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Public-Private Partnerships: A Catalyst for the Space Economy

The space economy has seen steady growth in recent years, thanks to an evolving landscape of stakeholders and a multitude of innovative projects. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have emerged as a key driver in this growth, allowing for increased collaboration, resource sharing, and technological advancement. This article will explore the role of PPPs in the space economy, discussing the benefits, challenges, and potential future developments.

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The Union of Concerned Scientists: Relevance and Contributions to the Space Economy

This article reviews the role and relevance of the UCS to the growing space economy.

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US Space Force Programs: Space Prime

The first Space Prime effort, Orbital Prime will invigorate the OSAM market using Active Debris Remediation (ADR) as a use case for the foundational technologies. As congestion and debris threaten the long-term sustainability of the space domain, Orbital Prime will transition agile, affordable, and accelerated OSAM space capabilities to build the foundation for space logistics while preserving the global commons. On-orbit capability will be demonstrated on an accelerated timeline in two to four years.

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The New Space Race: Counterspace Capabilities and Satellite Defense

Satellite counterspace capabilities have become increasingly important in the modern world, as space has become an integral part of various sectors, such as communication, navigation, military, and scientific research. With nations vying for dominance in the space domain, this article provides an overview of the various counterspace capabilities and reviews satellite counterspace defensive options.

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Report: Technology Assessment Large Constellations of Satellites (GAO 2022)

This report: (1) describes the potential effects from projected increases in large constellations of satellites, (2) assesses the current or emerging technologies and approaches to evaluate and mitigate these effects, along with challenges to developing or implementing these technologies and approaches, and (3) identifies policy options that might help address the challenges as well as the opportunities and considerations that accompany these options.

What is the ESA Clean Space Initiative?

The European Space Agency (ESA) Clean Space initiative is a program aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the space industry, both on Earth and in space.

Report: The Green Circularity – Lifecycle Assessments for the Space Industry (TAC 2023)

This paper provides an overview of environmental and sustainability trends and offers options for the U.S. government, and Department of Defense (DOD) in particular, to consider and adopt environmental life cycle assessments (E-LCAs) in space acquisitions.

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HOW TO STAY AHEAD IN THE SPACE RACE?

Subscribe to our weekly New Space Economy Briefing! Our complimentary briefing is your gateway to staying informed on the emerging markets, cutting-edge technologies, and key trends shaping the future of space commerce. Get thoughtful, practical and relevant insights delivered straight to your inbox and stay ahead in the Space Race.

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US Environmental Regulations and the Space Economy

In the US several federal agencies, and regulations, are involved in overseeing the environmental impacts of the space economy. This article reviews the most relevant regulations and agencies.

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Greening the Cosmos: The Rise of Space Environmentalism

Space environmentalism is an emerging concept that focuses on the need to balance the growth of the space economy with the protection of both Earth’s environment and the space environment.

Report: IADC Statement on Active Debris Removal (IADC 2022)

Collisions involving non-maneuverable upper stages and spacecraft are predicted to become the dominant source of new debris. Remediation of the near-Earth space environment involves the direct removal of space debris, also known as active debris removal or ADR. The statement provides guidelines relative to ADR.

Report: The Policy and Science of Rocket Emissions (TAC 2018)

This report reviews the impact of rocket emissions on the environment, and examines future policy requirements.

Report: Space Situational Awareness – DOD Should Evaluate How It Can Use Commercial Data (GAO 2023)

A House Armed Services Committee report included a provision for GAO to review planned procurement of commercial SSA data and provide an overview of the UDL. This report (1) describes the challenges DOD faces in identifying and characterizing objects in space, (2) assesses the extent to which DOD uses commercial SSA data, and (3) assesses the status of the UDL.

In-Space Economy Taxonomy – Seraphim Space (2023)

A venture capital firm’s perspective on the in-space economy taxonomy.

Space Economy Taxonomy – Seraphim Space (2023)

The perspective of a venture capital firm on the space economy taxonomy.

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The Debate Over Space as a Global Commons

The concept of outer space as a global commons refers to the idea that outer space should be shared by all nations and used for the collective benefit of humanity. While the 1967 Outer Space Treaty sets the foundation for considering outer space as a global commons, there are complexities and challenges that come with managing and governing this vast domain.

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Press Release: NASA Creates In-Space Servicing, Assembly, Manufacturing Consortium (NASA 2023)

NASA announced on April 19, 2023, a new consortium focused on making in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities a routine part of space architectures and mission lifecycles.

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Navigating the Final Frontier: A Guide to Governance of the Space Economy

In the context of the space economy, governance refers to the system of rules, principles, policies, norms, and institutions that shape and regulate activities related to outer space. This article provides a detailed look at the objectives of governance, institutions involved, and the tools available to establish governance.

Report: Recommended Framework and Key Elements for Peaceful and Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA 2022)

The Recommended Framework and Key Elements is designed as a guide for well-balanced lunar projects and it offers recommendations for how to implement safe and sustainable lunar activities through norm-setting, coordination, and management.

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The New Space Age: Democratization and Its Impact on the Space Economy

The term “democratization of space” refers 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 later the European Space Agency. However, a lot has changed in recent years. This article reviews how these changes have advanced the democratization of space.

Report: Defense Against the Dark Arts In Space – Protecting Space Systems From Counterspace Weapons (CSIS 2021)

The proliferation of counterspace weapons across the globe often calls into question what can be done to best protect satellites from attack. This analysis from the SIS Aerospace Security Project addresses different methods and technologies that can be used by the United States government, and others, to deter adversaries from attack.

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Small Satellites, Big Impact: Sustainability in the Space Economy

This article reviews the world of small satellites and their role in promoting sustainability in the space industry.

Report: Space Threat Assessment (CSIS 2023)

This iteration of the Space Threat Assessment provides a framework that describes different types of counterspace weapons and a highlight of the main countries being tracked-China, Russia, India, Iran, North Korea, and others. The country sections include an overview of military space organi-zations, launch and satellite capabilities, and a brief review of counterspace developments. In addition, the report identifies key counterspace events in 2022, analyzes them in more detail, and provides a more comprehensive list of all notable counterspace activities and developments over the past year (January 2022-February 2023). The conclusion includes an analysis of notable trends and expectations for the coming year.

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Small Satellite Deorbiting Technologies: Ensuring a Cleaner Space Environment

This article reviews some of the innovative small satellite deorbiting technologies that contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable space environment.

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Report: Global Counterspace Capabilities – An Open Source Assessment (SWF 2023)

This report compiles and assesses publicly available information on the counterspace capabilities being developed by multiple countries across five categories: direct-ascent, co-orbital, electronic warfare, directed energy, and cyber. It assesses the current and near-term future capabilities for each country, along with their potential military utility.

Paper: The History of Space Debris

This paper examines what space debris consists of, where it came from, and what problems it is causing.