The 21st century will be a fantastic time to be alive. Humanity will have colonized the solar system, and we will be on the cusp of discovering alien life forms. But the most exciting thing of all is that everyone will become spacefaring! Here are five reasons why.
Solved the energy crisis
The energy crisis is one of the biggest problems that humanity currently faces. But by the 25th century, humans will have solved it. The world would have developed new clean, and unlimited renewable energy sources. This will allow people to power their homes, cities, and spaceships without damaging the environment. Interestingly enough, there are various ways people can power their lives without using fossil fuels. Here are some of those alternatives.
Solar Energy
One of the cleanest and most renewable forms of energy is solar energy. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, which can be used to power homes and businesses. With the advent of nanotechnology, solar panels have become more efficient and cheaper to produce. There are now even solar-powered cars!
Wind Energy
Another renewable energy source that is becoming increasingly popular is wind energy. Wind turbines capture the wind’s kinetic energy and convert it into electricity. Wind energy is a very clean and sustainable form of energy that can be used to power homes and businesses.
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the conversion of kinetic energy (energy in motion) into electrical energy by means of a turbine and generator. Hydroelectric dams are built across rivers, and the flowing water turns turbines that generate electricity. Hydroelectricity is a very clean and sustainable form of energy that can be used to power homes, businesses, and even entire cities!
New Technologies
With new sources of energy come new technologies. For example, people would have developed vehicles that can run on clean energy, making space travel more efficient. And with 3D printing technology, we’ll be able to print out everything we need for our space ventures, from food to shelter to clothes. The world would also have developed better technologies for space travel. Here are some of the advanced technologies for space travel people now use today.
Advanced RAM
RAMs are crucial for calculating real-time data, which is essential for space navigation. However, it is susceptible to radiation, especially regarding space travel. Thankfully, there are now robust RAMs for aerospace applications. These RAMs come with features that make them more resistant to radiation. Additionally, they have more space and calculating power than the previous generations of RAMs.
Ion Thrusters
Ion thrusters are electric propulsion systems that use ions to create thrust. They are much more efficient than chemical rockets and can be used for long-distance space travel. Additionally, they produce minimal pollution.
Fusion Reactors
Fusion reactors are the power plant that uses nuclear fusion to generate electricity. They are cleaner and more efficient than traditional nuclear reactors. Additionally, they produce no carbon emissions. The U.S. plans to use them for its warships in the sea and eventually on spacefaring ships in the future. It is unknown when humans will be able to perfect this technology, but experts believe it’s much sooner than most people think.
With these new technologies, space travel would be more accessible and less damaging to the environment.
Mining Resources From Asteroids
Asteroids are rich in rare minerals and metals essential for many industries here on Earth. In the future, we’ll be able to mine these resources from asteroids, making space travel even more profitable for everyone involved. Here’s how humanity can eventually do that:
Identifying Asteroids
Currently, NASA can only identify about 10% of near-Earth asteroids. However, new technologies are being developed that can help us find more asteroids. For example, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will be able to scan the sky for asteroids.
Nudging Asteroids
Once we’ve identified an asteroid, humanity needs to nudge it closer to Earth. This can be done by using a spacecraft to give the asteroid a slight push. However, explosives might also be used, but the math behind it must be perfect. NASA is currently experimenting with this idea, but it’s starting by pushing asteroids away instead of toward Earth.
Mining Asteroids
Once the asteroids are closer to Earth, humanity can start mining them for their resources. This can be done by sending robots or humans to do the job.
With these new technologies, we’ll be able to mine resources from asteroids, making space travel more profitable.
The future of space exploration is looking bright! In just a few short years, everyone will be able to become spacefaring, thanks to new technologies and advancements in clean energy sources. Soon enough, humanity will be a spacefaring civilization and one that can live on other planets in the distant future.
