Report: NASA Sounding Rockets User Handbook (NASA 2023)
This document provides deep insights into the applications, operations and capabilities of sounding rockets.
Read More Report: NASA Sounding Rockets User Handbook (NASA 2023)This document provides deep insights into the applications, operations and capabilities of sounding rockets.
Read More Report: NASA Sounding Rockets User Handbook (NASA 2023)In the realm of space technology, a significant shift is underway: the disaggregation of satellite functionalities. This approach deconstructs traditional satellite capabilities into smaller, specialized units. It marks a departure from the ‘one satellite, many functions’ principle towards a model where multiple smaller satellites, each dedicated to a specific function, collaborate to accomplish a common mission.
Read More Redefining Space Missions: The Disaggregation of Satellite FunctionalitiesMoore’s Law and Wright’s Law serve as valuable models for understanding trends in the space industry.
Read More Moore’s Law, Wright’s Law, and their Relevance to the Space EconomyNuclear propulsion, once confined to the realm of science fiction, is rapidly becoming a real possibility for future space missions. Capable of providing a continuous and efficient source of propulsion over long periods, this technology could potentially revolutionize interplanetary and interstellar travel.
Read More Nuclear Propulsion for Spacecraft: A Quick ReviewWhat, why, and when?
Read More Aerospike Engines: Their Past, Present, and FutureThe VentureStar project was one of NASA’s most ambitious programs aimed at creating a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) reusable spacecraft. Conceptualized in the mid-1990s, the VentureStar was intended to replace the aging Space Shuttle fleet, promoting cost-efficiency, safety, and frequent access to space. However, despite its innovative vision, VentureStar never made it past the prototype stage due to technical challenges and budget constraints.
Read More The VentureStar Project: NASA’s Abandoned Hope for Reusable SpacecraftEver since the advent of space exploration, human beings have employed similar types of vehicles to journey beyond the confines of our planet. The concept of Single-Stage-To-Orbit (SSTO) vehicles represents a significant shift in our approach to space travel. This fascinating technology has the potential to revolutionize space exploration by offering a more cost-effective and efficient means of reaching orbit.
Read More Single-Stage-to-Orbit (SSTO): Pioneering the Future of Space ExplorationSpace exploration has captivated our collective imagination for generations. However, it is by no means an easy feat. Among the many challenges space engineers grapple with, one particularly notorious hurdle is often referred to as the “tyranny of the rocket equation.”
Read More The Tyranny of the Rocket Equation: An In-depth ExaminationThe space economy is a growing sector that encompasses the commercial and economic activities related to outer space. As interest in space-based industries continues to rise, many questions have emerged about the various aspects of the space economy, from technological advancements and commercial applications to legal, ethical, and security concerns. This article provides answers to 30 frequently asked questions about the space economy.
Read More Space Economy Executive Briefing: 30 Frequently Asked Questions and AnswersThe Skylab Program, announced by NASA in 1970, marked a significant chapter in the history of human spaceflight. It was America’s first experimental space station, designed for humans to live and work in for extended periods. The program’s ambitious scope aimed to expand our understanding of life in space; and ultimately ended up establishing the foundation for future international space stations.
Read More The Skylab Program: Pioneering NASA’s Human SpaceflightThroughout their life cycle, space launch vehicles impact their local and global environments on Earth and in space. Given the space industry’s projected growth, recent literature suggests that the atmospheric consequences of these activities are understudied and insufficiently addressed.
Read More Report: Space Sustainability Isn’t Just About Space Debris – on the Atmospheric Impact of Space Launches (MIT 2022)“Selling shovels in a gold rush” in the context of the burgeoning space economy offers a unique lens to understand the potential opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in the cosmic frontier. These “shovel sellers” have a pivotal role to play in shaping and supporting the expansion of humanity’s reach beyond Earth. The gold rush might be in space, but the real fortune may lie with those selling the shovels.
Read More “Selling Shovels in a Gold Rush”: Its Relevance to the Space EconomyThe space economy is a realm where classic sayings about the impossible become particularly relevant. With its vast complexities and unknowns, the journey to space is a quintessential example of humanity’s quest to overcome seemingly impossible odds. This article explores how a few of these sayings apply to the space economy.
Read More Impossible Is Just a Word: The Relevance of Classic Sayings to the Space EconomyThe environmental impact of launch vehicles can be significant, with the main concerns being air pollution, noise pollution, resource consumption, and potential impact on wildlife and ecosystems.
Read More Rocket Launches: Environmental ConcernsWhat is the “economic multiplier” and how is the relevant to the space economy?
Read More The Space Economy: Understanding its Economic MultiplierA decade ago, the idea of the Philippines venturing into space exploration might have seemed like a distant dream. But with the establishment of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) in 2019 and the launch of several microsatellites before and after that, the country is taking a leap forward into the final frontier.
Read More The Philippines Space Strategy: Rising to the Cosmic ChallengeThis 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.
Read More Report: Technology Assessment Large Constellations of Satellites (GAO 2022)The Dyna-Soar program, also known as Dynamic Soarer or X-20, was an ambitious space project launched by the United States Air Force (USAF) in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Intended to be the first manned spaceplane, it was a pioneering endeavor in the field of hypersonic flight and reusable spacecraft.
Read More Project Dyna-Soar: A Leap into Hypersonic TechnologyThis article provides an explanation of these two roles and their associated services.
Read More What are Launch Brokers and Launch Service Providers?The entertainment industry within the space economy is a multifaceted sector that merges technology, innovation, and creative storytelling to deliver entertaining content related to space activities and exploration. It is an emerging market segment, providing audiences worldwide with an array of experiences and knowledge about the universe beyond our planet. This article explores several key aspects of the space economy’s impact on the entertainment industry.
Read More The Fusion of Entertainment and the Space EconomyNet Zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount of emissions removed from the atmosphere. To achieve net zero, a country, business, or individual needs to either reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to a minimum or offset them by removing an equivalent amount of emissions from the atmosphere through activities such as reforestation, carbon capture and storage, or other technologies.
Read More Stellar Sustainability: How The Space Economy Supports Global Net Zero EffortsAs the world’s urban population continues to grow, innovative solutions are required to tackle the complex challenges of urban planning. One such innovative approach involves the use of space technology. From satellite imagery to global positioning systems (GPS), space technology is being increasingly leveraged to improve urban planning and design, fostering more sustainable and livable cities. This article explores how space technology is aiding urban planning and the potential it holds for the future.
Read More Space Technology: A Catalyst for Smart Urban PlanningThe space economy has long been a subject of fascination and a breeding ground for innovation. Entrepreneurs are constantly seeking new ways to carve out their niche in this ever-evolving market. One of the most critical aspects of launching a successful venture in the space economy is the development of a Minimum Value Proposition (MVP) product. This article reviews the concept of MVPs in the context of space entrepreneurship.
Read More The Value of Minimum Value Proposition Products in the Space EconomyResponsive Space as a concept is fundamentally driven by defense organizations. Defense organizations are increasingly dependent upon space-based systems for operations. These organizations need the ability to: be able to augment capacity on demand based on tactical requirements; and rapidly replace disabled space-based systems to restore capability. The capability which addresses that need is generally referred to as Responsive Space.
Read More The Evolving Landscape of Defense: Responsive Space and its SignificanceThis report reviews the impact of rocket emissions on the environment, and examines future policy requirements.
Read More Report: The Policy and Science of Rocket Emissions (TAC 2018)