He predicted the construction of a base on the Moon within the next 30 years and said humans are likely to reach Mars within the next 50 years.
"A new and ambitious space programme would excite young people and stimulate interest in other areas, such as astrophysics and cosmology", Hawking was quoted as saying by "BBC News".
Hawking has previously predicted that climate change, epidemics and population growth all pose major threats to our survival on Earth.
Hawking took the occasion to take a shot at President #Donald Trump, the leader of one of the countries that will have to take the lead in any global space program. Hawking called for colonies on the moon and Mars already in 2008, and recently suggested humans will be wiped out in the next 100 years if we don't flee the Earth.
Prof Hawking added: "Spreading out may be the only thing that saves us from ourselves".
Humans are in dire danger, and in efforts to explore other worlds in lieu of Earth, it may be time to ride on a beam of light through the power of Einstein's theory of relativity.
Stephen Hawking has an idea to keep humanity thriving for years to come: Let's all move to space.
While NASA does not now have plans to go back to the Moon, the European Space Agency (ESA) is considering working together with Russian Federation on a Moon base that will replace the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024, and both are researching potential landing sites.
On the other hand, China has set the goal of sending an astronaut to the Moon. Though if other space agencies begin to collaborate on constructing a lunar base it would be hard to see Nasa not participating.
Ex-NFL great Warren Sapp to donate brain for concussion research
Warren was a hard nose tackle that lined up head on with his defenders every time he was on the field. That's surprising coming from one of the game's greats, who made his living down in the trenches.
But Hawking's reasons for this are anything but a sense of nostalgia for the 1960s: it's a profound belief that humans must leave the Earth or risk "being annihilated" as a species.
Stephen Hawking at One World Observatory in New York City. According to the professor, human colonization and migration to another planet in the universe is no longer a fiction, there is so much information documented that makes the fact a real science.
"To leave Earth demands a concerted global approach, everyone should join in".
"If humanity is to continue for another million years, our future lies in boldly going where no one else has gone before".
Aside from discussing space travel, Hawking likewise addressed the issue of spending to solve problems on Earth instead of focusing on space, and delivered a sharp criticism of US President Donald Trump.
"I hope for the best".
"We have no other option", he said.
Follow Pallab on Twitter.
Comments