NASA's Urban Plan for Space Settlements

A 1977 NASA publication laid out a plan for the future of space settlements. The future of space looks very urban.

1 minute read

December 3, 2018, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Florida

NASA's home in space would look a lot different than its home in Florida. | Ingus Kruklitis / Shutterstock

"Someday, humanity may build cities in space. If and when that day comes, NASA says they should be exactly what urbanists advocate for here on Earth: walkable, transit-oriented, dense, and inclusive," reports Dan Malouff.

Malouff reaches this conclusion based on the work of a 1977 NASA publication called Space Settlements: A Design Study, "a 155-page book that amounts to a city planning policy guide on what future space colonies should look like."

The book describes orbital civilian habitats—so neither research stations of habitations on other planets.

Malouf's report on the book starts by noting one particular chapter that reads like a comprehensive plan. "There are sections on how much space will be needed for residences, retail, schools, and other land uses, plus transportation and other infrastructure," explains Malouf.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018 in Greater Greater Washington

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

Holland Tunnel, vehicular tunnel under Hudson River that connects New York City neighborhood of SoHo in Lower Manhattan to east with Jersey City in New Jersey.

Congestion Pricing Drops Holland Tunnel Delays by 65 Percent

New York City’s contentious tolling program has yielded improved traffic and roughly $100 million in revenue for the MTA.

15 minutes ago - Curbed

People walking up and down stairs in New York City subway station.

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving

Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

April 18 - Scientific American

White public transit bus with bike on front bike rack in Nashville, Tennessee.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan

Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

April 18 - Bloomberg CityLab