Weekly New Space Economy Newsletter March 18, 2024

New Space Economy

New Space Economy

Market Research, Analysis, and Resources

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Articles From The Previous Week

SpaceX’s Classified $1.8 Billion Contract with National Reconnaissance Office

SpaceX, the pioneering space exploration company led by Elon Musk, has entered into a classified contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to develop a network of spy satellites. The…

The Regulatory Challenges of NGSO Satellite Constellations

The recent growth of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite constellations has raised new issues for policymakers and regulators to explore and tackle at various levels, including national, regional, and global. This…

The International Space Station: A Model of Best Practices in Space

The International Space Station (ISS) is a remarkable achievement of human ingenuity, international cooperation, and adherence to best practices in the challenging environment of space. As the largest artificial structure…

Pioneers on the Red Frontier: Envisioning the First Human Exploration of the Martian Surface

As humanity looks to expand its presence beyond Earth, Mars has long been seen as the next frontier for human exploration. With current advances in space technology, a human mission…

Enabling Supplemental Coverage from Space: FCC Adopts New Regulatory Framework for Satellite-to-Phone Services

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken a major step forward in harnessing the power of hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks to expand connectivity across the United States. In a Report and…

The Intensifying Space Race Between China and India

The space race between China and India has been steadily intensifying in recent years, as the two Asian powers vie for dominance in the final frontier. This competition reflects the…

Space Advocacy: Promoting the Future of Spaceflight

Space advocacy refers to the efforts of people and organizations to promote the exploration and development of outer space. Space advocates work to raise public interest, support, and funding for…

The Wolf Amendment: Restricting U.S.-China Space Cooperation

In 2011, the U.S. Congress passed legislation that included a provision known as the Wolf Amendment, named after its sponsor, then-Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia. The amendment prohibits NASA from…

Reaching for the Stars: India’s Quest to Become a Space Superpower

India has set ambitious goals to grow its space economy to $13 billion by 2025 and capture 10% of the global space market by 2030. However, to achieve these lofty…

The Impact of Space on National Security

Space has become an increasingly critical domain for national security in the 21st century. The militarization of space is accelerating as major powers like the United States, China, and Russia…

What is the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture and Why is it Important?

The U.S. Space Force's Space Development Agency (SDA) is building a revolutionary new satellite constellation called the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). Formerly known as the National Defense Space Architecture,…

Rockets, Regulations, and Revenues: A Look at How U.S. Politics Steers the Course of the Space Economy

The United States government and politics play a significant role in shaping and influencing the space economy through various mechanisms, including funding, policy, regulation, partnerships, and international cooperation and competition.

The Business Ecosystem of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport: Launching Virginia into the Space Economy

Nestled along the picturesque Eastern Shore of Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) has emerged as a key player in the rapidly evolving commercial space industry. Owned and operated by…

Where Rockets and Wildlife Coexist: the Unique Ecosystem of Kennedy Space Center

Nestled along Florida's Space Coast, the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is renowned as NASA's primary launch center for human spaceflight. However, this high-tech spaceport shares its home with a remarkably…

10 Ways Space Exploration is Tackling Climate Change

This article reviews the top 10 ways space exploration is tackling climate change, with explanations, rationale, and expected outcomes.

Directed Energy Weapons: Disruptors and Safeguards in the Space Economy

The growing space economy, driven by reduced launch costs, satellite miniaturization, and a surge in private investment, has become a new frontier for technological advancement and competition. Among these advancements,…

The Complex Conundrum of Satellite Counterspace: Risks and Repercussions

Satellites have become the backbone of modern life. They enable global communication networks, provide the precise timing signals for GPS, monitor our planet's weather patterns, and bolster national security operations.…

The Business Ecosystem of Kennedy Space Center: A Hub of Aerospace Innovation and Economic Growth

Nestled along Florida's Space Coast, the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has long been the epicenter of America's space program. However, in recent years, KSC has transformed from a…

Overview of the Space Development Agency

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is a United States Department of Defense agency responsible for developing and deploying next-generation military space capabilities. Established in 2019, the SDA aims to rapidly…

