When people say “democratization of space,” they are referring to the increasing accessibility and participation of a wider range of actors in space exploration and utilization. Historically, space activities were dominated by government-funded programs and a few major players, such as the United States, Russia, China, and the European Space Agency. However, the landscape has changed significantly in recent years due to factors such as technological advances, lower-cost launch systems, the rise of private companies, and greater public interest in space activities.
The democratization of space has opened the cosmos to developing countries, start-ups, universities, and even high schools, making space exploration more inclusive and diverse. This movement has also led to more international cooperation in the space industry and the development of educational programs, citizen science projects, and amateur satellite launches that involve the general public in space exploration.