Free Astronomy Magazine September-October 2018

38 That the destiny of human- ity is to colonize other plan- ets is a near-certainty, but this will happen in a future so far off that the ways by which we might do so are highly spec- ulative. Surely, if the population increases to unsustainable levels, we will reach a point at which ei- ther a strict global birth control will be implemented or we will need to hasten our transition to a more space- faring species, else risk putting our civi- lization at risk. Those who think that the population surplus can easily be transferred to space are ignoring considerable difficulties. by Michele Ferrara revised by Damian G. Allis NASA Solar System Ambassador Terraforming Mars is still science fiction SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018 PLANETOLOGY