Innovation is fueling space exploration and opening doors for space colonization

The 4IR and space have a positive, mutually reinforcing relationship: Scientific advancements and the convergence of technologies are leading to advances in space exploration, while advances in space are leading to the creation of new technologies and applications. Advances in blockchain technology, artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, materials science, nanotechnology, and biotechnology have led to two key trends—decreasing launch costs and increasing capabilities of smaller satellites—both of which are leading to new capabilities for the sake of exploration and with direct benefit to society on Earth. 

The advancements in materials science and 3D printing have significantly decreased launch costs with sweeping impacts for the space industry. Advanced materials, such as carbon fiber and advanced composites, are also being used for rockets, significantly decreasing their overall weight and saving millions of dollars in the fuel needed for launch. 3D printing is lowering spacecraft manufacturing costs, especially for rocket engines—oxygen and kerosene engines now take only 24 hours to produce using 3D printing.[1] Going forward, companies and governments are exploring how 3D printing in orbit can be expanded to take advantage of the microgravity in space to print fiber optic cables, tools, and construction materials in new, more effective ways. Reusable rockets are also becoming a reality, making trips to the lower Earth orbit more sustainable and accessible going forward for individuals and for companies in industries from pharmaceuticals to energy that may eventually operate there as they take advantage of the microgravity and other physical characteristics. 

Decreasing launch costs are increasing the popularity of small satellites. Compared to constellations of fewer, larger satellites, these constellations of small satellites are significantly cheaper to make, faster to produce, and easier to troubleshoot due to advances in 3D printing and materials science coupled with improvements in processing power, data storage, camera technology, solar array efficiency, miniaturization, and propulsion. Countries and companies of all sizes are taking advantage of these advances already. Small satellites make up about 94 percent of all spacecraft launches, growing from a total of 53 to 1,743 from 2017 to 2021. New companies are leveraging small satellites to build large broadband constellations including SpaceX, OneWeb, Telesat Canada, Samsung, and Boeing, among others. 

The increase in small satellites has led to a huge growth in sensors which is shepherding the entry of new companies that leverage remote sensors in space to be able to capture images and power technologies on Earth. These satellite constellations produce an enormous amount of data, which is leading to the huge growth in the demand for data storage and analysis, with companies using AI, especially machine learning and deep learning, to turn data into intelligence that powers a range of commercial uses including monitoring food supply, tracking greenhouse gas emissions, and monitoring energy supply chains. 

The decreasing costs coupled with more widespread technological adoption underpinned by the 4IR has led to an unprecedented era of accessibility for new players in the space industry, from state actors to private companies. As of 2021, the global space industry was made up of over 10,000 private space technology companies, 5,000 large investors, 130 state organizations, and 20 business sectors. 

Among state actors, the United States is the leader in both public space investment (at $54.6 billion in 2021—almost 60 percent of global government investment in space) and private space investment in terms of the number of companies in the industry (the United States has almost ten times as many space companies as the next country—the United Kingdom). Despite the United States maintaining its leadership in financial investment, China’s commitment to space investment as a driver for economic competitiveness has quickly catapulted the country to global leadership in space. Second to the U.S. in space investment and innovation, China spent $10.3 billion on space programs in 2021, increasing satellite launches, applications, and imagery while investing in an even more advanced telescope than the Hubble that will photograph 40% of the Earth’s sky. 

Beyond the U.S. and China, advanced technologies are making it easier and more enticing for new countries to enter the market. Now, 20 countries across four continents have civil space budgets of more than $100 million, while 70 countries have active space programs including more recent additions like the Philippines in 2019 and Rwanda and Costa Rica in 2021. Countries including India, South Korea, Israel, and EU members are increasingly investing in space missions, while Pakistan, Laos, Belarus, and Venezuela are purchasing satellites in collaboration with China. African countries have also invested in their space industry, now having launched the first satellite to be entirely developed in Africa. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates was applauded for being the first country of its scale to launch a scientific mission to Mars. Regional organizations are investing in space as well, with the recent addition of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) joining the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO). 

In addition to the range of new state actors involved in space investment, the sheer number of private space companies and their capabilities showcase how much the space landscape has opened up in terms of the types of players involved—the private sector, including private companies and individual entrepreneurs, now leads the public sector in space discovery and technological application. Commercial space activity is at the center of the “modern space race,” having tripled from $110 billion to almost $357 billion from 2005 to 2020. Major players including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin have been competing to become leaders in space tourism and communications. While these major companies are leading the charge in terms of size and investment, advances in technology have made it possible for other countries to join the commercial space industry. For example, even though more traditional players such as the U.S., China, and Russia have experienced the most growth in the commercial satellite industry, now an Argentine company, Satellogic, and a Finnish company, ICEYE, are among the top five leading commercial space satellite companies.