CuraLink - Issue 25, March 2024

“ Space matters in terms of collective optics. It is the one area that can unite us all. ”

We all live on the same Earth, under the same sky and in the same galaxy. From space, looking down, we ’ re ultimately earthlings, not divided into countries. That can be humbling because we all share the same home.

How is space becoming democratized? Space used to be a domain for the elite, not just astronauts but also for the countries involved, too. That is starting to change. Satellites are expanding access and revolutionizing the future. There are roughly 9,000 satellites in orbit. In the next 10 years, there will be over 100,000. Rockets are becoming cheaper. That financial shift is going to democratize space and access to information. Private space companies, academic institutions and smaller, less-resourced nations can send satellites to space and conduct research to benefit their needs, from improving agricultural yields to testing hypotheses to address the challenges they face. We can now put satellites over areas without internet connectivity. The implications for small remote villages could be incredible. But we have to think through the management, legal frameworks, accountability and regulation. When we think about the collective future, it has to be integrative and

collaborative. The Artemis Accords, for example, is a non-binding multilateral arrangement signed by 36 countries including the U.S. on how to peacefully engage in space. Although the space industry grew out of the space race, it ’ s becoming a lot more collaborative and inclusive. It ’ s about bringing the best and the brightest from different countries to integrate this infrastructure because no country will be able to do it alone. How do we ensure that the transition from 9,000 to 100,000 satellites is sustainable, resource-wise? Space has a lot of implications for the environment on Earth. Space is already congested with debris. The international community is concerned about making it sustainable, especially because we are hoping to engage in space more robustly. It goes beyond the space stations now in low Earth orbit. We ’ re really looking at a cislunar or Moon-to-Earth economy and all of the infrastructure that will underpin it.

Image of Earth from space taken on March 5, 2024, by the DSCOVR satellite ’ s Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (NASA)

Environmentally, within low Earth orbit, there ’ s a concept called ISAM ( in-orbit assembly, servicing and manufacturing ) , which, when built out, can take Earth out of the equation to do everything in space. The goal is to manufacture, refuel and repair satellites and rockets in space. Also, many new companies are looking toward solving issues like recycling space junk and manufacturing it for something else. One idea is to design satellites that are biodegradable or can be recycled on Earth. “ We need to protect space like we need to protect Earth because it touches every continent, country, city, community and citizen. ” What do you think it ’ s going to look like in the next 10, 20 or even 30 years? Are we going to Mars? We will go to Mars, eventually. I have no doubts about that. But we have to ground the hype and optimism for the future with a practical roadmap. Similar to health care, we have to be realistic and iterative about what ’ s technologically possible now. We should have our collective sights set on the Moon and Mars but understand what it takes to get there. In 10 years, I have no doubts that we will see an infrastructure powering low Earth orbit. By that time, the ISS should be decommissioned, and some of the private space stations and refueling depots should be set up. Within the next decade, the Artemis mission should be landing the next humans on the Moon, which is fantastic and exciting. There will be a surveillance mission to build out the infrastructure on the Moon. We will also have to figure out how to power things in space and return things to Earth. I also wouldn ’ t be surprised if we have a mission to Mars in the next 30 years, which would be incredible. There ’ s never been a better time to become part of the space ecosystem or pay attention to its implications on Earth. We ’ re all building the future together and the more people we can have join our mission the better. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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