I know the title of this article seems ambitious, but hey, NASA just proved we can move an asteroid.
What we need to do now is mount an ion drive on a metallic asteroid -- once we find one -- and maneuver it into near-Earth orbit.
Why? So we (human race, collectively) can actually colonize space, we need a lot more natural resources, specifically metals. (Rare earths would be nice, too.)
Because I don't think there's enough metal on Earth to build all the things that we (both collectively and as individual nations) need to build in space to actually colonize it.
I'll worry about the oxygen later.
I want you; the next space race is underway
The article discusses a report (which is linked in the article). That's the report (noted in bold) that is being referred to below.
"Chinese dominance, they say, would be “an imminent threat to democracy, the free market economy, and the international liberal order.” And because of that threat, the report’s authors, with industry and government input, have issued six key recommendations for U.S. action.
Foremost is the development of a North Star Vision, a “clear and ambitious” plan to rival those of Russia and China, one that spans not just decades but a century of innovation. A “whole-of-nation” approach isn’t new and, in fact, is in its third year of discussion and recommendation from the group creating the report. Paramount to such a plan would be a commitment to seeking off-world power generation and human settlement in space, says the report."
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