2026-06-22 01:13 ยท OrbitalJournal

The Impact of a Multiplanetary Civilization on the Search for Meaning

Introduction: From a Single World to a Multiplanetary Horizon

Ever since space travel began, humanity has been questioning and expanding the foundations of its existence. In the past, we tried to make sense of life with the limited information our surroundings provided. Today, as we gather more knowledge about the depths of space, old meanings are replaced by new questions. For centuries, humanity pursued the quest for meaning with a worldview centered around Earth. However, as the doors to space open, the natural boundaries of this quest are starting to expand.

Today’s space agencies are working towards establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon and Mars. With ambitious goals like “sustainable human presence” and “long-term bases,” they are preparing for the future. Yet, the certainty of these goals leading to a “multiplanetary civilization” remains an assumption. Thus, the transformation into a multiplanetary civilization should be viewed more as a vision.

As we consider the implications of this expansion on our search for meaning, the psycho-social and existential impacts offer a rich philosophical landscape. The vastness of space places humanity within a broader cosmic perspective. This confronts us not only with technical development but also with the idea of a new worldview and order. So, when the space of meaning expands, does the meaning itself change, or do only its expressions differ?

Classic Sources of the Search for Meaning

Throughout history, people have woven their search for meaning around fundamental elements such as the sacred, myth, family, and community. Sacred texts and mythologies provided frameworks that organized our chaotic existence. Families and communities served as carriers of coexistence and belonging. Death and mortality have been among the areas where meaning is most deeply questioned in many cultures.

Existential psychology views humans not only as biological beings but also as beings in pursuit of meaning. The sociology of religion sees the sacred and rituals as crucial elements in the production of meaning. At the intersection of these fields, it becomes clear that the search for meaning is closely related to identity, purpose, belonging, and value creation.

Space and multiplanetarity have the potential to touch these classic sources of meaning. However, how this touch will occur is currently uncertain. Different cultural and faith communities may attribute different meanings to the same cosmic expansion. Therefore, when we speak of “humanity’s search for meaning,” we encounter a diverse tableau rather than a homogeneous structure.

Science fiction literature and cinema, especially from the 19th and 20th centuries, have offered imaginative scenes that incorporate space and other worlds into the search for meaning. These works have influenced the collective imagination, shaping cultural sources that inform how we think about multiplanetary life.

The Psychological Impact of Multiplanetary Living

Living for extended periods on other planets or in space can present significant challenges in terms of psychology and the search for meaning. Factors such as long isolation periods, confined and limited spaces, delayed communication with Earth, high risk, and uncertainty are being researched as significant psychosocial risks even in space missions. In this context, NASA and other space agencies have conducted numerous studies on the psychological effects of isolation in human missions.

The experiences of astronauts who have worked in space reveal that living in small teams in confined environments for extended periods requires careful management of stress, conflict, and loneliness. Antarctic stations and Mars simulations are just some of the analog mission sites used to study the psychological effects of this isolation.

In such conditions, the search for meaning is often supported by a sense of mission and motivation for scientific discovery. However, for permanent settlements, it is unclear whether mission-centered motivations alone will suffice. In long-term living, new networks of meaning will need to develop in areas such as family, community life, rituals, and cultural production. This presents not only a psychological challenge but also an area where new meanings can be constructed.

Delayed communication on places like Mars may challenge the concept of “instant community.” This situation could increase the importance of the “local colony community” along with a new form of loneliness. However, since these effects are currently evaluated through simulations and analogies, all conclusions remain speculative beyond the existing data.

Will the Idea of Common Humanity Strengthen or Divide?

The concept of a multiplanetary civilization can both strengthen and weaken the idea of “common humanity.” On one hand, expanding beyond Earth may prompt us to think of ourselves as part of the same cosmic story. The idea of being a “citizen of Earth” could expand into “citizen of the Solar System” or “cosmic citizenship.” However, historical experiences show that the exploration and colonization of new territories often produce hierarchies and inequalities.

Transoceanic empires and colonies created new identities while also generating economic and cultural inequalities through center-colony relationships. While directly equating this historical analogy with space colonies is problematic, the possibility of “space settlements becoming areas of privileged access” offers a cautionary framework.