The Fractional Orbital Bombardment System: An Enigmatic Cold War Weapon

During the tense standoff between the United States and Soviet Union in the 1960s, both superpowers sought new ways to gain a strategic edge in the nuclear arms race. One…

From floating guts to ‘sticky’ blood – here’s how to do surgery in space

In 2020, it was reported that an astronaut in space had developed a potentially life-threatening blood clot in the neck. This was successfully treated with medication by doctors on Earth,…

The Perils of Commercial Space Stations: Navigating the Risks in Low Earth Orbit

As humanity ventures further into the realm of space exploration and commercialization, the development of commercial space stations in low Earth orbit (LEO) has become an increasingly attractive prospect. These…

Mars colony: how to make breathable air and fuel from brine – new research

NASA is planning to land a crew on the Moon by 2026, and then onward to Mars, possibly in the 2030s. One day, we will have permanently crewed bases on…

Thought Experiment: If Virgin Galactic Ceased Operations, How Could That Impact Spaceport America

Virgin Galactic has been the driving force behind the development and operations of Spaceport America. In November 2023, Virgin Galactic announced significant staff cuts and ending spaceflights using existing spacecraft,…

The Impact of Hypersonic Missiles on the Space Economy

Hypersonic missiles, a new class of weapons capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, have garnered significant attention in recent years. While primarily developed for military purposes, the technologies…

The Perils of Mars: How a Crewed Mission to the Red Planet Could End in Disaster

Sending humans to Mars is one of the most ambitious and challenging endeavors ever contemplated by humankind. A crewed mission to the red planet has been the subject of science…

To search for alien life, astronomers will look for clues in the atmospheres of distant planets – and the James Webb Space Telescope just proved it’s possible to do so

The ingredients for life are spread throughout the universe. While Earth is the only known place in the universe with life, detecting life beyond Earth is a major goal of…

Four ways to spot hints of alien life using the James Webb Space Telescope

The study of exoplanets, worlds which orbit stars other than our sun, is currently being transformed by the new James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). We will shortly gain our first…

AI is helping astronomers make new discoveries and learn about the universe faster than ever before

The famous first image of a black hole just got two times sharper. A research team used artificial intelligence to dramatically improve upon its first image from 2019, which now…

From flying boats to secret Soviet weapons to alien visitors – a brief cultural history of UFOs

The idea of aliens and that other worlds might be inhabited actually goes back to ancient times. The question was a matter of real debate among philosophers, scientists and theologians…

Where is everybody? Doing the maths on extraterrestrial life

During a lunch in the summer of 1950, physicists Enrico Fermi, Edward Teller and Herbert York were chatting about a recent New Yorker cartoon depicting aliens abducting trash cans in…

Dune: we simulated the desert planet of Arrakis to see if humans could survive there

If Arakis did exist, what would it actually be like?

Dune: how high could giant sand dunes actually grow on Arrakis?

The large and inhospitable sand dunes of the desert planet Arrakis are, of course, very prominent in both the books and film, not least because of the terrifying gigantic sandworms…

Dune: what the climate of Arrakis can tell us about the hunt for habitable exoplanets

Frank Herbert’s Dune is epic sci-fi storytelling with an environmental message at its heart. The novels and movies are set on the desert planet of Arrakis, which various characters dream…

Solar eclipses result from a fantastic celestial coincidence of scale and distance

On April 8, 2024, millions across the U.S. will have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to view a total solar eclipse. Cities including Austin, Texas; Buffalo, New York; and Cleveland, Ohio, will…

NASA’s search for life on Mars: a rocky road for its rovers, a long slog for scientists – and back on Earth, a battle of the budget

Is or was there life on Mars? That profound question is so complex that it will not be fully answered by the two NASA rovers now exploring it.

