As I’ve mentioned in several episodes now, humanity is in a bit of a transition period, a time when it makes sense to launch material up and out of Earth’s gravity well into orbit, and beyond. But over the coming decades, more and more of our space-based infrastructure will be built in space, manufactured out of materials that were mined in space. The only thing that’ll actually need to leave the Earth’s clingy gravity well will be us, the humans, the tourists, wanting to visit all that space infrastructure. Of course, in order to achieve that space future, engineers and mission planners will need to design and construct the technology that will make this possible. https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/Audio Podcast version:ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audioWhat Fraser's Watching Playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbJ42wpShvmkjd428BcHcCEVWOjv7cJ1GWeekly email newsletter:https://www.universetoday.com/newsletterWeekly Space Hangout:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/Astronomy Cast:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSgSupport us at: http://www.patreon.com/universetodayMore stories at: http://www.universetoday.com/Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcainFollow us on Twitter: @universetodayLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetodayInstagram - https://instagram.com/universetodayTeam: Fraser Cain - @fcain / [email protected]Karla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fwChad Weber - [email protected]References:https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/07/nasas-technology-program-funds-ambitious-in-space-manufacturing-mission/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-funds-demo-of-3d-printed-spacecraft-parts-made-assembled-in-orbithttps://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4818https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-new-partnerships-to-develop-space-exploration-technologieshttps://madeinspace.us/press-releases/made-in-space-inc-completes-successful-ground-based-manufacturing-assembly-testing-for-archinaut-program/https://www.space.com/40516-made-in-space-vulcan-nasa-contract.htmlhttps://madeinspace.us/capabilities-and-technology/vulcan/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/upward3_3_book_v4_web.pdfhttps://madeinspace.us/capabilities-and-technology/plastic-recycler/