This post is heavily based on the Dump Little Man post 4 Reasons You Fail to Achieve Your Goals.
Are we the type of species that makes big plans but just never finishes the plan? Do we make resolutions during one generation that are dropped like a failed Hail Mary pass by the next? Perhaps, as a species, you can't stay on track. Every species contains a goal seeking mechanism, yet we do not achieve our goals. The following list are things that will not only prevent space habitation, but will prevent other multi-generation goals and macro-engineering projects. 
1. Limited Beliefs
Look, if a species thinks it will go extinct, it will. If its religious text predict an armageddon, people will feel helpless to stop an armageddon event. They will feel as if they are doomed to die as a species. There are some who see humanity as a disease that should be eliminated, how can such a species aspire to greatness? There is a major belief that we have reached the end of out species' technological and social development, how can such beliefs inspire greatness and self improvement? Humanity has unlimited potential, but if we start to doubt that potential we will never be great, we will never be spacefaring and we won't produce a new generation of humans who have hope for a better tomorrow.
2. Picking the Wrong Goal
This reason should not be used as an easy to quit a goal of a species. But, we, as a species, can aspire to the wrong objectives. Wrong goals for a species would include:
- Any goal that splits apart this species and any goal that kills off vast numbers of members of the species. (e.g. wars and genocides).
- Any goal that was developed in an echo chamber; any goal that is an attempt to homogenize humanity.
- Any goal that is focused on proving one group's superiority as opposed to improving the species. (e.g. going to space to prove your nation is better, not to improve humanity)
Not, if we want to pick the right goal, we need to have a species wide dialog and talk about all the things we value as a species and our dreams as a species. We need to keep talking until an idea; a goal is produce that resonates with every human soul. We need to keep talking until we have a goal "that just stands out, something that just feels right" (Dumb Little Man).
3. You Lack Consistency / Patience
So far, humanity has been doing well in space after stumbling at the end of Apollo. We have been making consistent investments in our space programs. But, I fear humanity will get bored with space again and cut all its funding. I fear education programs in place today that will benefit a spacefaring species will get slashed. Space will be vary frustrating, but we must keep at it. We can not start a pattern of short bursts in space activity because bursts will demotivate not only the public, but the hard-cord space cadets too.
4. There is No Multi-generational Plan
Transitioning an idea or a movement between generations could weaken it. I'm young, I do not understand the feelings humanity had during the first moon landings. I have not experienced the struggles that opened up the space field. I was born after the first moments of the space age. This might be a problem. Without this experience, I value the Apollo program less; I only read about Apollo, I can NEVER experience the emotions it carried. The leaders of the space movement know what space means because they all worked their butts off to get a space program up an running, but they are all old. I did not experience all the pain that the older generation went through to set up a space program. Because if this, I will never understand space as well as my seniors. This is why we need a multi-generational plan. We need something that conveys why the generation before mine struggled so much and worked so much to open up space. I need a document that conveys the feelings that Apollo generated in humanity. I need to know what the generation before me wanted to do with space; I don't know that yet. Yes, there are documents that conveys this message, but they are scattered and they are really history lessons, not a mission plan that I can follow. What my generation needs is the next step. In any goal this species takes on, the next step must be CLEARLY conveyed to the next generation.
Reactions
-Is there any other reasons humanity can fail one of its goals?
-Do we need a multi-generational plan?
-Can bursts in space activity work?
-Can we still be great if we believe we are worthless?
Resources
Photo by fireflythegreat
In Case You Skimmed
The following reasons prevents any species wide goals from being achieved:
- Being an unconfident species
- Picking the wrong goal as a species
- Not working consistently towards that goal
- Not having a multi-generational plan
