Buzz
Humans have already set foot on the Moon and sent rovers to Mars, and we are nearing the point where a Voyager probe could leave our solar system. But this is only the beginning.
As scientific progress continues, it seems that the astonishing spacesuits, spacecraft, and colonies once imagined in science fiction could be closer to becoming a reality than we ever thought.
10. A Buzz Lightyear Space Suit
The space suit worn by Toy Story hero Buzz Lightyear has inspired NASA, leading to the creation of the upcoming Z1 spacesuit. This suit, designed for deep space missions, represents NASA’s first major upgrade to its astronaut uniforms in nearly two decades.
The Z1 suit features a new hatchback design that allows the wearer to easily step in from behind, eliminating the complex process of putting on older suits. The rear hatch can also attach to spaceships and space stations, allowing the wearer to literally jump into space. NASA has yet to confirm whether the suit will include pop-up wings or an arm-mounted laser gun.
9. Commercial Space Travel
Commercial space travel has been on the horizon ever since humanity first ventured beyond Earth's atmosphere. Virgin Galactic, a division of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, is currently working on developing its own fleet of commercial spaceships. These spacecraft are designed to be much more futuristic in appearance compared to the ships used by NASA or Roscosmos (the Russian Space Agency).
Virgin Galactic's spacecraft will be launched into space from a large, dual-hull aircraft serving as a mother ship. The flights will be suborbital, which means you'll get to visit space, but only for a few minutes at most.
8. A Mars Colony
Elon Musk, the founder of PayPal, has shifted his successful focus towards space. His space transportation company, SpaceX, collaborates with NASA and is the first private company to deliver supplies to the International Space Station.
But Musk has even grander ambitions: his long-term vision involves beginning the colonization of Mars. He doesn't just plan a research station like those in Antarctica; instead, he aims to establish a self-sustaining colony of more than 80,000 people, which surpasses the entire population of Bermuda.
Although the required technology is still under development, Musk has already calculated the cost of his ambitious project. Surprisingly, it's quite affordable: it could be launched with just $36 billion. While that may sound like a lot, consider that the 2012 US military budget was $683.7 billion. This is good news for us: a ticket from Earth to Mars might cost as little as $500,000. Musk has not yet mentioned the cost of a return ticket, though.
7. A NASA Moon Base
A moon base would be the first thing we'd construct if we had the opportunity to explore space. It's surprising, then, that no one has actually built one yet.
However, this inconvenient reality might soon change. In fact, we could even get something better: a base on the far side of the moon, the side that faces away from Earth. NASA has plans to station a manned craft at a Lagrangian point known as 'L2'—an area on the moon's far side where the gravitational forces of Earth and the moon balance each other out.
In addition to facilitating efficient exploration and offering the crew a perfect opportunity to practice their Bond villain laugh, the L2 station would serve as a crucial base for future manned missions to Mars.
6. Space Fighters
A robotic craft named the 'X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle' has recently returned from a mysterious fifteen-month testing mission in low Earth orbit. The details of its mission remain highly classified, which is all the more intriguing given that the X-37B is not a NASA vehicle, but rather a military craft.
US Air Force officials have refused to comment on the X-37B, except to confirm that its mission, whatever it was, was a resounding success. This lack of clarity leaves room for speculation: the ship could be designed for spy operations, a space bomber, or even a cargo shuttle for space stations. Its released specifications suggest it could be any of these, or perhaps all of them.
5. Space Lasers
Almost every space opera includes some form of laser. They provide such a striking visual and instantly signal that the action is set in the future—but it turns out that these futuristic weapons might only be a few decades away.
The US Strategic Command is actively researching space laser weaponry. In the vacuum of space, lasers would have an incredible range and travel at the speed of light. In fact, scientists have already identified the ideal candidates for space weapons: chemical lasers and particle beams. Martians, take note.
4. Space Robots
NASA researchers are no strangers to robotics. From the Mars Rover to various other devices, robots are a key part of their work. But there's one glaring omission: the humanoid space robot.
The Robonaut program aims to address this gap. A joint project between NASA and Darpa, it has already produced four different space robots and is working on more. These robots are humanoid in design, capable of performing a variety of tasks with impressive strength and dexterity. With no fixed legs, they are perfect for confined space station environments. On a planetary surface, they can be securely attached to modules and vehicles by the waist.
At least one robonaut is already operational. It began its work aboard the International Space Station in early 2013.
3. A Warp Drive
A warp drive is a propulsion system that allows you to travel far faster than the speed of light by manipulating the very fabric of time and space. It’s the technology that made it possible for the Starship Enterprise to boldly venture into uncharted territories.
Those who create space technology are often big fans of Sci-Fi adventures, and many are eager to see if life can indeed imitate art. In 2012, a NASA research team revealed that they are working on a warp drive similar to the one seen in Star Trek.
They already have several concepts in mind, such as wormholes and negative mass propulsion, for how they might eventually make warp drives a reality. The most prominent idea at the moment is based on a 1994 theory by Miguel Alcubierre, which proposes 'expanding' the fabric of space behind a ship and 'contracting' the space ahead, allowing the ship to move forward as if it were riding an immense conveyor belt.
2. Teleportation
Science has recently focused on teleportation, which means space travelers might one day be able to explore planets without needing to land their spacecraft.
In fact, a form of teleportation already exists—though it’s on a much smaller scale. Known as quantum teleportation, this process separates tiny particles from their quantum states and transports them from one place to another. While it can’t move actual matter, so humans or even flies can’t be teleported yet, it’s a remarkable breakthrough for something that was once considered entirely impossible.
For a fun fact, the current record for successful quantum teleportation stands at eighty-nine miles (143 km).
1. Suspended Animation
One of the major challenges of long-duration space travel is the immense amount of time it takes to reach distant destinations. In science fiction, this issue is often solved by placing characters in suspended animation for the journey.
Scientists believe this concept could be viable and are currently exploring ways to safely induce suspended animation. A possible method involves cryostasis, where the body is frozen. However, it’s not without challenges—research suggests that for successful cryostasis, the blood would need to be removed or replaced with a chilled saline solution.
Another potential approach is chemically-induced hibernation, which would convert you into a cold-blooded state (similar to how bears hibernate in winter—minus the chemicals). There’s speculation that humans might already have this ability, and scientists are working on unlocking the process.
