The future of humanity is looking increasingly extraterrestrial, with some of the world's most influential tech billionaires predicting a space-based existence for us mere mortals. Dylan Taylor, founder and CEO of Voyager Technologies, joins the ranks of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Sam Altman in envisioning a not-too-distant future where we're commuting to the moon and living and working in space.
Taylor, a self-made billionaire with a diverse portfolio, has made his childhood dream a reality by investing in and founding space ventures. His latest endeavor, Voyager, is building the next-generation International Space Station and has secured NASA contracts. Taylor himself has even ventured into space, becoming the 606th human to do so.
The Moon: Our Next-Door Neighbor
Taylor believes that the moon will be our first step towards a space-based existence. He predicts that by the early 2030s, we'll have a moon base with people living and working there. This isn't just a wild speculation; Taylor points out that we already have humans working in space at the International Space Station, and the industry is actively working on scaling this up.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential for resource mining, orbital data centers, and power grid construction on the moon. Taylor believes that these jobs will require human ingenuity and cannot be fully automated by robots.
Mars: A Backup Plan, Not a New Home
While Mars has often been touted as humanity's next home, Taylor sees it as more of a backup plan. The distance and radiation levels make it a less viable option for permanent settlement, at least in the near future. He agrees with Musk's sentiment that we should diversify our options in case of a catastrophic event on Earth, but the moon, being part of our planetary system, isn't sufficient diversification.
The Adventurers Among Us
Who will be the first to venture into space and potentially settle on the moon or Mars? Taylor believes it will be those with the "adventurer gene," people who are willing to take the risk and embrace the unknown. While some may not be keen on the idea of living on Mars, Taylor sees it as an adventure, a one-way trip that might as well be exciting. He envisions a small colony on the Red Planet, but creating an entire civilization and terraforming it will take much longer.
A Space-Based Future: Reality or Pipe Dream?
Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Sam Altman have all made bold predictions about our future in space. Musk, the richest person on the planet and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has a track record of pushing the boundaries of space accessibility. Bezos, the founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, predicts that millions will be living in space by 2045, with robots commuting on our behalf. Altman, CEO of OpenAI and creator of ChatGPT, believes that within a decade, college graduates will be working exciting, well-paid jobs in space.
While these predictions might seem far-fetched, the progress and investments in space technology are undeniable. The question remains: Will we be applying for jobs and mortgages from another planet in the not-too-distant future? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the future of humanity in space is an exciting prospect that warrants further exploration and discussion.
