The new space domain is gaining traction with numerous new projects run by the new space industry leaders like space x, virgin orbit, or blue origin. Space X is building their project Starlink, which goal is to provide the ultra-low latency internet connection. It is meant to happen through dozen satellites positioned on the low earth orbit. It is independent and easy to set up. This, in turn, allows the remote locations to be connected to the world without the copper lines. In this case, the space giant is providing its consumer services. However, most of the new space sector will be created on the components of the giants but by the small, medium, and big companies not directly involved in satellite production.
As the IoT sector is growing the needs for reliable and fast connection are more important than ever in this case the space industry offers a breakthrough. The Maxar company is introducing their solutions to help the remote islands of Indonesia to obtain internet access. Another incredible area of Maxar is their cooperation with NASA on advanced optical communications and enhanced radio frequency architecture. This, in turn, will allow exploration of the new spaces in the solar system.
As the space domain is increasingly more important in the political sense, the exploratory activities have strong political characterization and are international competition. The thing is no different in Europe. Germany, France, Italy, and Sweden have well-established space agencies focused on ensuring geopolitical security by gaining space sovereignty. Thus, in the European region, where national agencies exist alongside the common European agency, there is a clear divide between the geopolitical domain and the business domain where the new space is usable. This, in turn, creates an interesting space where the politics are separated from the business, consequently creating an area where small-medium companies can enter just to make money and not be part of the political game, at least to some extend.
The opportunities that space gives are of great importance for the safety and prosperity of the earth. An example of a very pragmatic usage of the space domain for the earth’s purposes could be the solution that provides the geospatial data from the oil tanks in the middle east to the stock exchange brokers in New York to check if the oil prices are under or overestimated. Another example is the cooperation of NHS and UK’sUK’s agency and ESA to increase healthcare quality by improving the patients reach with telerehabilitation and tele-homecare. Along with the transportable point of care solutions.
We can see that the new space industry is not the niche creating the new business opportunities but the domain where the old niches will thrive.
Bibliography:
https://www.maxar.com/products/use-cases