Is Earth a Prison Built for Humanity?

Human beings live freely in only a thin layer around Earth, from the ocean floor to the edge of the atmosphere, where conditions can kill quickly. Reaching orbit requires a rocket to reach about 7.8 kilometres per second while carrying most of its launch mass as fuel.

Human beings live freely in only a thin layer around Earth, from the ocean floor to the edge of the atmosphere, where conditions can kill quickly. Reaching orbit requires a rocket to reach about 7.8 kilometres per second while carrying most of its launch mass as fuel.

Human beings live freely in only a thin layer around Earth, from the ocean floor to the edge of the atmosphere, where conditions can kill quickly. Reaching orbit requires a rocket to reach about 7.8 kilometres per second while carrying most of its launch mass as fuel.

Human beings live freely in only a thin layer around Earth, from the ocean floor to the edge of the atmosphere, where conditions can kill quickly. Reaching orbit requires a rocket to reach about 7.8 kilometres per second while carrying most of its launch mass as fuel.