Space Resource Utilization and Extending Human Presence Across the Solar System

[6Foot2]

Link: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) - Space Resource Utilization and Extending Human Presence Across the Solar System

 

...Analysis has shown that one of the thousands of these objects (some as easily accessible in space as the Moon and Mars), 2 km dia, the size of a typical open pit mine, would cost the total global financial product of Earth for 30,000 years if we were to launch it from Earth. Beyond Mars, the belt asteroids have been calculated to contain enough materials for habitat and life to support 10 quadrillion people. Thus, the development and use of space resources enables the extension of human life through the solar system allowing humanity to move from a planetary to a solar system society...

[ICTDirect_Dave]

That was published 11 years ago, I feel we should be a bit closer to the goals by now. surely we should be testing out some 3D printed structures on the lunar surface by now?

[elsiegee40]

That was published 11 years ago, I feel we should be a bit closer to the goals by now. surely we should be testing out some 3D printed structures on the lunar surface by now?

 

On the scale if the universe, 11 earth years are no time at all...

[6Foot2]

That was published 11 years ago, I feel we should be a bit closer to the goals by now. surely we should be testing out some 3D printed structures on the lunar surface by now?

 

Just goes to show the problems with getting ideas like this off the ground...

 

[DJ-1701]

That was published 11 years ago, I feel we should be a bit closer to the goals by now...

 

We are... 11 years closer.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Whilst I'm deeply impressed by the progress made over the past decade. I'm desperate to see some sort of attempt to colonise space. If we put our minds and considerable global resources toward it. It would be attainable. We just need to set up infrastructure first.

There's no way we'll get a Babylon 5 style O'Neil Cylinder habitat without it. :-)