The survival of humanity will one day be at stake; it will be tested as it has been before (Source1 Source2 Source3). The average person either lacks the foresight or empathy to accept this fact. Why do we lack empathy for our future descendants? Furthermore, how could we be proud of our accomplishments if humanity dies out soon? We have the potential to explore and influence not just the Earth, but the Universe. Yet if we remain self-absorbed, all of our knowledge and experiences will be lost, like tears in the rain.

 

I don’t think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet. But I’m an optimist. We will reach out to the stars.

— Stephen Hawking, Father of Black Holes (Hawking Radiation)

If our energy needs increase 3% every year over the next few hundred years, the Earth would need to be fully covered by solar cells to be powered. However, we won’t expand into space, as no star, nearby or otherwise, appears to be viable. What I can see, however, is having heavy manufacturing based out of space and keeping Earth zoned for residential and light manufacturing.

— Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon

About half my money is intended to help problems on Earth & half to help establish a self-sustaining city on Mars to ensure continuation of life (of all species) in case Earth gets hit by a meteor like the dinosaurs or WW3 happens & we destroy ourselves

— Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, Founder of SpaceX