Zephyr
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Well, here's the thing--which would be easier to accomplish, Faster than Light (FTL) travel, or terraforming? I would say that FTL travel is easier to accomplish
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terraforming is something we can reasonably predict with our current level of scientific and technological knowledge (we cannot realistically DO it, but we can make realistic plans about HOW to do it). FTL travel is theoretical, likely not possible regardless of our technological achievements. at best it is so far into the future we are not able to make realistic predictions about what human needs might be at that time. so terraforming looks like the more realistic option at this point in time.
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because the Moon does not have enough mass to have an atmosphere. It simply does not have the gravity required to hold in gases. Same thing with Mars--it doesn't have a liquid core, so there is no magnetic field. The atmosphere has long since been blown away by solar wind and the planet is mercilessly bombarded by solar radiation.
Terraforming would only be theoretically possible on Venus, which is probably too close to the sun to be habitable in any case.
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good points. it might be possible to make the martian atmosphere more habitable although it would be a challenge and may not be possible. venus is hot, but terraforming might work and there may be polar regions that stayed cool enough to support life even if the equator was too hot.
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So, FTL travel and extrasolar colonization would be our best option--and that probably won't happen until humans unify under one political banner. The nation-state system will have to collapse before we are able to engineer any sort of extrasolar colony. The reason? One nation alone will not be able to amass the resources required for a project on that scale. Gaining the ability to travel faster than light--and there are numerous theories on how this could be done--is not going to be easy, and one nation--even the giant United States--is not going to be able to figure it out alone.
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it was technologically possible for the united states to get to the moon and back, 12 times, 30 years ago. it is concieveable that one nation could achieve it, but the options would be USA, china, european union or possibly india if they develop economically fast enough. it is even concieveable that a large company could do it, or a consortium of companies. it will probably not happen until the planet is more united anyway as the resources required would be huge and only available once they were not being used for their current needs like war, border protection, rigging elections, etc.