Scientists propose that humans could inhabit floating space colonies in less than 100 years. Would you want to be one of the first?
Ever since gaining the ability to leave earth’s surface and travel to space, humans have dreamed of travelling the stars and colonizing other planets. While this may be a goal for the future, some scientists theorize that the first step ought to be to colonize earth’s orbit. An idea replicated over and over in science fiction, they suggest that humans might inhabit huge colonies of connected space stations and ships, and that we might be able to do so by 2100.
Ever since gaining the ability to leave earth’s surface and travel to space, humans have dreamed of travelling the stars and colonizing other planets. While this may be a goal for the future, some scientists theorize that the first step ought to be to colonize earth’s orbit. An idea replicated over and over in science fiction, they suggest that humans might inhabit huge colonies of connected space stations and ships, and that we might be able to do so by 2100.
Humans already live in space; astronauts have lived on the ISS (International Space Station) for decades. Science fiction authors and futurologists have predicted for centuries that man would someday inhabit towns and cities hurtling through space, but why not orbiting around good old Earth? Massive floating architecture could be constructed to house millions of people that float gently in earth’s orbit. Scientists propose that near-earth colonies could solve many of mankind’s looming problems.
Overcrowding, pollution, climate collapse, all are huge problems on the horizon caused by there being just too many people on one tiny planet. The most logical conclusion is thus to expand outward. “Space cities” on a massive scale have been imagined as humanity’s savior. "Whether [space settlements] will happen or not is really hard to say. Whether it can happen, absolutely" says NASA scientist Dr. Al Globus in an interview. “We could have the first space settlement in decades, certainly less than a century.”
With rapid advances in materials, spaceships, robots, and artificial intelligence, the dream is slowly becoming a reality. Constructed by robots in orbit, the
cities would take years to build, but could house
millions of people, and if supported by space agriculture endeavors, could feed them too.
Would you jump at the opportunity to live in a space colony? Reply in the comments!
-Nicholas Farrell, Editor-in-Chief
Overcrowding, pollution, climate collapse, all are huge problems on the horizon caused by there being just too many people on one tiny planet. The most logical conclusion is thus to expand outward. “Space cities” on a massive scale have been imagined as humanity’s savior. "Whether [space settlements] will happen or not is really hard to say. Whether it can happen, absolutely" says NASA scientist Dr. Al Globus in an interview. “We could have the first space settlement in decades, certainly less than a century.”
With rapid advances in materials, spaceships, robots, and artificial intelligence, the dream is slowly becoming a reality. Constructed by robots in orbit, the
cities would take years to build, but could house
millions of people, and if supported by space agriculture endeavors, could feed them too.
Would you jump at the opportunity to live in a space colony? Reply in the comments!
-Nicholas Farrell, Editor-in-Chief