In 2021, investors poured US$15.4 billion into the NewSpace market. Another US$7 billion was invested in Q1 of 2022. Citi Group recently predicted the global space economy will top US$1 trillion by 2040. Why such a huge push—just for short-term ROI? Although that’s what most investment groups concentrate on, I assure you the NewSpace players now being funded are aiming much higher.

The small satellite boom has been fueled by countless space components specialists innovating in the market, fueling success that has allowed for ever more advanced technological milestones. Sodern, an ArianeGroup company, is producing space optronics enabling satellites and space vehicles to navigate, as well as high-profile scientific missions far beyond Earth. Vincent Dedieu, COO & Deputy CEO of Sodern told us how the company came to develop the trust required for such a monumental undertaking, and where they plan to take us in the future.

According to the Federal Communication Commission’s 14th Broadband Deployment Report issued on January 19, 2021, only 63.7 percent of Alaskans living in rural areas have access to wired broadband at speeds of at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. Thanks to the efforts of Pacific Dataport, Inc., Kratos, and Astranis, Alaska’s middle and last mile broadband capacity is expected to triple. The plan is to expand 25/3 broadband service to the isolated and remote communities who need it most at a price they can afford.

As we approach what many experts believe to be a space tourism boom, parabolic microgravity providers are seeing a new wave of interest. Thrill-seekers, astronauts-in-training, and academics are seizing upon zero-gravity simulation experiences in anticipation of the NewSpace era maturing. Zero-G Corporation is one such provider and their business is rapidly expanding. Michelle Peters, Director of Research and Education at the company shares the business’ position in the growing space ecosystem.

With tech trailblazers like Bezos, Musk, and Branson fueling space economics, the investment community has fast developed a fascination for NewSpace startups. With powerful ideas and a great potential for growth on the horizon, Shagun Sachdeva, Founder of Kosmic Apple believes we’re likely to see more big moves from the sector, but there are still lessons to be learned.

Despite popular opinion around the space projects being somewhat lacklustre given the
weight of environmental concerns on Earth, there exists a healthy potential for supporting a
greener planet with off-world resources, specifically the Moon’s Helium-3 reserves. Such
futuristic concepts seem far beyond our time, but some developers are already working on
establishing these realities today.

As the global space industry begins to truly flourish, it is beginning to attract the attention of environmental activists, who are understandably concerned about the cost the planet pays for our satellites and spacecraft. With the proverbial rulebook on space business waiting to be written, we find ourselves at a pivotal juncture, with the opportunity to normalize sustainable practice in space before we start making mistakes. The UK has been a haven of this “green space” narrative and has the potential to disrupt the unsustainable markets we see influencing budding space economies.

Benchmark Space Systems offers scalable, launch vehicle agnostic propulsion products and services for a wide range of spacecraft—from 3U CubeSats through ESPA-class (3-500kg) satellites, lunar landers, spent launcher stages, and orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs). The company’s Halcyon high-test peroxide (HTP)-based propulsion system has successfully performed mission-critical manoeuvres aboard government and commercial missions on three satellites, and its Halcyon Avant green bipropellant thrusters will power Spaceflight’s Sherpa-LTC OTV. We spoke with Chris Carella, EVP of Business Development and Strategy, to get the lowdown on Benchmark’s current and future trajectory.

Vyoma offers space traffic management services to satellite operators by means of global ground-based sensors that provide real-time tracking. The company plans to extend its network with the deployment of observation satellites equipped with onboard cameras that will monitor dangerous space junk and debris in LEO. Machine learning algorithms will then be employed to deliver automated collision-avoidance procedures for its clients’ satellites. With protection and sustainability at the heart of its business model, Vyoma is in the perfect position to discuss the importance of space defense.

Comtech has a significant focus and investment in cybersecurity solutions and capabilities. The result is a range of applications and capabilities that run the gamut from secure networking to Comtech’s next-gen high-speed TRANSEC card. With modernization a top priority for the US Department of Defense (DoD), Comtech is committed to enabling government agencies and defense forces to reach those key objectives more quickly than ever before. Daniel Gizinski, President of Comtech Satellite Network Technologies, Inc. details the company’s strategy for ensuring those users have secure satcom solutions that are failsafe and easy to use.

Isotropic Systems has had a series of announcements in pursuit of a better standard of compatibility across communications. With ST Engineering iDirect, Teledyne, and Spacebridge collaborations already under their belt, they plan to simplify communication flexibility even further in mission-critical fields. Brian Billman, Chief Marketing Officer explains Isotropic Systems’ approach.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is in the final stages of calibrating its science instruments, having already completed its million-mile journey to the second Lagrange (L2) point where it will orbit for the next 5 to 10 years. Launched on December 25, 2021, aboard an Arianespace Ariane5 rocket, JWST has deployed its sunshield and mirror, cooled, and aligned its telescope, and tested its ability to track a nearby object. Just weeks from now, JWST will be transmitting images and spectra that will alter our understanding of the universe.