Wade Roush
Wade Roush is an independent technology journalist and the host and producer of the podcast Soonish (www.soonishpodcast.org), which explores how the f
Today, theres a boom in space-related innovation and investment not just at big aerospace companies, but at dozens of smaller startups as well.
The Martianby Andy Weir wasnt the first book about space exploration by a non-famous author that got made into a big Hollywood movie. Space-movie buffs know that back in 1998, a former NASA engineer named Homer Hickam wrote a memoir calledRocket Boysthat was made into the 1999 filmOctober Sky, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Laura Dern.
Whats less widely known is that Hickam followed up that success with his first book-length work of fiction, a 1999 cult hit calledBack to the Moon. It was a techno-thriller about a renegade scientist who hijacks a space shuttle and figures out how to fly it all the way to the moon, to gather a rare helium isotope needed as a fuel for nuclear fusion.
I ate up the Hickam novel, both because I was working at NASA at the time and because I was impatient for ouractualreturn to the moon.
To me, the space shuttle was an amazing invention, but it felt like a technological dead end, forever limited (the antics in Hickams book notwithstanding)to low-earth orbit. As an orphan of Apollo born a few years too late to remember NASAs six moon landings between 1969 and 1972 Id been waiting a long time for someone to figure out how well really travel back to the moon and then beyond.
Today were still waiting. Theres some talk within NASA about sending astronauts to orbit the moon aboard the new Orion spacecraft as soon as 2018, some three to five years earlier than previously planned. SpaceX wants to do something similar. But even if those plans pan out, the astronauts wouldnt touch down. And while the European Space Agency has proposed building aMoon Villageto take the place of the International Space Station, which is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2024, theres no timeline for that project yet.
In fact, it looks like the next batch of spacecraft heading to the lunar surface will be the privately operated robotic rovers built by the five teams competing for theGoogle Lunar X Prize. Whichever team is the first to land their rover first, maneuver it 500 meters across the surface, and send back high-definition video pictures will win the $20 million first prize. (The pressure is on since the prize expires after December 31, but after years of delays, all five GLXP teams now have rocket rides reserved.)
And that could be a harbinger of a new era of space exploration led, in large part, by private, non-governmental entities. These days, national space agencies just dont seem to have the vision, the cash or the popular support needed to initiate humanitys next big steps into space. Theyve left a leadership vacuum as big as space itself. And its being filled by dozens of private companies of all scales not just the giant aerospace manufacturers like Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Airbus and the makers of the new generation of reusable rockets like Blue Origin, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, but also (and just as intriguingly) a raft of smaller startups.
This weeks episode of Soonish is all about those astropreneurs, the early-stage space entrepreneurs who hope to make it big by inventing faster, better, cheaper technologies for propulsion, surveillance, manufacturing and other activities in space.
Many of these companies are benefiting from the introduction of theCubesatdesign specification, an open standard built around 10x10x10-centimeter blocks that can be combined into satellites of arbitrary size. Theres a growing supply chain of Cubesat components, with some merchants even offering parts on Amazon. That means space startups can build satellites mostly using off-the-shelf technology, while focusing the real innovation and investment on the components that are core to their mission. In the case ofLunar Station, a startup featured in this weeks episode, thats a high-definition digital video camera that will capture and retransmit live-stream video of the moon.
But other startups are already looking beyond the microsatellite market.Accion Systemsin Boston, another company featured in this episode,started off thinking that it would offer its new liquid-propellant-based ion engines solely to Cubesat builders. But now the company also wants to supply its engines to makers of larger satellites with masses of 50kg to 150kg, according to CEO Natalya Bailey.
Space offers not just microgravity but an unfettered view of the heavens and the earth. So, tomorrows space economy will likely revolve around a mix of activities such as Earth observation, manufacturing, and mining and fuel production. And its not just billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk pouring money into these visions: venture capital funds put more than $2 billion into space companies in 2015. (More recent figures arent available yet.) And according to Ariel Waldman, a space activist and author whos also featured in this episode, there are more ways than ever for average citizens to get involved in space exploration.
Its probably a little bit frothy right now, but in the longer term, commercial space is here to stay, says Bailey at Accion Systems, which has raised nearly $10 million in venture backing. When people said, Lets lay down hundreds and hundreds of miles of copper wire to communicate with people, Im sure some folks thought that was crazy too. I think were just at another inflection point like that. And sure, we may lose some of the new space startups. But I think space is just going to continue to become more and more present in our lives.
Its about time.
*[This podcast was originally featured bySoonish.]
The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observers editorial policy.
Photo Credit: PremiumArt / Shutterstock.com
Join our community of more than 1,800 contributors to publish your perspective, share your narrative and shape the global discourse. Become a Fair Observer and help us make sense of the world.
