Rome, Italy, Feb 14, 2018 / 00:41 am
A major rocket launch by entrepreneur Elon Musk's aerospace company, SpaceX, on Feb. 6 has been hailed as a major step toward cheaper and more frequent spaceflight – and the eventual population of Mars.
In the face of such unexplored terrain, how should Catholics respond?
While "this kind of expansion is in its infancy, and full exploration of space is a long way off... this is the time to start thinking about and planning for these things," Jesuit Br. Robert Macke told CNA.
Curator of the meteorite collection at the Vatican Observatory, and holding a PhD in physics, Br. Macke said technological progressions such as the SpaceX rocket do not change how we relate to God, but "as with any new development in technology or the way things are done, the main question for persons of faith regards how it is to be used."