth which constantly feels the effects of political tussle between Americans and Russians
Space Exploration is a area perhaps only restricted to rich nations of planet countries like Pakistan due to financial constraints have not been able to invest in this segment. However even in Pakistan large interest exists in Astronomy and exploration of space using Telescope.
Humans in last 200 years have closest as we have come to discovering life outside of planet earth and it is quite possible we are only 20-25 years or less then conclusively finding evidence that life exists outside of planet earth. The discovery will have vast effects on the concepts of religion and defense and military of planet earth when it will eventually happen.
https://www.space.com/will-alien-life-be-found-2020.html
[ii] https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/1075135/egypt-great-pyramid-giza-orion-correlation-proof-spt
[iii] https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/maya/mmc07eng.html
[iv] https://muslimheritage.com/an-overview-of-muslim-astronomers/
[v] https://www.space.com/18551-venera-13.html
[vi] https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-pathfinder-sojourner-rover/
[vii] https://www.thebalance.com/nasa-budget-current-funding-and-history-3306321
[viii] https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2019/06/13/china-nasa-moon-race-000897/
[ix] https://www.space.com/42883-china-first-landing-moon-far-side.html
@Slav Defence or @webaster or @Horus or @WAJsal or @Irfan Baloch
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