Satellites have become essential tools for understanding the world. They provide data on agriculture harvest, the earth’s surface, weather, greenhouse gas, mineral extraction, economic activity, and more. Until the last decade, building and launching a satellite was something only a nation or a massive corporation could do. Today, we are going through an economic, cultural, political, and financial transition where small companies and entrepreneurs can launch satellites and rockets into space. As the number of satellites and space-related companies grows in the coming years, how we connect to the internet, use our mobile phones, and think about the industrial, commercial, and military possibilities in space will transform. Anna Sofia’s recent essay on the Contrary blog offers a glimpse of what life might be like amid this satellite renaissance and what still lies on the horizon of the space frontier.
Spaceflight is often characterized by the launch market. These companies aim to get mass into space quickly, reliably, and cheaply. SpaceX is a prime example; a commercial launch market has formed with them. Space transportation is costly and has limited profitable applications for now. Satellite operators, however, are utilizing the electromagnetic spectrum to collect and send data, making satellites the most mature segment of the space economy. Data services form a significant part of satellite usage, making them a cost-effective alternative to terrestrial infrastructure projects like building fiber optic cables or towers in sparsely populated areas. Infrastructure companies in space and on the ground are necessary to use satellites efficiently. Remote sensing companies can collect data from the electromagnetic spectrum, providing a bird’s eye view of the world with both military and commercial value.
Manufacturing rockets and satellites requires precise engineering and advanced factories on Earth. With the growth of the space economy, suppliers have sprung up to supply parts, modules, and components, making spacecraft and advanced propulsion systems a significant business. Internal tools at SpaceX have spawned several space software companies offering launch project management, satellite fleet operations, and other services. Check out our memo on SpaceX.
After decades of disappointment, we’re dreaming about space once again. A more robust presence in space will have widespread implications, from the emergence of new industries like manufacturing in microgravity to the destruction of old terrestrial ones, like cable monopolies. The further we go, the more problems we’ll need to contend with, from clearing up space debris to figuring out how to service existing spacecraft better. With technology, however, problems often become the source of opportunity. From where we stand today, space is teeming with opportunity.