What would a solar eclipse look like from the Moon? An astronomer answers that and other total eclipse questions

A total solar eclipse will be visible across the U.S. on Monday, April 8, 2024. Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, explains why and how…

The Great North American Solar Eclipse of 2024

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a spectacular total solar eclipse will sweep across North America, traversing Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Dubbed the "Great North American Eclipse," this celestial…

Total solar eclipses provide an opportunity to engage with science, culture and history

On April 8, 2024, there will be a total solar eclipse in Canada. This is an opportunity to experience, learn from and participate in the excitement and wonder. And rather…

Accelerating Technological Change and Climate Effects Among Key Threats Highlighted by Intelligence Community

The 2024 Annual Threat Assessment reflects the collective insights of the U.S. Intelligence Community on the most direct, serious threats to the United States in the coming year. The report…

Mars Needs This One Weird Trick to Become Another Earth

Mars, often called Earth's sister planet, was once a very different world. Billions of years ago, Mars likely had a thicker atmosphere, higher surface temperatures, and liquid water flowing on…

Scars from the Sky: Exploring Canada’s Asteroid Craters

Canada is home to some of the world's most impressive and scientifically significant impact craters formed by asteroids striking the Earth's surface. From the giant Manicouagan Crater in Quebec to…

Sudbury Basin: A Cosmic Scar on the Canadian Shield

The Sudbury Basin, located in Ontario, Canada, is one of the largest and oldest impact craters on Earth. This geologic wonder has fascinated scientists for over a century, with early…

The Contested Status of Outer Space as a Global Commons: Insights from an Analysis of Space Arrangements

The idea that outer space is a "global commons" has been a topic of contentious debate among policymakers, legal scholars, and collective action theorists. Some argue that officially recognizing outer…

How to grow plants on the moon – new study

What do you need to make your garden grow? As well as plenty of sunshine alternating with gentle showers of rain – and busy bees and butterflies to pollinate the…

Six space missions to look forward to in 2024

It’s going to be a bumper time for space missions in 2024 – especially to the Moon, our nearest neighbour. And that’s following on from an already epic 2023.

Archeoastronomy uses the rare times and places of previous total solar eclipses to help us measure history

Astroarcheology — also called archeoastronomy — uses astronomical records to help date key moments or events in history. Of all astronomical phenomena, total solar eclipses are among the best measuring…

Nasa’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity has ended its mission – its success paves the way for more flying vehicles on other planets and moons

It is difficult to emphasise the significance of the milestone surpassed by Nasa’s Mars helicopter, Ingenuity.

On April 8, 2024, parts of Ontario, Québec, the Maritimes and Newfoundland will see a total eclipse of the sun. Here’s how to get ready for it.

You might not know exactly what you will be doing a year from now, on April 8, 2024. It’s pretty hard to predict a year in advance. However, on that…

Humans have been predicting eclipses for thousands of years, but it’s harder than you might think

Eclipses have entranced us for millennia. But it turns out calculating exactly when and where we can watch an eclipse in its full glory can be surprisingly hard.

Archeoastronomy uses the rare times and places of previous total solar eclipses to help us measure history

Astroarcheology — also called archeoastronomy — uses astronomical records to help date key moments or events in history. Of all astronomical phenomena, total solar eclipses are among the best measuring…

Why does time change when traveling close to the speed of light? A physicist explains

A physicist explains why does time change when traveling close to the speed of light?

The longstanding mystery of Mars’ moons – and the mission that could solve it

The two small moons of Mars, Phobos (about 22km in diameter) and Deimos (about 13km in diameter), have been puzzling scientists for decades, with their origin remaining a matter of…

Space colonies: how artificial photosynthesis may be key to sustained life beyond Earth

Life on Earth owes its existence to photosynthesis – a process which is 2.3 billion years old. This immensely fascinating (and still not fully understood) reaction enables plants and other…

Four volcanic hotspots in the Solar System

Having volcanic activity (volcanism) on planets is quite common. This article discusses four worlds which have boasted active volcanism, from Mars to the far flung reaches of the outer Solar…

How are planets created?

How did they come into being? It all starts with a cloud of gas and dust.…

China’s new space station opens for business in an increasingly competitive era of space activity

On Nov. 29, 2022, the Shenzhou 15 mission launched from China’s Gobi Desert carrying three taikonauts – the Chinese word for astronauts. Six hours later, they reached their destination, China’s…

Mars: could life itself have made the planet uninhabitable?

