Baby Steps

Abstract

The first obstacle to overcome in large-scale space colonization is represented by the elevated costs of launching payloads into Earth’s orbit. The main reasonable solution is using non-rocket space launch methods, which are rather numerous. In the long term, an even more efficient approach is investing in megastructures, such as stratospheric towers, space elevators or orbital rings, that would dramatically ease our access to space, while also allowing us to harness the energy in Earth’s atmosphere. Another strategy to support the space race is to make it profitable through space mining. Asteroids and planets host huge deposits of valuable ores, water and fuels, while technical solutions for extraction are already at our ease.<br>