Where will we be in space in 2049? A look at spaceflight over the next 25 years

Illustration of a mars base, with a handful of people inside a domed habitat and a large rocket launching in the background.

Spaceflight and exploration have changed tremendously over the past 25 years.

Since 1999, we've seen the birth of a vibrant private spaceflight sector, led by Elon Musk's SpaceX, and the rise of an ambitious and increasingly accomplished new space power: China. (India has made great strides as well.)