Science vs. Engineering?

> One of the reasons we need to
> colonize space is that all humans on Earth could die from a single
collision
> with an NEA or comet, and that would set our science, engineering,
> languages, religions, etc., as well as our population, back to zero.

I agree with this general sentiment but I doubt that it is as extreme
as this.

For example, several months will be available to prepare for a
conjectured collision with a Hale-Bopp type of object. For just one
of many possible courses of action, the United States might "bury"
equipment and components necessary for self-sufficient living in
several unmanned sites well protected to survive the after effects of
an impact. About ten thousand of the "best and brightest" (with, of
course, those making the final decisions included in this mix) could
then board the Navy's nuclear powered submarine fleet and transit to
that global sea location that would be the least effected by the
blast. As has been demonstrated many times in the past, such a
contingent could easily remain submerged for ten weeks, at which time
all short-term effects would have played their course. The submarines
would then surface and the occupants would establish a new foothold
for the human race from the locations previously prepared for this
purpose. They could use the submarine reactors for many, many years
of electrical support in their survival efforts.

But it would be nice to have a supplementary survival mechanism in
place above the Earth's gravity well. A Stanford Torus and/or a
Bernal Sphere would fill this need nicely.

Best regards,

Leon Neihouse
http://www.alphaspaceproducts.com