Space settlementA Stanford torus interior (cutaway view)Interior view of a large scale O'Neill cylinder, showing alternating land and window stripesA space settlement (also called a space habitat, spacestead, space city or space colony) is a settlement in outer space, sustaining more extensively habitation facilities in space than a general space station or spacecraft. Possibly including closed ecological systems, its particular purpose is permanent habitation.
Outer spaceVoid between celestial bodiesFor other uses, see Outer space (other).Being essentially empty, outer space allows the earliest (redder) galaxies to be viewed without obstruction, as in the Webb's First Deep Field image.Outer space, or simply space, is the expanse that exists beyond Earth's atmosphere and between celestial bodies.
Space lawLaw governing activities in outer spacePartial Test Ban Treaty (1963), the first international space law treaty.Space law or astrolaw is the body of law governing space-related activities, encompassing both international and domestic agreements, rules, and principles. The parameters of space law include space exploration, liability for damage, weapons use, rescue efforts, environmental preservation, information sharing, new technologies, and ethics.
Human settlementA human settlement, locality or populated place is a place where people live and carry out social, economic, political, and cultural activities. The term encompasses a broad range of inhabited environments, including hamlets, villages, towns, cities, metropolitan regions, and larger settlement systems.
Extraterrestrial settlementExtraterrestrial settlement can be any type of permanent habitation outside of Earth, beyond its space boundary, such as: Space settlementOrbital space stationCyclerInterstellar arkGeneration shipExtraterrestrial surface settlement (incl.
Space forceMilitary branch for space warfare
Geostationary orbitA geostationary orbit, also referred to as a GEO or GSO, is a circulargeosynchronous orbit 35,786 km (22,236 mi) in altitude above Earth's equator, 42,164 km (26,199 mi) in radius from Earth's center, and following the direction of Earth's rotation. An object in such an orbit has an orbital period equal to Earth's rotational period, one sidereal day, and so to ground observers it appears motionless, in a fixed position in the sky.
Common heritage of humanityThe common heritage of humanity represents all the skills and achievements of the human race which are held to be shared by all. As a principle of international law, it holds that the defined territorial areas and elements of humanity's common heritage (cultural and natural) should be held in trust for future generations and be protected from exploitation by individual nation states or corporations.
ColonizationColonization or colonisation is defined as "the act or process of sending people to live in and govern another country". The term "colonization" is sometimes used synonymously with the word "settlement". Settler colonialism is a type of colonization structured and enforced by the settlers directly, while their or their ancestors' metropolitan country (metropole) maintains a connection or control through the settler's activities.Militarisation of spaceThe militarisation of space involved the placement and development of weaponry and military technology in outer space. The early exploration of space in the mid-20th century had, in part, a military motivation, as the United States and the Soviet Union used it as an opportunity to demonstrate ballistic-missile technology and other technologies having the potential for military application.
Asteroid miningAsteroid mining is the hypothetical and technically possible extraction of materials from asteroids and other minor planets, including near-Earth objects. Research missions focused on asteroid sample return, including Hayabusa, Hayabusa2, OSIRIS-REx, and Tianwen-2, illustrate the challenges of collecting ore from space using current technology. As of 2024, around 127 grams of asteroid material have been successfully brought to Earth from space.
Astronomical objectAn astronomical object, celestial object, stellar object or heavenly object is a naturally occurring physical entity, association, or structure that exists within the universe. In astronomy, the terms object and body are often used interchangeably.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.