A NASA contractor and space settlement expert says the next logical move is to colonize Earth's orbit, which may be possible by 2100, The Daily Mail reported on Thursday.
Al Globus says, barring any major national disasters, there could soon be huge habitats floating around the planet by the end of the century.
Globus is a contract scientist at NASA Ames research center, and over the years has worked on the Hubble Space Telescope, the ISS and the Space Shuttle, to name a few.
But decades ago, his interest was piqued by the possibility of space settlements, leading to him setting up NASA's annual Space Settlement Contest. It challenges students to come up with designs for space colonies.
Now, he's a major proponent for living in space and believes it won't be long before people are visiting cities in Earth's orbit as readily as they travel from New York to London.
"Whether [space settlements] will happen or not is really hard to say. Whether it can happen, absolutely," Globus tells MailOnline.
He explains how our technological expertise is only going to increase, excluding an enormous catastrophe like a nuclear war.
"If we as a people decide to do it, we can do it. We have the scientific capability, financial capability, there is simply no question we can do it. If no major disaster strikes in the next few centuries, I would be astounded if we didn't do it."
Globus is a supporter of orbiting colonies, while he adds that others like SpaceX CEO Elon Musk envision a future in which humans live on Mars.
As for the actual purpose of a space settlement, Globus says it could be just like a town or city on Earth, while also providing a way for humans to expand and survive outside of Earth.
It would be "a place to live, raise your kids, where your friends and family have Thanksgiving dinner and celebrate Christmas, and visit Earth on vacation," explains Globus.
