During the past few years, there has been a rebirth of interest in space travel. It may have been decades since the United States put a man on the moon, but now people are talking about going back. There are even some who are interested in going to Mars. Professionals, such as Mikhail Kokorich, are excited that there is a renewed interest in space travel, but it is going to look significantly different than it did in the 1960s and 70s. What should people expect when it comes to the future of space travel?
1. The Growth of Reusable Rockets
One of the reasons why space travel has ground to a halt during the past few decades is that it has become overly expensive. One of the reasons why it is expensive is that the rockets cannot be reused. Essentially, a space shuttle would go to space on a rocket, the rocket would fall from the spacecraft, and it would disintegrate in the atmosphere or fall into the ocean. Now, there are private companies that are working on reusable rockets. According to Mikhail Kokorich, this could make space travel significantly more affordable.
2. A Focus on Clearing Space Debris
Missions to space are becoming more diverse, and there are a lot of missions that are focused on cleaning up space debris. A lot of people believe that space is this infinite, vast area where it is impossible to litter “too much,” but we have a lot of space debris in orbit around our very planet. This debris orbits the planet at incredible speeds. According to Mikhail Kokorich, this space debris could pose a risk to satellites we have orbiting the planet and to the astronauts who go into space. There are a lot of space missions that are focused on cleaning up space debris.
3. A Permanent Base in Space
Finally, there are some missions that are focused on creating a permanent base in space. According to Mikhail Kokorich, there has been some discussion of creating a space elevator to make it easier to move between the Earth and near-space. There are also people who are discussing putting a permanent base on the moon. While nothing has yet been finalized, a permanent base in space could act as a launching pad between the Earth and the rest of the solar system.
An Eye on the Future of Space Travel
In the 1960s, the United States sent a man to the Moon with less computing power than most have in their pockets. According to Mikhail Kokorich, significant advances in technology will change the way space travel looks in the future. Even though it is uncertain if the United States will send a manned mission to Mars, it is something that is being discussed. Much of it will depend on how space travel unfolds in the next few years. With a lot of aspiring young professionals, there is a lot to be excited about in the world of space travel.
