>>11153202We will colonize spaces when....
...we can get into LEO much faster, cheaper, and safer than we can do now
...we figure out how to deal with space radiation that doesn't make our ships impractically heavy
...we understand how exposure to long term weightlessness affects the human body and crate effective countermeasures for any negative effects
...we find a way to mine, refine, and manufacture raw materials for use in space
...it doesn't take hours to send and/or receive even simple messages/commands to and from Earth
...we figure out how to combat the severe psychological issues humans will have being in space, confined in tight quarters, and not being in contact with loved ones for possibly months or years at a time
Basically, we have a lot of issues that make space colonization you see in pop culture a severe problem. The problems I listed above are all issues that make space colonization a quagmire in terms of practicality. But as each issue gets solved, it makes space colonization a much more realistic matter.
