Space exploration has long been a cornerstone of blockbuster science fiction—from the iconic “Interstellar” to “The Martian.” Anyone captivated by the cosmos probably dreams of seeing the universe up close, not just in satellite photos. That’s part of why Elon Musk has so many followers among people who hope to see settlements on Mars and beyond in their lifetimes.
But what will human colonies beyond our home planet actually look like? The AI program Midjourney has tried to visualize them, drawing on expert opinions.
“Gates” Near Earth
David Barnhart, CEO and founder of the space company Arkisys, says human exploration of space depends on “gates” near Earth and autonomous “ports” along the routes between planets. Such structures would be built by a small group of researchers and technicians. That infrastructure would then enable the transport of most settlers to Mars and beyond.
Barnhart told the Daily Mail that the future of human space exploration largely depends on building the right infrastructure. The first step, he says, is to create “intermediate ports” stocked with supply chains, housing, grocery stores, and more.
Barnhart explains that exploration on Earth unfolded the same way. It took decades, but the pioneers were often the people who built forts, towns, and villages in new territories. These settlements allowed for the delivery of essential goods and services to support further development and to accommodate new settlers.
He believes the same approach will apply to space. Arkisys aims to build “gates”—orbital beacons that will serve travelers and spacecraft in orbit around Earth, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Way Stations to Mars in Lunar Orbit
Barnhart says NASA once considered the Moon as a site for a “gate” that would help move fuel and personnel. The original concept pictured Earth’s satellite as an intermediate station for trips to Mars.
The idea has since expanded. Plans now include space stations orbiting the Moon that would act as one of several “ports” in the system. Large antennas at those stations would keep constant communication with colonies on Mars or deeper in the solar system.
Asteroid Mining
This future industry could become one of the most lucrative. Some specialists predict the first trillionaire will be someone involved in asteroid mining.
NASA is currently tracking more than 6,000 asteroids, and estimates suggest that mining just ten of the ones closest to Earth could yield $1.5 trillion. For example, the asteroid 16 Psyche has been estimated to contain gold worth $700 quintillion.
Manned Bases on the Moon
Former NASA consultant Philip Robert Harris writes in his book “Space Enterprise” that building space stations and bases on the Moon will lay the groundwork for space infrastructure over the next 50 years. That infrastructure would support settlements in space, manned missions to Mars, and asteroid mining. Harris says the human population in space could grow to thousands this millennium—from builders of space infrastructure to space explorers.
Harris also argues that the Moon is a logical place for the first human colony beyond Earth. Earth’s satellite would offer protection from some cosmic hazards, steady solar energy, and material resources to support human activity. The Moon would also be an excellent platform for scientific research.
So far, only 12 people have set foot on the Moon.
Musk’s Starships and a Permanent Base on Mars
Last year, Elon Musk suggested that human travel to the Red Planet could happen by 2029. He plans to use his reusable Starship rockets and a fleet of Starships that “roam” between planets to help colonize Mars.
Musk says roughly 1,000 Starships will be needed to make life multi‑planetary. He argues that building a spacefaring civilization would help humanity avoid extinction risks like nuclear war.
A self‑sustaining settlement on Mars would make life multi‑planetary and significantly improve the odds of preserving civilization if a catastrophe hit Earth. A permanent Martian base would also make it easier for humans to travel even farther.
High-Tech Orbital Stations
Vivek Concherry, CEO of Graphene Space Habitat Limited, says future space stations will be built from high‑tech materials with help from robotics and artificial intelligence. His team has already created 3D models of space environments and hopes to develop this work further.
Composites reinforced with graphene would be used to build those stations. Concherry says graphene is a promising material because it’s lighter than the metals traditionally used in space and can help dissipate heat in hot areas.
Concherry notes that the structures his team creates may not be perfect. But they will let the team make reasonable assumptions, build a small prototype, and launch it into space with sensors. As he explains, some components may fail, but rapid iteration—build, test, improve—is the fastest way to learn and advance exploration.
