Part 4/9:
Looking at longer timelines, it is statistically probable that an impactful asteroid will collide with Earth, similar to the event that wiped out the dinosaurs. Although we are beginning to address this threat—such as through NASA’s DART project, which aims to test asteroid deflection techniques—this capability is still in its infancy and needs to be developed significantly.
Another long-term concern is the approach of the star Gliese 710, which is on a collision course for our solar system. Such cosmic events could result in a torrent of comets targeted at Earth, with a high risk of catastrophic impacts. A lack of space colonies would signal the end for humanity should we face ejection from our solar system.