Communications
Broadband constellations and direct-to-phone connectivity.
Future Space Industries
The economy beyond Earth
Space is now a commercial frontier. We map the industries emerging around it and the skills they will need.
Lunar surface
Illustration
Illustration
Future Space Industries
The Global Space Economy
The space economy is estimated at more than US$600 billion a year. The World Economic Forum and McKinsey project it could reach about US$1.8 trillion by 2035.
Much of today’s activity is satellite services, from navigation to broadband and Earth imagery. Launch costs are falling and new entrants are growing the sector.
$600B+
Global space economy, annual
$1.8T
Projected by 2035
10,000+
Active satellites in orbit
Future Space Industries
Commercial Spaceflight
Reusable rockets and private capsules have cut the cost of reaching orbit and opened crew and cargo transport to companies. New markets include space tourism, in-orbit servicing and point-to-point transport.
- Reusable launch vehicles
- Crew and cargo services
- Orbital tourism and research flights
Future Space Industries
Space Mining Opportunities
The first customers of space resources will be other spacecraft, buying water for propellant and life support, not buyers on Earth. Lunar polar ice and water-rich asteroids are the early targets.
Future Space Industries
Satellite Services
Earth observation
Daily imagery for agriculture, insurance, energy and cities.
Navigation
Positioning and timing that power transport, logistics and finance.
Weather and climate
Forecasts and long-term records from orbit.
Future Space Industries
Space Manufacturing
Microgravity enables high-value products such as fibre optics, pharmaceuticals and advanced alloys. In-orbit assembly makes structures too large to launch whole.
Future Space Industries
Space-Based Solar Power
Satellites in orbit could collect sunlight around the clock and beam it to Earth as microwaves. Several space agencies and companies are testing the key technologies, but costs must fall a long way before it is competitive.
- Constant sunlight above the atmosphere
- Wireless power transmission tests
- Large structures assembled in orbit
Future Space Industries
Space Startups and Entrepreneurship
Founder clinics
Mentor sessions on technical risk, regulation and funding.
Venture challenges
Pitch to a panel and win mentoring and facility access.
Talent network
Connect students and graduates with early-stage space companies.
Future Space Industries
Investment and Industry Insights
Plain-language briefings for investors, policymakers and professionals. SPACE 1 provides education, not financial advice.
Where the revenue is
A breakdown of the space economy by segment and growth rate.
Regulation and licensing
What a company needs before launching or operating in orbit.
Risk in space ventures
Technical, regulatory and market risks and how teams manage them.
Future Space Industries
Future Space Cities
Settlements on the Moon and Mars are a long-term possibility, not a near-term product. We explore the engineering, law, health and ethical questions to prepare students to evaluate such proposals critically.
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