The ultimate goal of space exploration is space settlement: sending humans to live permanently beyond the cradle of Earth’s atmosphere. People often assume that permanent settlement is many decades in the future. This need not be the case. There are many things we can do right now that would dramatically accelerate the pace of space settlement. With the right policy and technological choices attendees at NewSpace 2012 could well be among the first to live permanently in free space, on the moon and even on Mars.

Presenters: Bob Werb
Rick Tumlinson