In the next one to two decades, the number of humans in space is predicted to double that number.
The 20 cosmonauts were both in space on Friday, January 26 2024. A total of 11 people were on the International Space Station (ISS), consisting of seven cosmonauts from the Expedition 70 mission and four private cosmonauts from the Ax- 3.
Apart from them, there are three Chinese taikonauts on the Tiangong space station and six tourists on Virgin Galactic’s Virgin Space Ship (VSS) Unity spacecraft.
Those on the ISS consisted of 2 United States astronauts, 3 Russian cosmonauts and 2 other astronauts, each representing Japan and the European Union. Their delivery to the ISS was coordinated by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos.
Also read: Hibernating Humans for Space Travel and Medical Treatment
Meanwhile, four people from the Ax-3 mission were private astronauts who flew to the ISS with private support, not funded by the state. They are former NASA astronauts who became mission leaders and consist of astronauts from Italy, Turkey and the European Union.
NASA TV
Four private astronauts from the Ax-3 program (dark clothes in the front row) take a photo with seven astronauts on duty at the International Space Station (ISS) on January 20, 2024. The private astronauts were sent to the ISS with private support since mid-January and successfully landed on Earth on Friday (9/2/2024).
Just like other cosmonauts, they are also involved in a number of experiments on the ISS, especially those related to developing cosmonaut training programs for the future.
The private astronaut was sent into space by the private company Axiom Space, which is based in Houston, USA. They launched into space on January 18, 2024 and arrived at the ISS two days later. They returned from the ISS on February 7 and on Friday (9/2/2024) landed back on Earth.
In the next one to two decades, the number of humans in space is predicted to double that number.
Meanwhile, the six space tourists on VSS Unity consist of two pilots and four passengers who are members of the Galactic06 mission. They don’t live on a space station, but fly in a suborbital plane that reaches an altitude of 88 kilometers (km). This aircraft is capable of reaching outer space, but not orbiting the Earth.
In contrast to private astronauts who are still conducting research on the ISS, tourists on VSS Unity fly just to experience the sensation of being weightless for a few minutes. To be able to enjoy this experience, each passenger must pay 450,000 US dollars or around Rp. 7 billion.
NASA
Artist’s concept of human colonization of Mars. Even though Mars has air, humans cannot breathe. Apart from that, even though it looks bright, daytime temperatures on Mars are also too cold for humans. As a result, they still have to wear special clothing when doing outdoor activities.
However, the flying height of Virgin Calactic’s aircraft has faced pros and cons since its launch. According to NASA and US military standards, the boundary between Earth and outer space is at an altitude of 80 kilometers. Meanwhile, the international community uses the “Kármán line” at an altitude of 100 km as the outer space boundary.
Also read: Investigation of Mars’ Past Life Begins
This latest record, according to Space, Friday (9/2/2024), broke the Guinness Record for the largest number of people in space at one time.
The previous record was that 19 people were in space at once on December 11 2021. At that time, Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital aircraft managed to carry six tourists at an altitude of more than 100 km for about 10 minutes.
However, if measured based on the number of humans who have successfully orbited the Earth, the largest record will occur in May 2023. This limit is considered more meaningful because sending humans to orbit the Earth requires much more effort, greater funds, and of course more prime physical condition.
In May 2023, there will be 17 humans orbiting Earth, consisting of 11 cosmonauts on the ISS and two groups of Chinese taikonauts on Tiangong, each consisting of three cosmonauts. The existence of two groups of astronauts at Tiangong occurred due to an exchange of crew members on duty at the space station.
Future
The greatest human record in space, whatever its limitations, seems very small. However, this increase is very significant considering that we are currently still in the early stages of developing a space tourism program or the initial phase of sending private astronauts to the ISS.
NASA
Artist’s depiction of the first human colonization of Mars. This concept shows the mission of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to bring a number of technologies to help the first humans on Mars colonize Mars more easily and safely.
At least the dream of being able to send more humans into space has become a reality. “The number of these astronauts will look very small in 10-15 years from now,” writes Space.
Currently, a number of private space stations are being built. In addition, the US and China are developing technology to develop human colonization on the Moon which is expected to occur in the next decade. These various programs will allow more humans to be in space for a while.
The progress of sending humans into space was also followed by various technological leaps. A number of institutions are developing large launch rockets capable of sending humans to the Moon and Mars.
Various aviation vehicles continue to be developed. In addition, humans’ ability to travel between planets for longer periods of time also continues to be tested.
Also read: Japan and the UAE do not want to lose in the exploration mission to the moon
Various human efforts to explore space further are made because they believe that space is the future of Earth’s humans.
Space does not only promise a new place that can support human life when the Earth’s carrying capacity continues to decline or provide abundant mineral resources. Space exploration promises benefits beyond that.
NASA
Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft launched from the Wallops Launch Facility in Virginia, United States, on November 7, 2022.
Outer space provides new frontiers for exploration and adventure to the development of thought and freedom of expression. Space encourages humans to continue to innovate and think about many things, including ethical issues.
Because of this, a number of experts say that now is a transition period from human civilization bound to Earth to a space-faring civilization.
This dream also made a number of developed countries compete to land and build colonies near the south pole of the Moon. However, that is not the final goal. The Moon will only be a stepping stone for humans to arrive and “subdue” Mars, which has much greater challenges.
As written by Livescience, February 5 2024, humans will begin to spread to various corners of the Solar System in the not too distant future.
This dispersal is not just a temporary stopover, but the ultimate goal is to form human colonies in new worlds and discover new resources that can be used to support the development of Earth.
If the baby boomers and previous generations were able to witness the first human landing on the Moon in 1969, then future generations are predicted to witness the development of the first human colonization on the Moon, Mars, and possibly an asteroid.
However, as the only planet in the Solar System that has life, at least until now Earth cannot be abandoned. Therefore, humans will defend and protect it even though the threats are increasingly difficult due to increasing population and environmental damage.
TWITTER/SPACEX
The four astronauts who were the first passengers on the full operation of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft sat in the capsule ready to be launched. They were launched from Kennedy Spaceport, Florida, United States, Sunday (11/15/2020) evening local time, and stayed on the ISS to carry out a number of research.
Efforts to pursue space have made humans aware of the need to protect the Earth. Therefore, amidst the pros and cons in many developed countries that space exploration is a waste of budget, in fact space exploration encourages humans not only to develop, but also to maintain humanity.
2024-02-10 02:06:52
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