Editing Space colonization (section)

==Definition==
Space colonization has been in a broad sense referred to as space settlement, space humanization or space habitation.<ref name="q305">{{cite journal | title=Space Colonization for Human Habitation in Space Environment | first=
Shreya |last=Mane| journal=International Journal of Enhanced Research in Science, Technology & Engineering |issn=2319-7463|volume=11 |issue=5|date=7 May 2022| url=https://www.erpublications.com/uploaded_files/download/shreya-mane_GcMQi.pdf | access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref> Space colonization in a narrow sense refers to [[space settlement]]s, as envisioned by [[Gerard K. O'Neill]].<ref name="v307">{{cite web | title=Evolutionary Significance of Space Colonization | website=[[Sylvia Engdahl]], Author of Science Fiction Novels - Official Site | url=https://sylviaengdahl.com/space/thesis.htm | access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref> It is characterized by elements such as: settlement and exploitation,<ref name="w750">{{cite journal | last=Mane | first=Shreya | title=Moon Colonization for Human civilization: Theoretical Overview | journal=Environmental Science and Engineering | volume=1 | issue=1 | date=1 May 2022 | doi=10.46632/ese/1/1/8 | doi-access=free | pages=30–34}}</ref> as well as territorial claim.<ref name="q065">{{cite web | last=Dinerman | first=Taylor | title=Independent space colonization: questions and implications | website=The Space Review | date=15 January 2007 | url=https://www.thespacereview.com/article/784/1 | access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>

The concept in its broad sense has been applied to any permanent human presence, even robotic,<ref name="f830">{{cite journal | last=Lerner | first=Eric J. | title=Crossroads in space: Humanization: Man or machine? | journal=IEEE Spectrum | volume=20 | issue=9 | date=1983 | issn=0018-9235 | doi=10.1109/MSPEC.1983.6501447 | pages=28–30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1653562/japan-robots-moon-base-robonaut-nasa-jaxa-lunar-rockets-constellation|title=Japan vs. NASA in the Next Space Race: Lunar Robonauts|first=Kit |last=Eaton |work=Fast Company|date=28 May 2010|access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/japan-plans-2-billion-robot-moon-base-by-2020/|title=Solar System Exploration Research|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref> particularly along with the term "settlement", being imprecisely applied to any human [[space habitat (facility)|space habitat]], from [[research station]]s to [[space habitat|self-sustaining communities in space]].<ref name="Nye"/>

The words [[colony]] and [[colonization]] are terms rooted in [[colonial history]] on Earth, making them [[human geography|human geographic]] as well as particularly political terms. This broad use for any permanent human activity and development in space has been criticized, particularly as [[colonialism|colonialist]] and undifferentiated (see below [[#Objections|Objections]]).<ref name="Nye">{{cite web|url=https://www.space.com/bill-nye-space-settlement-not-colonization.html|first=Mike |last=Wall|date=25 October 2019|title=Bill Nye: It's Space Settlement, Not Colonization|website=[[Space.com]]|access-date=26 November 2020}}</ref>

In this sense, a colony is a settlement that claims territory and [[Exploitation of natural resources|exploits]] it for the [[settler]]s or their [[metropole]]. Therefore, a [[human outpost]], while possibly a space habitat or even a [[space settlement]], does not automatically constitute a space colony.<ref name="Bartels 2018">{{cite web | last=Bartels | first=Meghan | title=People are calling for a movement to decolonize space-here's why | website=Newsweek | date=25 May 2018 | url=https://www.newsweek.com/should-we-colonize-space-some-people-argue-we-need-decolonize-it-instead-945130 | access-date=31 October 2021 |quote="[[Robert Zubrin]], said that the one word he shies away from is colony, preferring settlement because the first "confuses the issue with imperialism.""}}</ref>

Therefore, any basing can be part of colonization, while colonization can be understood as a process that is open to more claims, beyond basing. The [[International Space Station]], the longest-occupied extraterrestrial habitat thus far, does not claim territory and thus is not usually considered a colony.<ref>{{cite web|title=International Space Station legal framework |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/International_Space_Station/International_Space_Station_legal_framework |website=ESA |access-date=19 April 2025}}</ref>

[[Moriba Jah]] has criticized existing approaches to orbital space as colonialist, such as for satellites, on the grounds that it involves claiming ownership instead of collaborative stewardship.<ref name="x785">{{cite web | last=Jah | first=Moriba | title=Occupation, even in orbit, is colonialism | website=Aerospace America | date=1 November 2023 | url=https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/departments/occupation-even-in-orbit-is-colonialism/ | access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref>

Some advocates of peaceful human settlement of space have argued against use of the word "colony" and related terms, so as to avoid confusing their goals with [[colonialism]] on Earth.<ref name="Nye"/>