Could Humans Be Residing in Space Within the Next 50 Years?

If everything goes according to the plan, humans could have been living in space for over two decades by the time NASA celebrates its centennial in 2058. Under President Bush's "Vision for Space Exploration" initiative, NASA announced back in 2006 that astronauts would begin work on a lunar settlement by 2020 [source: Johnson].

As billionaire pioneers like Richard Branson from Virgin and Jeff Bezos of Amazon push to make affordable space tourism a reality, NASA and potentially other global partners are working on what could be the first steps toward human space colonization. Yes, it seems sci-fi storylines might just become reality in 20 years.

Starting with brief trips and gradually progressing to longer missions, NASA estimates the lunar base could be operational by 2024 [source: Johnson]. The agency plans to launch a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to help identify the best location for the base, likely at one of the moon's poles, by October 2008 [source: NASA]. In addition to conducting space life experiments, astronauts will use the base as a springboard for a manned mission to Mars.

The $100 billion-plus initiative may face challenges, particularly when it comes to the enormous costs involved, which could become problematic on Earth.

To meet its funding requirements, NASA is winding down its space shuttle program and reallocating funds from the International Space Station. Some experts, including NASA employees, believe the manned lunar mission is an extravagant waste of money, drawing resources away from more valuable scientific endeavors. It's also uncertain whether the government can secure sufficient federal funding for such a massive project.

Since the 1970s, when NASA first explored the idea of space colonization, it's been clear that one of the biggest barriers to transporting humans from Earth to space is the lack of funding. Getting freight – and people – hundreds of miles into space costs millions, with the expense of sending just one pound to the moon around $25,000 [source: Jones].

Despite the hurdles, some see space migration as vital for the future of humanity. In 2006, the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking argued that humanity must start colonizing other planets to protect itself from the threat of asteroid impacts or nuclear warfare [source: Reuters]. If Hawking’s predictions hold true, what might these interplanetary settlements actually look like? Find out on the next page.

What Would Space Colonies Look Like?

Examining the moon's environment reveals why astronauts have found no signs of life. The temperature swings dramatically, ranging from 270 degrees Fahrenheit (132 degrees Celsius) at the equator to minus 22 to minus 58 F (minus 30 to minus 50 C) at the poles [source: Jones]. On top of that, the harsh, sharp moon dust constantly blows around, and without an atmosphere to shield from solar radiation, the environment is far from hospitable.

However, the first space settlements won't resemble extravagant McMansions. NASA's Lunar Architecture Team is still finalizing the details, but pressurized living modules – think of advanced FEMA trailers – along with durable, inflatable tent-like structures, could serve as housing for astronauts. These habitats would need to be buried or shielded by lunar soil to protect against harmful radiation.

NASA researchers are exploring solar power technology as a potential energy source. Despite the long lunar nights lasting up to 334 hours, they aim to create an energy storage system that can capture and store as much energy as possible during the sun's exposure to the lunar surface.

A space colonization plan from NASA suggests that, in the future, ordinary people, not just highly-trained astronauts, could live on rotating spacecraft orbiting Earth [source: NASA Space Settlements]. By spinning the spacecraft while in orbit, artificial gravity would be generated, enabling proper human development. Given the recent advancements in cost-effective reusable space vehicles, which are accelerating the space tourism sector, NASA predicts that such livable spacecraft could be a reality within 50 years [source: NASA Space Settlements].

Similar to the lunar base, the biggest hurdle for livable spacecraft is cost. Private spaceflights to orbit currently charge around $20 million for a single passenger. Beyond the expense of reaching space, settling in outer space requires starting from the ground up. Humans cannot survive without the Earth's atmosphere, and the deadly solar heat poses a major threat. We would need to construct our own safe, oxygenated environments to endure.

In the coming decade, we should have a clearer understanding of whether these space ambitions will come to fruition. If funding for the lunar base project continues and private space tourism ventures advance, the dream of space neighborhoods may soon be within reach.

To learn more about space travel, check out the links provided below.