Human outpost

{{Short description|Human habitats located in environments inhospitable for humans}}

{{Other uses|Outpost (disambiguation){{!}}Outpost}}

Human outposts{{Cite news |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091004020806.htm |title='Trash Can' Nuclear Reactors Could Power Human Outpost On Moon Or Mars |date=October 4, 2009 |work=ScienceDaily}}{{cite news | url = https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-03-04-lunar-outposts_x.htm | work=USA Today | first=Leonard | last=David | title=NASA goes lunar: Robot craft, human outpost plans | date=4 March 2004}}{{Cite news |url=http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=CB21C80A-17A4-0F78-3174039834A1E181 |title=Ice, mineral-rich soil could support human outpost on Mars |first=Sharon |last=Gaudin |date=27 June 2008 |work=IDG News Service}}[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:BoCLnaClDwIJ:www.spacegeneration.org/files/images/MMWFILES/ISRU_presentation.pdf+human+outpost&hl=en&gl=ca&sig=AHIEtbR531BikZhNPCsx08s2KFYV1WbArg Resource Utilization Concepts for MoonMars]; ByIris Fleischer, Olivia Haider, Morten W. Hansen, Robert Peckyno, Daniel Rosenberg and Robert E. Guinness; 30 September 2003; IAC Bremen, 2003 (29 Sept – 03 Oct 2003) and MoonMars Workshop (26-28 Sept 2003, Bremen). Accessed on 18 January 2010 are artificially-created, controlled human habitats located in environments inhospitable for humans, such as on the ocean floor, in the Antarctic, in outer space, or on another planet, as in the challenges to live on Mars.

The logistics and difficulties inherent in such ventures have been heavily explored in science fiction.

Outposts by environment

=Polar=

{{Further|List of research stations in the Arctic|List of northernmost settlements|Research stations in Antarctica}}

Polar research stations have been built and advanced by many states and for many purposes. For more see the articles about research stations in Antarctica and Arctic drifting ice stations.

=Under sea=

NASA trains astronauts in an underwater habitat, to simulate living and working in the International Space Station. They conduct scientific research on the human body and coral reefs, and build undersea structures to simulate space station assembly spacewalk tasks. The program is also being used to study how isolation affects human behaviour, to prepare for the first human outposts on the Moon and Mars.{{Cite news |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/06/030617082001.htm |title=Astronaut Leads Aquanauts On Aquarius Undersea Mission |date=June 17, 2003 |work=ScienceDaily}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/2003/j03-71.html |work=NASA News |date=June 25, 2003 |title=First Space Station Science Officer to Lead NASA Undersea Crew}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060509174603.htm |title=In Undersea Habitat, Aquanauts Learn About Teamwork And Task Performance For The Moon And Mars |date=May 9, 2006 |work=ScienceDaily}}

=Outer space=

{{See also|Human presence in space|Human spaceflight|Space station|Bioastronautics|Lunar lava tube}}

The Salyut 1 space station in low Earth orbit was the first human outpost in space. The International Space Station and Tiangong space station are the two functional human outposts in space, after China de-orbited its Tiangong-2 in 2019.

NanoRacks, after finalizing its contract with NASA, and after winning NextSTEPs Phase II award, is now developing its concept Independence-1 (previously known as Ixion), the first 'outpost' in NanoRacks' Space Outpost Program, which would turn spent rocket tanks into a habitable living area, often known as a wet workshop.

Planning and design for Lunar{{Cite news |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090225132353.htm |title=Small Robots Can Prepare Lunar Surface For NASA Outpost |date=March 2, 2009 |work=ScienceDaily}} and Martian outposts is underway.

In fiction

Human outposts in other worlds are a common motif in science fiction, whether established and occupied solely by humans or in cooperation – or competition – with alien species. The setting may be another planet, Earth-like or otherwise; or a spaceship large enough to house a city.

Similar concepts

{{annotated link|Research station}}
{{annotated link|Observatory}}
{{annotated link|Space habitat}}
{{annotated link|Spaceport}}
{{annotated link|Ground station}}
{{annotated link|Observation post}}
{{annotated link|Military base}}
{{annotated link|Waypoint}}
{{annotated link|Mountain pass}}
{{annotated link|Base camp}}
{{annotated link|Caravanserei}}
{{annotated link|Stage station}}
{{annotated link|Way station}}
{{annotated link|Layover}}
{{annotated link|Roadhouse (premises)}}
{{annotated link|Shelter (building)}}
{{annotated link|Mission (station)}}
{{annotated link|Diplomatic mission}}
{{annotated link|Legation}}
{{annotated link|Bridgehead}}
{{annotated link|Crossroads village}}
{{annotated link|Fuelling station}}
{{annotated link|Railway town}}
{{annotated link|Special economic zone}}
{{annotated link|Free economic zone}}
{{annotated link|Exclusive economic zone}}
{{annotated link|Free-trade area}}
{{annotated link|Trading post}}
{{annotated link|Factory (trading post)}}
{{annotated link|Entrepôt}}
{{annotated link|Colony}}
{{annotated link|Mill town}}
{{annotated link|Mining community}}
{{annotated link|Industrial park}}
{{annotated link|Border outpost}}
{{annotated link|Outpost (military)}}
{{annotated link|Station (frontier defensive structure)}}
{{annotated link|Drillship}}
{{annotated link|Oil platform}}
{{annotated link|Kibbutz}}
{{annotated link|Development town}}
{{annotated link|Underwater habitat}}
{{annotated link|Whaling station}}
{{annotated link|Fortification}}
{{annotated link|Castle}}
{{annotated link|Bailey (castle)}}
{{annotated link|Outwork}}
{{annotated link|Burgus}}
{{annotated link|Guardhouse}}
{{annotated link|Tower}}
{{annotated link|Lighthouse}}
{{annotated link|Broadcast relay station}}
{{annotated link|Refugee camp}}