>>51093672Developments in space during this time include numerous permanent, manned settlements on the Moon and Mars; regular manned trips to the gas giants; huge mining operations in the asteroid fields; and the first probes to Alpha Centauri. Space tourism booms during this period and trips to the Moon's surface and elsewhere become relatively commonplace.
The speed and magnitude of progress now occurring, both on Earth and throughout the Solar System, is creating what earlier forecasters would have named a technological singularity. Indeed, many of the scientific discoveries in the 22nd century exceed the comprehension of "unaided" humans lacking the requisite brain upgrades and enhancements. The most notable breakthroughs are those in quantum physics – but wholly new fields also emerge that were completely untapped in the previous century.
