Space Habitats: The Megastructures We’ll Call Home

[music] [music] [music] >> What if the future of humanity is not >> What if the future of humanity is not >> What if the future of humanity is not living on other worlds, but learning how living on other worlds, but learning how living on other worlds, but learning how to build better ones? to build better ones? to build better ones? >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> The dream of space colonization usually >> The dream of space colonization usually >> The dream of space colonization usually begins with planets. Mars, the moon, begins with planets. Mars, the moon, begins with planets. Mars, the moon, Venus, maybe Titan if you're feeling Venus, maybe Titan if you're feeling Venus, maybe Titan if you're feeling ambitious and have a very warm coat. ambitious and have a very warm coat. ambitious and have a very warm coat. Planets are where our civilization Planets are where our civilization Planets are where our civilization began, but they may not be where most began, but they may not be where most began, but they may not be where most civilizations live. Planets are big, civilizations live. Planets are big, civilizations live. Planets are big, heavy, awkward gravity wells wrapped in heavy, awkward gravity wells wrapped in heavy, awkward gravity wells wrapped in weather, geology, politics, and whatever weather, geology, politics, and whatever weather, geology, politics, and whatever local inconveniences nature feels like local inconveniences nature feels like local inconveniences nature feels like leaving there. leaving there. leaving there. Space habitats let us do something very Space habitats let us do something very Space habitats let us do something very different. Instead of moving to worlds different. Instead of moving to worlds different. Instead of moving to worlds we find, we build the worlds we want. we find, we build the worlds we want. we find, we build the worlds we want. Mobile worlds that can move if you and Mobile worlds that can move if you and Mobile worlds that can move if you and your neighbors or former countrymen no your neighbors or former countrymen no your neighbors or former countrymen no longer see eye to eye. longer see eye to eye. longer see eye to eye. Most space habitats are not ideally laid Most space habitats are not ideally laid Most space habitats are not ideally laid out to be spaceships, but slap on an out to be spaceships, but slap on an out to be spaceships, but slap on an engine or hire a tug and then go engine or hire a tug and then go engine or hire a tug and then go anywhere. anywhere. anywhere. >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> Indeed, that's the entire idea of an >> Indeed, that's the entire idea of an >> Indeed, that's the entire idea of an interstellar arc ship or generation interstellar arc ship or generation interstellar arc ship or generation ship. And that raises a simple question ship. And that raises a simple question ship. And that raises a simple question with a very complicated answer. What with a very complicated answer. What with a very complicated answer. What counts as a space habitat? counts as a space habitat? counts as a space habitat?