Space Technology and The New Space Economy

[China's Chang'e-4 mission made the first-ever landing on the far side of the Moon in 2019.Credit - Xinhua/Alamy]

• Focus areas: Studying the universe, planetary science, astrophysics, solar physics, cosmology, space medicine, and developing technologies for space missions like propulsion systems, communication systems, navigation systems, and life support systems.
• Applications: Space science and technology has applications beyond space exploration, including weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, telecommunications, navigation systems (GPS), and disaster management.
• Disciplines involved: Astronomy, physics, engineering, computer science, materials science, biology, and medicine.

Space technology is technology used in outer space, travel (astronautics) or other activities outside the Earth's atmosphere, for purposes such as space flight, space exploration and Earth observation. 

Space technology includes spacecraft such as spacecraft, satellites, space stations, and orbital launch vehicles; deep space communications; space propulsion; and various other technologies, including supporting infrastructure equipment and procedures.

The space environment is a very new environment, and trying to work in it often requires new tools and techniques.

Many common everyday terrestrial services, such as weather forecasting, remote sensing, satellite navigation systems, satellite television, and some long-distance communication systems, rely heavily on space infrastructure. 

Among the sciences, astronomy and earth sciences benefit from space technology. New technologies generated or accelerated by space-related endeavors are often subsequently exploited in other economic activities.

[Saturn - NASA]

The new space economy is the rise of the commercialization of space exploration. Private investors, corporations and start-ups are investing in and contributing to space exploration. 

The difference between traditional space exploration and current space exploration (sometimes called new space exploration) is that the government no longer needs to intervene completely.

We expect the global space economy to grow rapidly over the next decade and beyond. Investments in space have been made since the 1950s, but what is changing is who those investors are and what those investments really take.

Launching products into space is getting easier and easier. Today, private launch companies can launch small 10x10x10 satellites into space for research and commercial use. Of course, they won't send just one. Launch companies launch together satellites from different companies, sometimes launching more than 49 satellites at a time. 

The number of satellites may quadruple in the next decade (Pultarova & Howell, 2022). There are now more than 2,000 in space, and that number will grow exponentially. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to play a key role in future space exploration, research, and development. AI can help make space travel safer, more efficient, and autonomous.

AI involves a wide collection of technological tools, such as machine learning (ML), that seek to simulate human functions that required human cognition in the past. These functions include: 

Space exploration:

• Autonomous navigation: AI-powered tools can mimic human pilots, allowing for missions to planets like Mars and Venus
• Robotic exploration: AI-controlled robots can explore planets and extract resources like oxygen from water
• Data processing: AI can analyze data from previous missions to help plan future missions
• Mission planning: AI can help plan missions by analyzing data, developing models, and making decisions

Spacecraft development:

• Generative design: AI can help design new spacecraft that are more maneuverable and can travel farther
• 3D printing: AI can help with 3D printing of spacecraft parts
• Material science: AI can help with material science for spacecraft
• Collision avoidance: AI can help with collision avoidance for spacecraft

Astronaut support: 

• Emotional understanding: AI can help astronauts by understanding their emotions and interacting naturally
• Psychological support: AI can help astronauts with psychological support during long missions

Data downlinking:
AI can help resolve data downlinking issues, freeing up bandwidth for communication