Computer-generated image of objects in Earth orbit that are currently being tracked. Credit: NASA
Private companies now design, launch, own and operate space assets on a scale and pace that was unthinkable a decade ago. Even where companies are not directly involved in the space economy, some portion of their business likely depends on these recent developments. Updated satellite imagery feeds precision agriculture, insurance underwriting and environmental compliance programs. GPS timing signals synchronize financial markets in nanoseconds. Navigational data informs fleet management and last-mile delivery for commercial logistics. Once an aspirational endeavor, the space economy has rapidly become part and parcel of the commercial infrastructure for businesses of all shapes, sizes and disciplines.
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