Gerard K. O'Neill (February 6, 1927 — April 27, 1992) was a 20th century Earth human physicist and writer. He had been one of the first scientists to propose the idea of permanent human habitats in space. His designs for these habitats became known as O'Neill colonies. (TOS novelization: The Motion Picture, TNG novel: The Romulan Prize, TLE novel: The Sundered)