I think that space colonization is not on any critical tech paths. In a bit we will probably invent molecular nanotech or superintelligence, and then the game changes. Until then, it doesn’t really matter if we expand into space or not. We probably won’t get far with current tech, compared with what happens with those techs. I suspect that any attempt at space colonization without enough tech will do little more than fill science news columns. If the ISS had never been made, humanity would be in roughly the same position.
I think that space colonization is not on any critical tech paths. In a bit we will probably invent molecular nanotech or superintelligence, and then the game changes. Until then, it doesn’t really matter if we expand into space or not. We probably won’t get far with current tech, compared with what happens with those techs. I suspect that any attempt at space colonization without enough tech will do little more than fill science news columns. If the ISS had never been made, humanity would be in roughly the same position.
SpaceX does develop radically different tech then current tech with their Starship.
The ability to grow crystals better in zero g might help with developing molecular nanotech.