Space is a different matter. Space is, to borrow a phrase, the final frontier. If we move into space, we will be explorers once again, facing new challenges and possibilities. Is it something we should be grateful for? Could (manned) space exploration be conceived as a utopian project, something that meets the highest ideal for human society? Perhaps. In his article "Perspectives on Utopia in Space," Christopher C. Yorke considers the connection between space exploration and utopianism. He argues that a certain type of utopian project is indeed compatible with space exploration, but faces opposition from another popular conception of utopianism. I want to discuss your argument in this post.
Hopefully these definitions are reasonably clear. I think the contrast between teleological and horizontal models is obvious and intuitive: they are contradictory. The discursive model is a little more opaque for me. I understand that utopianism in literature is often used to criticize and / or satirize current social situations, and to articulate different possibilities for humanity, but I am not entirely sure where discursive utopianism is, conceptually speaking, in relation to the other two.
Fortunately, I can ignore this. Yorke's main argument has to do with the contrast between the teleological and horizontal approach. He argues that space exploration can be utopian if we conceive utopianism in horizontal terms; it is not utopian if we conceive utopianism in teleological terms. Let's look at both sides of the argument now, starting with the rejection of teleological utopianism.
The critical premise here is the premise. Why assume that space is not the best place for beings like us? Yorke favors an argument for biological incompatibility. We are evolved to live in a certain set of habitats and ecosystems. On Earth, we live in environments that are neither too hot nor too cold. We are protected from solar radiation by the Earth's magnetic sphere. We have symbiotic relationships with bacteria and other organisms. These are just some of the factors that make a terrestrial existence suitable for beings like us. Space is different. We have not evolved to live there. It is a much harsher environment, not compatible with our flourishing. If we go there, we would have to live in highly protective and restrictive spaces that we create for ourselves. If there is life on other planets, we could be exposed to new threats and biological diseases. In the words of Dr. McCoy from Star Trek: "Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence."