Remember though that lowering the population would not only likely have ethical issues, but it would also significantly damage the economy, at least for a decade or two. Which, by itself, would also slow our ability to go out into space.

Of course, if nobody cares about ethics or the economy, we can always just have another war. Which also runs the chance of significantly damaging the planet.

HNM, I'm not saying people shouldn't pursue scientific knowledge. I'm intrigued by scientific progress too. I'm just saying not everyone finds it beautiful. The people who want to pursue space travel should in my opinion. Hell, I was considering studying aeronautical engineering myself. I just think it's incorrect to say knowledge always makes things more beautiful. For me, it usually does. But there are people who don't want that knowledge, or that science. I think they should have a right to live that way. For example, for me, I enjoy learning. I watch math and physics lectures for fun in my free time. But, as much as I find them interesting, sitting in the woods with the warm sun is more beautiful; so I think it's all entirely up to oneself. You will find just as much either way.

ps: I find it kinda interesting that there are a small amount of people who still live like early homo sapiens did, w/o agriculture. Then there's a small group of people who have all the newest technologies. Then there's most people who are in between, like the range of people in 3rd world countries, to probably about where I'm at is the majority range. Idk, I think that'd be an interesting thing to study, how long it takes new technology to catch up to the rest of the world.