Microbial life may have resided within the first four kilometres of Mars’s porous crust. There it would have had shelter from the harsh surface conditions (in particular, harmful UV rays),…

Venus: the trouble with sending people there

Venus, often called Earth’s “evil twin” planet, formed closer to the Sun and has since evolved quite differently from our own planet. It has a “runaway” greenhouse effect (meaning heat…

Humans have big plans for mining in space – but there are many things holding us back

Like Earth, planetary bodies such as the Moon, Mars, asteroids and comets contain substantial deposits of valuable resources. This has caught the attention of both researchers and industry, with hopes…

Mars: how scientists prevent Earth’s microbes from contaminating other planets

How do we make sure when our landers touch down on the red planet’s surface, nothing unwanted is landing with them? If we aren’t careful, we could be spreading all…

Hibernating lemurs may be the key to cryogenic sleep for human space travel

Science fiction is shifting into reality. With humanity’s plans to return to the moon this decade and further ambitions to travel to Mars in the next, we need to figure…

The four most promising worlds for alien life in the solar system

The Earth’s biosphere contains all the known ingredients necessary for life as we know it. Broadly speaking these are: liquid water, at least one source of energy, and an inventory…

Exoplanets are still out there – a new model tells astronomers where to look for more using 4 simple variables

Only 12 light years from Earth, Tau Ceti is the closest single star similar to the Sun and an all-time favorite in sci-fi stories. Habitable worlds orbiting Tau Ceti were…

AI is helping us search for intelligent alien life – and we’ve found 8 strange new signals

AI is now used in virtually all areas of science to help researchers with routine classification tasks. It’s also helping our team of radio astronomers broaden the search for extraterrestrial…

Humans are still hunting for aliens. Here’s how astronomers are looking for life beyond Earth

When looking for life beyond Earth, we are faced with two possibilities. We might find basic microbial life hiding somewhere in our Solar System; or we will identify signals from…

How extraterrestrial tales of aliens gain traction

The possibility that we might have been visited by beings from other worlds has always fascinated us. The element of mystery, of the unknown, only makes it more interesting.

Raising Awareness on Space Sustainability through E-Learning

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has developed an interactive e-learning module to raise awareness on the importance of space sustainability.

Assessing the Investment: The Rationale Behind a Small-Budget Country Spending US$65 Million on a Short ISS Visit

In an age where space exploration is no longer the sole dominion of superpowers, smaller nations are increasingly making their mark in the cosmic arena. One of the significant decisions…

What is Gravity Assist and Why is it Important?

Gravity assist, also known as a gravitational slingshot, swing-by, or flyby, is a spaceflight maneuver used to change the speed and direction of a spacecraft by passing it close to…

Giant Volcano and Buried Glacier Ice Discovered on Mars

In a stunning revelation at the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas, scientists announced the discovery of a massive, deeply eroded volcano and potential buried glacier…

Space Law: Outer Space Treaty

The Outer Space Treaty, formally known as the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial…

The Eclipse Megamovie Project: Capturing the Wonders of a Total Solar Eclipse

The Eclipse Megamovie Project is an ambitious citizen science initiative that aims to create a unique record of total solar eclipses by harnessing the power of the public. Led by…

What is the Partial Test Ban and Its Relevance to the Space Economy?

The Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), also known as the Limited Test Ban Treaty, is an international agreement signed in 1963. Its main objective was to prohibit all test detonations…

What is Bioastronautics and Why is it Important?

Bioastronautics is a multidisciplinary field that combines principles of biology, engineering, and aerospace science to study and support life in space. It is an essential area of research and development…

NASA’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request: Advancing U.S. Leadership in Space Exploration and Scientific Discovery

The President's fiscal year 2025 budget request for NASA reflects a continued commitment to advancing U.S. leadership in space exploration, Earth and space science, aeronautics research, and STEM education. The…

Report: Compilation of Space Law US & International Space Law Documents and Agreements (USG 2019)

This article summarizes the key points of the report.

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