A new space age has begun. But how do we prevent geopolitical tensions on Earth from spilling over into space? Nayef Al-Rodhan argues that with over 200 launches taking place in 2024, the creation of the United States Space Force, and with a potential, human-manned mission to Mars upcoming, we need a new politics of space for the new space age. Al-Rodhan argues, due to the harshness of space, individual rights in space must trump the rights of nations. While ownership claims, say for Mars, cannot be made purely on the basis of who gets there first.

The idea of space colonisation is no longer confined to the realm of science fiction. Last month, NASA launched a $5.2 billion mission to explore Jupiter’s icy moon, which could have all the ingredients for life as we know it – including water, organics, chemical energy and stability. Advances in rocket technology, astronautics, astrophysics, robotics, and medicine are pushing the vision of humanity evolving into a multiplanetary species closer to reality. Some experts predict that within the next 30 years, humans may begin living in space – while NASA’s Artemis program plans to return humans to the Moon this decade to prepare for a Mars mission as early as the 2030s.

Confronted with escalating risks on Earth – from climate change and resource depletion to asteroid impacts, super-volcanoes, pandemics, and the threat of nuclear conflict – space colonisation offers an exit strategy for the survival of humankind. But what obstacles stand in our way? Can our bodies adapt to living in microgravity environments? Can humans safely conceive and give birth in space? Will space colonies foster global cooperation or turn into the next theatre of geopolitical conflicts? The path to space colonisation is not just about launching rockets – it is about ensuring we can thrive beyond our home planet. That means addressing the profound impacts of space on our biology, psychology, ethics and societal structures. How we protect the health and rights of those who venture into space will be as important as the technologies that get us there.

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In fact, humanity stands at the threshold of a transformative era, driven by disruptive technologies that not only extend our reach into space but also challenge and redefine what it means to be human.

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Anticipating the Future With New Thinking