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.