The goals listed in the above image are that of the robotics company Humai. As a sum result of these goals, humanity will be radically transformed into something much more. We will become cyborgs, whether by cybernetic integration or via advanced genetic engineering — or both!

These goals are certainly controversial, and will most certainly be responded to in opposition by pocketed sections of the human population who believe humanity is perfect as is. And that’s fine. Like most anything, each individual will be granted the right to choose their own destiny — whether it’s to remain biologically organic or to transcend their biological limitations via advanced science and technology.

But without that transformation, those individuals will not be able to leave their Earthly confinement and explore the deepest depths of space. Not for a long time, at least. And let’s not forget that the existence of Earth itself is on a timer, one which we cannot possibly see.

For those who do choose to transcend, however, well…as the old adage goes, “the sky is the limit.” Though in this case, not even the sky will hold us back. When equipped with a bionic body, our newly designed substrate will have the potential of easily accommodating the fierce conditions of space. No radiation nor micro-gravity conditions will deter us from our mission.

“If man in space, in addition to flying his vehicle, must continuously be checking on things and making adjustments merely in order to keep himself alive, he becomes a slave to the machine. The purpose of the Cyborg, as well as his own homeostatic systems, is to provide an organizational system in which such robot-like problems are taken care of automatically and unconsciously, leaving man free to explore, to create, to think, and to feel.”

Michael D. Lemonick, “Designer Babies,” Time (January 11, 1999) via Center for Genetics and Society

But where might gene editing come into effect if our biological substrate is replaced with an entirely new full-body prosthetic? This is where it might get a bit more controversial, but no less true if our goal remains to colonize the universe.

Like any horny human who’s dreamt of exploring the cosmos, you’ve more than likely had the subsequent envisioning of having sex in space. Ignoring the fact that sex in space would be a far more complicated task to achieve than “down here” on Earth, what’s even more important to contemplate is the likelihood of conceiving children in space as well. And in this possibility, no other result would come other than the quick and painful death of said child.

Deep space might be a gradual death sentence for us biological human adults, but for children, that death sentence would be far quicker. Which is why we must come to the realization that, without the aid of advanced technologies like gene editing, our journey into the cosmos will be an infertile one. While it might seem like a cliché to justify a claim based on a “think of the children” argument, but yes, please, do think of the children!

Today, we might be clamoring out into every direction about the ethical implications of a future of genetically modified children — aptly referred to as “Designer Babies” — but without the promise of genetic engineering, it would subsequently be unethical of us to conceive children while exploring the cosmos. With it, however, we’ll be able to genetically modify newly conceived human embryos to accommodate the harsh conditions of space. From there, they’ll gradually join the spacefaring population of cyborgs, exploring and colonizing the universe.

We have very difficult — albeit very important — questions to be answered ahead of us. And we mustn’t allow them to put us at an impasse, or else Earth might very well be the only home we know of throughout the universe.

Simply put: without the reliance of cybernetics and gene editing, we won’t stand a chance in deep space.