Jeff Bezos says space exploration is needed to 'save the Earth'

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Jeff Bezos wants to colonize space in order to 'save the Earth.' 

At Amazon's inaugural Re:MARS conference in Las Vegas, Bezos broke down how his rocket company, Blue Origin, could play a major role in the future of space exploration. 

Bezos recently unveiled Blue Origin's lunar lander, which is a key component of the company's plans to conduct space missions and explore the moon's surface. 

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The comments came during an interview with Jenny Freshwater, Amazon's director of forecasting. 

The interview was briefly disrupted by an animal rights protester, Priya Sawhney of Direct Action Everywhere, who grilled Bezos on the treatment of chickens at Amazon-affiliated farms, before being briskly whisked off stage.   

During the talk, Freshwater asked Bezos why Blue Origin is focused on returning to the moon. 

'The reason we go to space in my view is to save the Earth,' Bezos explained, according to TechCrunch.   

'We are going to grow this civilization - and I'm talking about something that our grandchildren will work on - and their grandchildren. 

'This isn't something that this generation is going to be able to accomplish. But we need to move heavy industry off Earth,' he added. 

However, in order to explore space, humans will need to develop the necessary infrastructure, Bezos said. 

In the future, he believes Blue Origin could supply the infrastructure that serves as the backbone for space missions. 

Infrastructure is 'expensive,' but with these systems in place, ventures have a higher chance for success.