If you ask people the question “will space commercialization happen near in the future?”, their answers are usually divided into 2 groups. The first one is positive, believing that the commercial space industry will happen in their lifetime, and the second one being negative, believing that it is just mere science fiction and that it would not happen in the near future. While tech leaders have promised us moon bases and space settlements, the space economy has thus far remained distinctly local — at least in a cosmic sense. But, the fact is that the progress of the commercial space industry is being made consistently and continuously. With many projects being successfully launched and made into reality, the dream of exploring space won’t be mere imagination anymore.
For most people, it’s hard to imagine what ‘space utilization and economy’ can entail. But, it’s nearer to us than we expect. The wifi and internet we use are a part of it. This sector includes the space-for-earth economy. It means using the goods and services from space for use in the earth, such as earth observation capabilities, and internet infrastructure. This sector has had major improvements in the last 20 years or so, although (according to research done in 2016) many problems are expected in the future such as overcrowding and monopolization that tend to happen when scarce natural resources are available for companies to sink their teeth on. The other sector though, space-for-space, which means goods and services produced in space for use there (such as materials mined in the moon used for building settlements there) hasn’t had any major improvement. Or that was the case until a recent achievement done by SpaceX.
The common idea was that the space is reserved for major corporations dependent on government and military bodies (source). Because, well, they were the only ones able to collect such funds and people necessary for big projects but SpaceX changed the game forever when they became the first private company to be commissioned by NASA and make a rocket to send NASA astronauts to the international space station. This became an eye-opener to most people that previously believed commercialization space travel was only possible by country-owned corporations. This sparked a new wave of interest by all parties. The advancement of technology, making small, fast, and inexpensive systems and reusable rocketry are also enabling companies to invest more into this industry. As you’re reading this right now, many more big projects are being made or even launched by many other private firms, such as Virgin Galactics, Boeing, and Blue Galactic's effort in landing humans on the moon once more.
Space commercialization is a big thing for private companies, much more so than government owned ones. They will instead focus on the space-for-earth industry and understandably so as their expenditures must be justified by demonstrating benefits for citizens - and the citizens these governments represent are (nearly) all on earth (source), not only for those who can afford it such as for space commercial visits. But in contrast, private companies only serve to please people’s (tourists) demands that they created. For example, SpaceX has promised space commercialization, that space visits and mars settlements are possible in the near future. This has become their main motivation in making it into reality. Another company that focuses on space transportation is Axiom Space who recently announced that it will be launching the first ever fully private commercial visit to space in 2022.
Other private companies also delve into space-for-space industry, but many of them focus not on space transportation like SpaceX and Axiom Space, but on manufacturing the key components, creature comfort, and many more. Made In Space, Inc. has had the lead on 3d printing space transportation components. They are currently in the process of making a whole 3d printed rocket. Although they are mostly commissioned by NASA now, they hope to eventually fill the demands of more private sector companies. In 2015, Argotec and Lavazza collaborated to create the first espresso machine that is able to work in a zero gravity environment, delivering luxuries even for people in space. Meanwhile, Planetary Resources, Inc. and Deep Space Industries focus on the potential and possibilities of space mining. Although, the long term success of their project is unclear, as the expense far outweighs the profits.
With all things considered, it’s not outlandish to believe that space commercialization is possible. Some might argue that space commercialization or even space exploration is not worth the cost and effort. But to explore is to be human. We thrive to seek and discover what is unknown. Just like how early humans decided to sail into the unknown, we have no assurance of what we will find on the other side. We might fail and discover that there is nothing after all. But just like how they found the land which we stand on today, we as humans have the duty to muster forward. Ultimately, space exploration symbolizes hope for humanity, to put aside all our differences and work on one goal and achieve the impossible.
Writer: Christy A
Editor: Jessica A
Source :
Space, A., 2021. Space Business Opportunities. [online] Alén Space. Available at: <https://alen.space/space-business/> [Accessed 21 October 2021].
Fast Company. 2021. The 10 most innovative space companies of 2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.fastcompany.com/90600324/space-most-innovative-companies-2021> [Accessed 21 October 2021].
Harvard Business Review. 2021. The Commercial Space Age Is Here. [online] Available at: <https://hbr.org/2021/02/the-commercial-space-age-is-here> [Accessed 21 October 2021].
Blue Marble Space Institute of Science. 2021. Is Space Exploration a Waste of Money? - Blue Marble Space Institute of Science. [online] Available at: <https://www.bmsis.org/is-space-exploration-a-waste-of-money/> [Accessed 21 October 2021].
Image source :
https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/24/17388680/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-block-5-commercial-crew-nasa-copv
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