Space colonization

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Space colonization is the process of establishing human settlements beyond Earth for prestige, commercial or strategic benefit,^[3] in contrast to space exploration for scientific benefit. Colonialism in this sense is multi-dimensional, including the exploitation of labor, resources and rights.

While there have been initiatives to start space colonization programs in the past, none have been feasible due to the extreme cost of space launch. As reusable launch systems are becoming the norm in the 2020s, launch cost will decrease and colonization projects will become feasible. Space colonization is likely to begin with the establishment of a lunar base with either United States's Artemis Base Camp or China's International Lunar Research Station.^[3] While SpaceX, the main launch provider for NASA, has expressed interest in establishing a Mars base, SpaceX is currently contracted to perform lunar landings for the Artemis program and has no detailed plans for a Mars base.^[4] The first entity to have a Moon base will have an immense first-mover advantage to the point of shaping human history and geopolitics in the 21st century. However, collaboration can also be extremely beneficial to all entities.^[3]

In the near term, the Moon is believed to contain various types of metal and rare earth metals, which can be mass-extracted in space without causing environmental damage on Earth. Space manufacturing would allow human organs to be 3D printed and exotic pharmaceuticals to be produced which have the potential to improve healthcare. However, the great potential of space colonization would be the many unknown technological, economic and societal advancements that can be made with space bases.^[3] Once lunar or Mars-based infrastructure is sufficiently well-developed, other bodies in the Solar System could be subject to human colonization and exploitation, making humans a multiplanetary species.^[5]

Space colonization is an important topic in academic debates across many disciplines. Space colonization will ensure human survival in case of a planetary disaster and accessing space resources to expand society, but it could also benefit the ruling class like traditional colonialism and worsen existing problems like war, economic inequality, and environmental damage.^[6][7][8] There has been calls to halt space colonization process before major social issues are solved,^[9] but the momentum of United States and Chinese space program have made this less viable.