In a multiplanetary order, socio-economic and cultural differences may emerge between those who remain on Earth and those who settle on Mars or the Moon, for example. Such divisions could also differentiate the search for meaning along spatial and class axes. In such a scenario, the “common humanity” narrative may give way to fragmented identities like “Earthlings” and “Martians,” resulting in meanings shaped around more local and competitive constructs.

However, in the face of global threats such as climate crises, nuclear dangers, and pandemics, the idea of “the fragility of the human species” is gaining strength. This suggests that the emphasis on “common destiny” could be preserved even in a multiplanetary civilization. Therefore, instead of reaching a definitive judgment on how a multiplanetary civilization will affect the idea of humanity, it is more accurate to speak of a field of tension filled with opposing dynamics.

Religion, the Sacred, and Cosmic Expansion

The expansion of humanity’s conception of the universe has historically led to changes in religious interpretations. Modern cosmology, offering new insights into the size and age of the universe, has opened the door to new interpretations in religious thought. The scenarios of a multiplanetary civilization and extraterrestrial life may represent a new phase of this process.

The impact of discovering extraterrestrial life on religions is largely hypothetical. Some studies suggest that theological questions about human “uniqueness” and creation narratives may come to the forefront, while others argue that religious traditions, already possessing broad cosmological visions, could adapt to such a discovery. However, there is no consensus on this. The potential effects may vary for each religious tradition and community.

In the context of a multiplanetary civilization, the relationship between the sacred and space can also be reconsidered. Alongside Earth-specific sacred places and rituals, new rituals and festivals that may emerge on new planets could play a significant role in carrying meaning. These practices could manifest as the re-enactment of existing religious traditions in different contexts or the emergence of new religious symbols.

These discussions remain largely speculative. Extraterrestrial life has not yet been definitively discovered, and multiplanetary settlements have not become a permanent reality. Therefore, rather than stating that religions will definitively transform, it is more accurate to suggest that such a transformation is a potential possibility.

The New Mission of Civilization: Survival or Meaning-Making?

We define civilization not only by its technical capacity but also by its “worldview” and “idea of order.” A scenario of a multiplanetary civilization will necessitate the reconstruction of this order on material and spiritual levels. The fundamental tension here is whether the new mission of civilization will focus solely on survival or will include a horizon that encompasses meaning and value production.

Mars, the Moon, or orbital settlements will likely be shaped initially based on “survival” and security. At this stage, meaning-making can be constructed around themes such as “ensuring the continuation of humanity,” “contributing to scientific discovery,” and “historical pioneering.” However, in the long term, areas such as education, art, law, morality, and collective memory will become fundamental elements carrying the dimension of meaning in civilization.

In this context, it is possible to think of the new mission of a multiplanetary civilization between two extremes:

The reality that emerges will likely be a hybrid structure fluctuating between these two poles, depending on political, economic, and cultural dynamics.

Conclusion: Where Does Humanity Call Home?

The concept of “home” is not just a physical shelter; it represents a place imbued with belonging, security, and meaning. In a scenario of a multiplanetary civilization, the human sense of “home” will be reconsidered both physically and symbolically.

To date, Earth has been both a biological home and the center of meaning for humanity. If one day people establish permanent communities on other planets, the sense of “home” could expand to new places without severing its ties to Earth. In this process, for some, “home” may remain filled with hopes of returning to Earth and nostalgia, while for other generations, the planet or station where they were born may become the primary reference point.

This article aims not to ask a singular question like “Does a multiplanetary civilization erase human meaning?” but rather to explore “which forms of meaning does this expansion leave behind, transform, or give birth to?” There are no definitive answers to these questions; however, by reflecting on the literature of civilization, religion, psychology, and cosmology, we can discuss different scenarios more consciously.

Being a “homeowner” in space is not merely a technical shelter issue; it is also an ethical, cultural, and spiritual construction process. What determines the kind of civilization this process will give birth to will be where and how we choose to establish meaning.

References

  1. NASA OSIRIS-REx official mission page: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/osiris-rex/
  2. Articles from Acta Astronautica journal
  3. Articles from Journal of Humanistic Psychology
  4. Reports on ESA Mars settlement projects
  5. Articles from Space Policy journal
  6. Articles from Astrobiology journal
  7. Articles from Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
  8. Articles from Zygon journal
  9. Articles from Philosophy & Technology journal
  10. Academic sources from Turkey and publications on DergiPark
  11. Official reports and data from research centers
  12. Scenarios for the discovery of extraterrestrial life
  13. Books and articles on civilization theory

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