Humanity has entered a new age of space exploration. By the end of this decade, astronauts will be back on the Moon, and plans are already underway to send future crewed missions to Mars. A Future Spacefaring Society assembles renowned researchers and professionals from the space industry to discuss the major milestones ahead. Together, they take us through the wide-ranging innovations, technologies, and capabilities that will be required for any sustainable presence in space.

The book is divided into three key sections. It begins with Entering the Golden Age of Space Exploration, outlining current plans to return to the Moon and send humans to Mars, as well as our science objectives, the role of commercial space efforts, and national security. The second section on Creating Sustainability in Space discusses the technologies necessary to make human life self-sufficient beyond Earth, and ongoing experiments that are aiding this effort. Finally, the third section on Achieving Civilization in Space examines such topics as tourism and hospitality, commerce, art and music, human reproduction, education, design and aesthetics, law, sports and entertainment, and many other elements necessary for a stable society off Earth.

With wide-ranging contributions from experts across these topics, A Future Spacefaring Society provides an overview of the extraordinary steps and people required to make sustained life in space a reality.

Table of Contents

1. Front Matter, pages i-xxviii 
   Forward — Achieving a Star Trek Future - Sian "Leo" Proctor, pages v-vii
   Introduction, pages ix-xiii
      I. Current Reality: Transportation, Science, Commercial and Security
     II. Sustainability and Permanence
    III. Life, Leisure, and Stability
    Summation

2. Entering the Golden Age of Space Exploration Front Matter, pages 1-2
   Pioneering a New World Through Science: The Journey to a Permanent Human Civilization on Mars - James L. Green, pages 3-19
   Transportation Architectures - Humphrey (Hoppy) Price, pages 21-33
   The Private Sector in Space - Jeff Foust, pages 35-43
   A Joining of Nations: Internationalism in Space - Rod Pyle, pages 45-50
   Building a Strategically Proactive U.S. Space Force: The Key for a Free and Open Cis-Lunar Region - Christopher Stone, pages 51-66

3. Creating Sustainability in Space Front Matter, pages 67-69
   Power Hungry in Space - Joe Cassady, pages 71-86
   In Situ Resource Utilization: Living off the Land - Robert W. Moses, Dennis M. Bushnell, pages 87-108
   The Future of Life Support: Long-Duration Life Support: A Condensed Overview - Grant Allan Anderson, pages 109-132
   Space Food: The Intersection of Agriculture and Life Support - Scot Bryson, pages 133-153
   No Cows on Mars: A Vignette - Chris Carberry, pages 155-156
   The Future of Medicine, Health and Wellness in Space - Shawna Pandya, pages 157-177
   The Gravity of Gravity: A Vignette - Chris Carberry, pages 179-181
   Deep Space Communications - Scott Burleigh, pages 183-197
   Humans, AI, and Robots Oh My! - Peggy Wu, pages 199-210
   Synthetic Biology - Tiffany J. Vora, pages 211-226
   Advanced Computing and Space Exploration - Naeem Altaf, pages 227-231
   Faster Than Light Communication… Through Music - Sam Burbank, pages 233-240

4. Achieving Civilization in Space Front Matter, pages 241-242
   Planetary Surface Construction: Creating Habitats and Infrastructure on the Moon and Mars - Melodie Yashar, pages 243-259
   Producing Mega-Power for Future Space Settlement: A Vignette - Joe Cassady, pages 261-261
   A Martian Education: Martians in Mind, Designing Educational Theory for the Red Planet - Janet Ivey Duensing, pages 263-271
   Space Law 20–40 Years Hence (2040–2060) - Henry R. Hertzfeld, pages 273-284
   Expanding Conviviality and Human Culture into Space: An Essay - Octave de Gaulle, pages 285-290
   Reproduction in Space: In Context to Mars Travel and Deep Space Exploration - Sumbal Mushtaq, Gabriella Hakim, Jessica D’Urbano, pages 291-306
   The Gravity of Sports in Space - Justin Park, pages 307-315
   Lunatics and Martians Make Beautiful Music: A Vignette - Chris Carberry, pages 317-319
   Will Settling Space Lead to the Evolution of a New Human Species? - Scott Solomon, pages 321-331

5. The End of the Extended Beginning, pages 333-339

About the Editor

Published in 2026, Editor Chris Carberry is the CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit space advocacy. In this role, he has overseen Explore Mars’ annual Humans to Mars Summit, the largest annual conference focused on sending humans to Mars, and has spearheaded dozens of programs, projects, and outreach efforts. Prior to joining Explore Mars, Carberry served as Executive Director of The Mars Society.