Stephen Hawking calls for new era of space conquest

Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has called for a "new era" in space exploration similar to that of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World in 1492. Speaking at a special function honouring the 50th anniversary of NASA, Hawking compared the current situation in space exploration to that of Europe prior to Columbus' travels.

"People might well have argued it was a waste of money to send Columbus on a wild goose chase, Yet the discovery of the new world made profound difference to the old," he said, adding mischievously: "Just think, we would not have a Big Mac or KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)."

"Spreading out into space will have an even greater effect," he told an audience at George Washington University, Washington DC. "It will completely change the future of the human race and maybe determine whether we have any future at all."

Full article: http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200817/778/Stephen-Hawking-calls-for-new-era-of-space-conquest

-Ryan