Roundtables: The Next Era of Space Exploration | MIT Technology Review

You need to enable JavaScript to view this site.

Skip to ContentMIT Technology ReviewFeaturedTopicsNewslettersEventsAudioMIT Technology ReviewFeaturedTopicsNewslettersEventsAudioSpaceRoundtables: The Next Era of Space ExplorationWatch a subscriber-only event exploring the progress and possibilities ahead in space exploration.
By MIT Technology Reviewarchive pageMarch 25, 2026Available only for MIT Alumni and subscribers.
Listen to the session or watch below Whether it's the race to find life on Mars, the campaign to outsmart killer asteroids, or the quest to make the moon a permanent home to astronauts, scientists' efforts in space can tell us more about where humanity is headed. This subscriber-only discussion examines the progress and possibilities ahead. Speakers: Amanda Silverman, features & investigations editor, and Robin George Andrews, award-winning science journalist and author

Recorded on March 25, 2026 Related Stories: America was winning the race to find Martian life. Then China jumped in. Inside the hunt for the most dangerous asteroid ever See the stunning first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Meet the researchers testing the “Armageddon” approach to asteroid defense Science Writing by Robin George Andrews < by MIT Technology ReviewShareShare story on linkedinShare story on facebookShare story on emailPopularA “QuitGPT” campaign is urging people to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptionsMichelle KimMoltbook was peak AI theaterWill Douglas HeavenHow Pokémon Go is giving delivery robots an inch-perfect view of the worldWill Douglas HeavenMeet the Vitalists: the hardcore longevity enthusiasts who believe death is “wrong”Jessica HamzelouKeep ReadingMost PopularA “QuitGPT” campaign is urging people to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptionsBacklash against ICE is fueling a broader movement against AI companies’ ties to President Trump.
By Michelle Kimarchive pageMoltbook was peak AI theaterThe viral social network for bots reveals more about our own current mania for AI as it does about the future of agents.
By Will Douglas Heavenarchive pageHow Pokémon Go is giving delivery robots an inch-perfect view of the worldExclusive: Niantic's AI spinout is training a new world model using 30 billion images of urban landmarks crowdsourced from players.
By Will Douglas Heavenarchive pageMeet the Vitalists: the hardcore longevity enthusiasts who believe death is “wrong”They argue we need a revolution—and more and more influential scientists, funders, and politicians are taking them seriously.
By Jessica Hamzelouarchive pageStay connectedIllustration by Rose WongGet the latest updates fromMIT Technology ReviewDiscover special offers, top stories,
upcoming events, and more.Enter your emailPrivacy PolicyThank you for submitting your email!Explore more newslettersIt looks like something went wrong.
We’re having trouble saving your preferences.
Try refreshing this page and updating them one
more time. If you continue to get this message,
reach out to us at
customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.The latest iteration of a legacyFounded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1899, MIT Technology Review is a world-renowned, independent media company whose insight, analysis, reviews, interviews and live events explain the newest technologies and their commercial, social and political impact.READ ABOUT OUR HISTORYAdvertise with MIT Technology ReviewElevate your brand to the forefront of conversation around emerging technologies that are radically transforming business. From event sponsorships to custom content to visually arresting video storytelling, advertising with MIT Technology Review creates opportunities for your brand to resonate with an unmatched audience of technology and business elite.ADVERTISE WITH US© 2026 MIT Technology ReviewAboutAbout usCareersCustom contentAdvertise with usInternational EditionsRepublishingMIT Alumni NewsHelpHelp & FAQMy subscriptionEditorial guidelinesPrivacy policyTerms of ServiceWrite for usContact uslinkedin opens in a new windowinstagram opens in a new windowreddit opens in a new windowfacebook opens in a new windowrss opens in a new window

The MIT Technology Review article, “Roundtables: The Next Era of Space Exploration,” examines the current and prospective advancements within space exploration initiatives, focusing on a variety of ambitious endeavors. The discussion, presented as a subscriber-only event, highlights a range of projects including the search for life on Mars, asteroid defense strategies, and the establishment of a permanent human presence on the Moon, all while considering the broader implications for humanity’s future. The session was facilitated by Amanda Silverman, features and investigations editor at MIT Technology Review, alongside Robin George Andrews, a science journalist and author recognized for his expertise in space and science-related topics.

The core of the discussion centered on the diverse and rapidly progressing areas of space exploration. Specifically, it addressed the ongoing competition between nations, notably the United States and China, in the quest to discover extraterrestrial life, particularly on Mars. This competition is characterized by a renewed urgency and a significant investment of resources into advanced scientific instruments and methodologies for detecting biosignatures. Simultaneously, considerable effort is being dedicated to developing strategies for mitigating potential threats posed by near-Earth asteroids. The “Armageddon” approach, involving the deflection or destruction of hazardous asteroids, is being pursued as a critical aspect of planetary defense.

Another key topic was the burgeoning effort to establish a permanent human settlement on the Moon. This initiative represents a significant shift from temporary missions towards a long-term, self-sustaining presence, necessitating advancements in areas such as habitat construction, resource utilization (including in-situ resource utilization or ISRU), and sustainable life support systems. The article implicitly suggests that the Moon’s potential as a staging ground for further exploration, including missions to Mars, is increasingly recognized.

The dialogue touches upon the methodologies employed in these ambitious projects, referencing areas like the development of sophisticated sensors and analytical techniques designed to identify microbial life on other planets. Furthermore, the use of crowdsourced data, exemplified by Niantic’s AI spinout leveraging Pokémon Go player data for training a new “world model” of urban landscapes, reveals a novel approach to gathering and processing information crucial for robotic navigation and environmental understanding. This data-driven methodology aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of exploration efforts.

The article’s discussion of current scientific endeavors—such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory or the hunt for the most dangerous asteroid ever—underscores the proactive nature of scientific investigation and the need for continuous monitoring of potential space hazards. The growing recognition of “Vitalists”—those who advocate for challenging the fundamental aspects of death—and their influence on funding and political initiatives related to longevity research, reveals a wider societal shift in perspectives regarding the human condition and the long-term implications of space colonization. The piece subtly points to a paradigm shift where technological advancements in space exploration are inextricably linked to broader advancements in human health and longevity.