Evacuate Evacuate Planet EarthPlanet Earth

The fate of the human race is The fate of the human race is in your hands…in your hands…

ImagineImagine if…..if…..

Scientists predicted that the Scientists predicted that the surface of our beautiful planet surface of our beautiful planet was to disintegrate with in the was to disintegrate with in the

next 500-1000 years.next 500-1000 years.The surface would be overtaken by

molten lava

The seas would evaporate

Plant and animal life could not be sustained

FOR HUMANS TO SURVIVE WE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE EARTH!

It’s down to you to It’s down to you to decide….decide….……..where we are ..where we are

going?going?

To help you decide the world’s best scientists have come To help you decide the world’s best scientists have come up with up with sixsix possible options possible options

What you can assume….What you can assume….

• Assume that we do/will have the Assume that we do/will have the technology to create “self sustaining technology to create “self sustaining bio spheres” . In other words…bio spheres” . In other words…

We can create structures to contain We can create structures to contain

our own air, grow the food, generate our own air, grow the food, generate heat and recycle the water we need heat and recycle the water we need to stay alive for a long time.to stay alive for a long time.

Option 1:Option 1: The MoonThe Moon

Moon FactsMoon Facts

• 384,400km from Earth384,400km from Earth

• No atmosphere/airNo atmosphere/air

• Exposed to meteoritesExposed to meteorites

• Water ice may be present Water ice may be present at the polesat the poles

• Temp -173 to 127◦CTemp -173 to 127◦C

• Humans have been on the Humans have been on the moonmoon

• No magnetic field... Danger No magnetic field... Danger from the “Solar Wind”from the “Solar Wind”

• 1 moon day = 1 earth 1 moon day = 1 earth monthmonth

• Gravity is one sixth the Gravity is one sixth the strength of gravity on earthstrength of gravity on earth

Option 2:Option 2:MarsMars

Mars FactsMars Facts• Closest temperature to the Closest temperature to the

earth (still can get to -133◦C in earth (still can get to -133◦C in winterwinter

• Thin carbon dioxide Thin carbon dioxide atmosphereatmosphere

• Length of a day is nearly the Length of a day is nearly the same as on earthsame as on earth

• 5.25 earth months to travel 5.25 earth months to travel therethere

• Gravity is about a third as Gravity is about a third as strong as on earthstrong as on earth

• Mars is plagued by giant dust Mars is plagued by giant dust stormsstorms

• The frozen polar caps are The frozen polar caps are mostly made of carbon dioxide mostly made of carbon dioxide but there may be a little frozen but there may be a little frozen water toowater too

Option 3:Option 3: VenusVenus

Venus FactsVenus Facts

• Nearly identical in size to the Nearly identical in size to the earth. May have similar earth. May have similar compositioncomposition

• 3.5 earth months to get there3.5 earth months to get there• Dense carbon dioxide Dense carbon dioxide

atmosphere: 90X the pressure atmosphere: 90X the pressure of earth’s atmosphereof earth’s atmosphere

• 25km thick cloud containing 25km thick cloud containing concentrated sulphuric acidconcentrated sulphuric acid

• Average temp 467◦C Average temp 467◦C • 1 Venus day= 243 earth days1 Venus day= 243 earth days• No magnetic field. No No magnetic field. No

protection from solar wind.protection from solar wind.

Option 4:Option 4: Jupiter’s Moon Jupiter’s Moon “Europa”“Europa”

Why not Jupiter itself?Why not Jupiter itself?

• 18 earth months away18 earth months away

• It’s the largest planet in It’s the largest planet in the solar system but it’s a the solar system but it’s a GAS GIANTGAS GIANT

• It has no solid surfaceIt has no solid surface

• It has a very strong It has a very strong magnetic field creating magnetic field creating intense radiation belts that intense radiation belts that would kill you.would kill you.

Europa factsEuropa facts

• Jupiter’s second largest Jupiter’s second largest moonmoon

• Same size as our moonSame size as our moon

• May be the only other May be the only other place in solar to have place in solar to have watery seas.watery seas.

• Most of the water on the Most of the water on the moon is frozen solid.moon is frozen solid.

• No atmosphere No atmosphere

• Average temp -170◦CAverage temp -170◦C

Option 5:Option 5: Out of our Solar Out of our Solar SystemSystem

Out of our Solar System Out of our Solar System FactsFacts

• Since 1995 we have confirmed the Since 1995 we have confirmed the existence of at least 200 other planets existence of at least 200 other planets out of our solar systemout of our solar system

• Some predict that half the stars in our Some predict that half the stars in our galaxy may have planets…..that galaxy may have planets…..that makes 50 billion planets to choose makes 50 billion planets to choose from!from!

• Most planets found are gas giants but Most planets found are gas giants but rocky planets are starting to be found.rocky planets are starting to be found.

• The distance involved are The distance involved are unimaginablyunimaginably large. At current space large. At current space travel speeds generations of humans travel speeds generations of humans would spend all their lives on would spend all their lives on spaceships.spaceships.

• In 2007 the first potential “earth like” In 2007 the first potential “earth like” rocky planet was found orbiting the rocky planet was found orbiting the star Gliese 581. This star is 20.5 light star Gliese 581. This star is 20.5 light years away and in the constellation of years away and in the constellation of Libra. With temperatures between 0 -Libra. With temperatures between 0 -40 deg it may have liquid water.40 deg it may have liquid water.

Option 6:Option 6: Permanent Space Permanent Space Station/Colony orbiting EarthStation/Colony orbiting Earth

Space Station FactsSpace Station Facts

• We may not need to leave We may not need to leave earth altogether just it’s earth altogether just it’s surface.surface.

• Earth could remain a good Earth could remain a good source of materials.source of materials.

• Unless we can generate Unless we can generate artificial gravity systems artificial gravity systems we would have to live in we would have to live in weightless conditionsweightless conditions

• The man made problem of The man made problem of “space junk”“space junk”

The rest is up to you…The rest is up to you…