Report: China and Strategic Instability in Space: Pathways to Peace in an Era of US-China Strategic Competition (USIP 2023)

The report highlights three key drivers of instability in space: the entanglement of conventional and nuclear space sensor systems, the testing of kinetic energy direct ascent anti-satellite weapons, and the dramatic growth of constellations of tens and even hundreds of thousands of commercial satellites. China plays a critical role in all three of these issues, reflecting the fact that the infrastructure of space governance has not kept pace with technological change and the burgeoning number of actors in space.

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Rocket Lab: A Pioneering Force in the Commercial Space Sector

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering reliable launch services, spacecraft, satellite components, and on-orbit management. The company has garnered attention for its innovative technologies, including its Electron rocket and its ambitious plans for reusable rocket systems.

Report: Modeling Economic Competition in the Business of Mega-Constellations (AFRL 2022)

The report describes the development of a prototype multi-player game called Satellite Tycoon (Sat-Tycoon) to model competition between companies providing internet service using proliferated low Earth orbit (P-LEO) satellite constellations.

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Report: Start-up Space: Update on Investment in Commercial Space Ventures (Bryce 2023)

The report analyzes investment trends in start-up space companies that have received private financing. It tracks seed, venture capital, and private equity investment from 2000-2022.

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Orbital Shells: The Invisible Highways of the Space Economy

The advent of the space age has not only revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos but has also opened up new avenues for economic development. One of the key structures that have emerged in this new frontier is the concept of “orbital shells”—specific altitudinal bands around Earth where satellites and other man-made objects are placed in orbit. These shells serve as the backbone of the emerging space economy, supporting a wide range of services from telecommunications and Earth observation to scientific research and national security. This article reviews the types, applications, economic implications, and challenges associated with orbital shells.