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Forbes
3 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Living In Space: Why Humanity Is Expanding Beyond Earth
Shelli Brunswick is CEO & Founder of SB Global LLC and an international keynote speaker on tech used for the betterment of humanity. Each October, the global community looks upward during World Space Week (October 4-10), a United Nations-recognized celebration of space science and technology. The 2025 theme, 'Living in Space,' invites us not just to imagine life beyond Earth but to understand why we are already building toward it. The reasons are no longer speculative. From orbital factories producing high-value materials to lunar platforms enabled by in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), the use of local materials—such as lunar regolith to build infrastructure, generate fuel or produce oxygen—marks a significant shift. What was once science fiction is fast becoming an economic strategy. Living in space is now driven by clear imperatives: technological capability, commercial momentum and the long-term sustainability of life on and beyond our planet. As space becomes a domain of industry and infrastructure, living in space is no longer an aspiration; it's an emerging reality and a global necessity. Orbital Manufacturing: A New Industrial Frontier One of the most compelling reasons for living in space is the rise of orbital manufacturing. In-space production is not just a technological leap; it is an economic catalyst. Microgravity enables the fabrication of materials with unparalleled purity and performance, from advanced pharmaceuticals to next-generation semiconductors. Varda Space Industries is leading this transformation. In May 2025, its W-3 capsule landed in Australia with pharmaceutical payloads and hypersonic flight data, validating the potential of low Earth orbit as a manufacturing hub. With its W-4 mission now underway, Varda continues to test commercial pathways for scalable space-based production. Lloyd Damp, CEO of Southern Launch, Varda's reentry partner in Australia, said, 'In-space manufacturing is the next evolution of humanity's industrial capacity, and elements produced in orbit have the potential to change the course of history.' Astral Materials is pioneering high-temperature crystal-growth furnaces for space-based semiconductor manufacturing. Backed by a nonprofit accelerator that supports deep-tech startups in transforming breakthrough research into real-world impact, it tackles gravity-induced imperfections by moving crystal fabrication into orbit. The company earned a NASA contract to advance its microgravity furnace technology, which operates at temperatures exceeding 1,200 degrees Celsius. The project includes parabolic flight testing focused on silicon crystal growth, with future demonstrations planned aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and commercial space platforms. Space Forge is leading Europe's charge into orbital manufacturing with a bold vision to industrialize space. The company has developed the ForgeStar platform, a reusable, returnable satellite specifically designed for the high-temperature processing of advanced materials in orbit. These satellites are engineered to manufacture superalloys, semiconductors and optical fibers that benefit from space's unique properties: microgravity, vacuum and extreme thermal gradients. Space Forge signed strategic agreements with the European Space Agency and secured backing from the UK Space Agency to support its first in-orbit demonstration mission. Its satellite aims to test and refine the orbital production of high-value materials that are difficult to synthesize on Earth. With plans to scale into a whole fleet of ForgeStar platforms, the company is laying the foundation for a circular space economy, one where materials are manufactured, returned and reused in orbit. From Orbit To The Moon: Building Infrastructure Beyond Earth Redwire Space, formerly known as Made in Space, is a pioneer in on-orbit manufacturing and 3D printing, technologies essential to building the next generation of space habitats and infrastructure. Redwire has developed and tested manufacturing systems aboard the ISS, where microgravity presents opportunities to fabricate tools, components and structural materials directly in orbit. In 2014, Made In Space achieved a major milestone by operating the first 3D printer in space, enabling astronauts to produce parts on demand aboard the ISS. Since then, the company has advanced to more complex initiatives, including recycling plastic filament, printing medical-grade polymers and developing space-optimized materials with unique mechanical properties. These capabilities help reduce Earth dependence, enabling longer and more autonomous missions. Redwire's Archinaut program, developed under a NASA initiative, demonstrated the ability to autonomously 3D print and assemble large structures such as solar arrays and trusses in space. While the associated On-Orbit Servicing Assembly, and Manufacturing 2 (OSAM-2) mission was concluded in 2023 before an in-orbit test, the technology was successfully validated through ground-based demonstrations and continues to influence Redwire's next-generation systems. Building on this legacy, Redwire is now extending its manufacturing capabilities to the lunar surface. In 2023, the company received a $12.9 million NASA contract to develop Mason, a first-of-its-kind system to construct infrastructure on the moon using in-situ materials. Designed to fabricate landing pads, berms, roads and habitat foundations, Mason supports NASA's vision of a sustainable human presence on the moon by the end of this decade. As missions transition from brief lunar visits to long-duration footholds, ISRU will be essential to reduce reliance on Earth-based supply chains and enable self-sustaining operations. It is a cornerstone of sustainable exploration and a driver for long-term economic viability. Meanwhile, the business case for living in space continues to grow. As Mike Curtis-Rouse, head of in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing at the U.K.-based research organization Satellite Applications Catapult, notes, the global space economy could reach multiple trillions by 2035, with in-space manufacturing contributing as much as $100 billion annually. When that kind of economic gravity shifts off-Earth, habitation follows, turning living in space from a bold vision into a strategic necessity. The Purpose-Driven Space Economy Living in space is no longer a distant aspiration; it is a strategic evolution driven by innovation, economics and necessity. It reflects a powerful alignment between visionary leadership, advancing technologies and the recognition that humanity's future may depend on what we build beyond Earth. World Space Week 2025 calls us to think beyond exploration, to envision how we will live, work and thrive in space. From orbital factories and lunar infrastructure to ISRU and interplanetary logistics, space is becoming a vital extension of human civilization. This is not just exploration—it is transformation. With every breakthrough in in-space manufacturing and sustainable off-Earth operations, we move closer to a future where living in space is feasible, profitable and fundamentally human. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Forbes
19 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
3 Part-Time Remote Jobs That Pay Up To $60+/Hr In 2025
The average U.S. salary for a 40-hour working week is $62,191; but you can make this figure and even more without working full time or putting in crazy hours. You can: Or you could: And you could see earnings of $60 to even $3,000 per hour (for example, as a keynote speaker). In this article, you'll learn about a few of the best three part-time remote jobs are hiring right now. They only take a few hours or a couple days each week, so they won't consume your every waking minute. And these remote part-time jobs enable you to make the most money in the least amount of time, which means you have more freedom and flexibility to do other things, like spend time with family, start your dream business, or invest in professional development for your career. 3 Part-Time Remote Jobs That Pay Up To $50/Hr The part-time roles below may allow you to work part-time hours through the week and weekends, or the employer may request you to work full-time for only two or three days a week. Both options count as full-time, and it's up to you to negotiate and find the right employer and vacancy that fits your personal needs and works around your lifestyle. This is your moment to seize freedom and flexibility. With high demand and strong career projections for each of these remote roles, 2025 is your chance to break away from the rat race, define your working hours around your lifestyle, and enjoy your job instead of grinding to the point of burnout every day. If you found this article helpful, you'll definitely want to read this next: 18 High-Paying, Part-Time Remote Jobs For Freelancers.
