Aliens and asteroid mines? Next 50 years to see 'space revolution'

Humanity must prepare for a sweeping revolution as nations and companies gear up to build moon bases, space stations and orbiting factories, and to uncover evidence - if evidence is out there - that we are not alone in the universe.

- Ian Sample

The horizon-scanning report from the Royal Society envisions a new era of space activities that will reshape the world, including clean energy beamed to Earth, robots that mine asteroids, and manufacturing plants that circle the planet.

Space: 2075 predicts radical developments that will generate some of the most important technological and economic opportunities over the next 50 years. While some countries are well-placed to benefit, Britain is at risk of missing out, the authors say.