Could Trying to Inhabit Another Planet be a Better Way of Gleaning?

If the gleaning of humans had to happen, wouldn't it be better to put those lives to something that bettered humanity? As mentioned in the books, the jobs people were doing were not necessarily furthering the human race. Wouldn't trying to expand to space be a much better way of gleaning people? Since it appears that most of the failed space missions were self-inflicted, in there was a human error or malicious intent of humans. I think trying to explore space and find a more habitable planet would be a much better use of those lives. If this could happen, then one day they may have a future where there is no longer a need for the Scythedom. Those are just my thoughts, feel free to discuss below.