Here is the original post:
Exploring Space With Astropreneurs - Fair Observer
- Space | National Archives - January 5th, 2017 [January 5th, 2017]
- 50 Years of Presidential Visions for Space Exploration - January 30th, 2017 [January 30th, 2017]
- New 'Life' Trailer Brings Terrifying Thrills from Mars (Exclusive) - Space.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Obama gutted NASA. Here are 3 ways Trump can make space ... - Conservative Review - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Dassault Systemes sets eyes on space exploration, faster transport - Economic Times - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Cassini Captures Stunning View of Enceladus | Space Exploration ... - Sci-News.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Space Exploration: Astronauts' Brains Are Changed By Spaceflight, MRI-Based Study Reveals - International Business Times - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- TeamIndus launches Moonshot Wheels to inspire Indian rural students about Space Exploration - International Business Times, India Edition - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Belarus invites Iran to cooperate in pharmaceutical industry, space exploration - Belarus News (BelTA) - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Cabinet briefed on India-Vietnam Framework Agreement on outer space exploration - Daily News & Analysis - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Legislation Would Require Strategic Plan for NASA Human Spaceflight - Space.com - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Trump's Vision of Space Exploration - The New American - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- New NASA Leadership Inherits Rejuvenated Space Exploration Program - eNews Park Forest - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Outgoing NASA Team Leaves Its Successors With Robust Options for Space Exploration - Center For American Progress - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Space exploration brought to life for pupils - Norfolk Eastern Daily Press - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Mechs and greater space exploration are on the way in Starbound's ... - PCGamesN - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- As US, Russia eye stagnant space budgets, India ramps up investment - Ars Technica - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Nuclear Reactors to Power Space Exploration - R & D Magazine - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- NASA spends $2mn on 'advanced life support tech' for deep space travel - RT - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Space Exploration: Could A Habitable Planet Feature A Habitable Moon? - Forbes - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Turkmenistan Aims High as It Pledges Space Exploration - EurasiaNet - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Republicans Aim to Prioritize NASA Space Exploration Efforts Over Environmental Research - Independent Journal Review - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- One huge step: Trump's plans to privatize 'low Earth orbit' and send NASA into deep space - Yahoo News - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- How reusable rockets are paving the way for the next phase of space exploration - Mirror.co.uk - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- NASA Funds 2 New Research Institutes to Help Humanity Explore Deep Space - Space.com - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Space Startups Are Booming in the Mojave Desert - Fortune - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Sen. Nelson Talks Space Exploration At Florida A&M University ... - WFSU - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- DELINGPOLE: NASA to Stop Shilling for Big Green, Restart Exploring Space - Breitbart News - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Nuclear reactors to power space exploration - Los Alamos Monitor - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Space exploration programs must continue - The Eagle - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Editorial: Exploration can help us understand this planet - Loveland Reporter-Herald - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- NASA selects new technologies for flight tests for future space exploration - Space Daily - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Why Does NASA Suddenly Want Humans On New Spacecraft's First Flight? - Vocativ - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- NASA seeks university-level solutions for deep space human exploration challenges - Pulse Headlines - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Should Humans Leave Space Exploration To Robots? - Forbes - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Space Exploration - WGN Radio - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- EDITORIAL: Jumping at space travel - Indiana Daily Student - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Why the 'ultimate wearables' lie in the future of space exploration - Wareable - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- How to improve SA's space program - News24 - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Darlington power plant helps fuel NASA's space exploration - CTV News - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Donald Trump Will Call For a Return of Human Space Exploration - Inverse - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- What Donald Trump Said About Space Travel During His Speech - Heavy.com - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Trump's call for human space exploration is hugely wasteful and pointless - Los Angeles Times - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- What is the fascination with space exploration? - Grand Valley Lanthorn - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Teachers attend space exploration conference, bring back lessons out of this world - Arlington Times - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Reader applauds space exploration pioneers - Fairfaxtimes.com - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Jeff Bezos Expected to Unveil Further Plans for Private Space Exploration - Wall Street Journal (subscription) - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- Your Cheat-Sheet Guide to the New Space Race - Slate Magazine - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Amazon chief to announce new space exploration plans - RT - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Amazon Chief Bezos Expected to Unveil Further Private Space Exploration Plans - Fox Business - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- If India or China Beats the US to Mars, It Will Feel Like a Military Defeat - Slate Magazine - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- When We Explore Space, We Go Together - Slate Magazine - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- How Barack Obama ruined NASA space exploration - The Hill (blog) - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Future Tense Newsletter: Space Exploration Isn't Just About Scientific Discovery - Slate Magazine (blog) - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- NASA Funds 133 Projects to Aid Deep Space Exploration - PC Magazine - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- A Trinity professor will play a big role in space exploration - thejournal.ie - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Congress Passes Space Exploration Act, Targets Mars - America Now - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Russia Aims to Develop New Cooperation in Space Exploration - Sputnik International - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- NASA Announces 2017 'Chroniclers,' Recognizing Those Who ... - SpaceCoastDaily.com - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- The Pros And Cons Of Privatizing Space Exploration - Forbes - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Space Exploration Experts Look to Next Frontiers at Event - UMass Lowell - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- CNSA boss outlines China's space exploration agenda - SpaceNews - SpaceNews - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- These Are the Wildly Advanced Space Exploration Concepts Being ... - Gizmodo - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation - Wikipedia - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- A Brief History of Space Exploration - The Aerospace Corporation - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Americans Like Spending Money on Space Exploration, Survey Finds - Inverse - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Launch of India's biggest rocket is a defining moment in space exploration - DailyO - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Space Matter: The Trouble with Spacesuits :: Science :: Features ... - Paste Magazine - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- China willing to cooperate in peaceful space exploration: Xi - Space Daily - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Pence reiterates plans to reestablish the National Space Council - SpaceNews - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Space Exploration: Can Private Companies Operate in Space? - Law Street Media (blog) - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Space Exploration Game 'Outreach' Receives First Gameplay Trailer ... - Hardcore Gamer - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Will Space Exploration lead us to a Global Space Agency - Space Daily - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- The Origami of Space Exploration - Scientific American (blog) - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Ocean vs Space: Exploration and the Quest to Inspire the Public - Marine Technology News - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- A 3D-printed rocket engine just launched a new era of space exploration - The Independent - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Belarus' drive for peaceful space exploration underlined - Belarus News (BelTA) - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Here's why you should pay close attention to India's space program - Mashable - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- China to provide more opportunities to private companies for space exploration - Space Daily - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Space exploration: The solutions to land scarcity - Real Estate Weekly - June 10th, 2017 [June 10th, 2017]