Why Risk Life in Space? The Overlooked Privilege of Earthly Existence

By Suryaprakash Kapoor

A comparative study between life in a space station and life on Earth reveals a striking imbalance in safety, nourishment, and sustainability. While the Earth's atmosphere, magnetosphere, and ozone layer offer natural shields against cosmic dangers, astronauts aboard the International Space Station face a harsh, unprotected environment.

On Earth, meteorites are largely neutralized by atmospheric friction. Harmful ultraviolet rays are absorbed by the ozone layer at 50 kilometers altitude, and the magnetosphere deflects charged solar particles towards the poles, creating auroras instead of danger. These protective layers ensure life on Earth thrives safely.

In stark contrast, astronauts and even vegetation grown at the space station’s altitude of 400 kilometers are exposed to lethal cosmic and gamma rays from pulsars and supernovae, along with possible asteroid or comet impacts. Unlike Earth’s surface, which benefits from moonlight, fair weather electric currents, and infrared sterilization from the planet’s core, the space station is deprived of these nourishing and cleansing forces, leading to a higher risk of microbial infections.

These realities raise profound concerns: why did NASA abandon the Apollo project? Should we endanger Earth's balance by building townships on the moon, potentially disturbing moonlight and endangering life itself? References from ancient scriptures like Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, Markandeya Puran, and Atharva Veda caution against such encroachments.

The article questions whether joining the elite club of space-exploring nations is a wise priority for a developing country like India. With thousands of crores of rupees being spent on data collection already accessible through the internet, the writer urges ISRO to reconsider its focus.

Rather than indulging in symbolic space exploration programs, the suggestion is to pivot towards profitable ventures such as asteroid mining — specifically Psyche-16 — which promises financial return and strategic advantage.

The views are author’s persona and ANM News is not responsible for it.