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G’day Trailblazers!

We’re Trailblazers, the Space Newsletter that celebrates International Women's Day by rocketing past gender barriers and far into deep space, where the stars shine equally on all. Today, we honor the women who've donned spacesuits, shattered the glass ceiling, and shown us that the sky is not the limit—it's just the beginning.

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#LAUNCHPAD

In today’s edition

• China’s Position on Space Resources Utilization

• StarGraph: The Origin of International Women’s Day

• 5 Resources to Boost Your Workflows

• DealFlow: The Latest Investments in the Space Economy

• GhostInTheMachine: Magic & Moon Dust

#TOGETHER WITH monday.com

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#NEWS

🍪 Space Economy Bites & Snaps

Bites…

⭐ Space Law: At the U.S. Space Command Legal Conference, DOD General Counsel Caroline Krass champions multi-domain lawyering for space, underlining it as essential for global security and legal order in the rapidly evolving space domain. This approach signals an effort to navigate space's legal intricacies, with a focus on international cooperation and sustainable space activities.

⭐ Space Gold Rush: China throws its hat into the space resource ring, lobbying the UN for a seat at the table in crafting laws for the outer space gold rush. This is important and we must ensure that a global dialogue on sustainable exploration paves the way to a responsible engagement by all nations.

… and Snaps

• Space EVs: Italy's MicroHETSat propels the nation into a new era of electric space propulsion.

• AI Edge: Cutting-edge AI technology transforms the fight against space debris, ensuring safer orbits.

• Trailblazer: Nora AlMatrooshi, first Arab woman astronaut, aims for lunar legacy with NASA.

• Investigation: SpaceX probed for Starlink's unintended use in Ukraine conflict, raising sanctions queries.

• Data Boost: Viasat and Rocket Lab unite to boost LEO satellite data relay efficiency.

#REALLY?

🤨 Who is responsible if two satellites collide?

In the event of a collision between two satellites, the responsibility lies with the "launching State," which is the state that launched the satellite or procured its launch service, or from whose territory or facility the satellite was launched. This principle is established in international space law and applies regardless of whether the satellite is currently operated or controlled by private entities. The launching State is liable for damages caused by their space objects, including debris from a collision. However, the complexity of modern space activities, with international joint ventures and private operators, can complicate the identification of the liable party. There is also a growing call for legally binding international treaties to hold satellite makers and operators accountable for space debris and to enforce responsible behavior, such as de-orbiting defunct satellites.

#MARKETWATCH

💹 Investing in the Universe

Here's a list of funds that track companies in the space sector, giving investors access to the expanding space economy. These funds include firms in space exploration, satellite technology, and related areas, offering potential growth aligned with future technological advancements.

• Procure Space ETF (UFO) ▲ $17.03 (+1.1%)

• RK Space Exploration and Innovation (ARKX) ▲ $15.09 (+0.6%)

• S&P Kensho Final Frontiers (ROKT) ▲ $43.36 (+0.7%)

Prices as of March 7, 2024, 4:00 p.m. ET

#EVENTHORIZON

🆙 Trends in Space, Tech, and AI

China’s Position on Space Resources Utilization

The Occurrence

China has officially articulated its stance on the exploration and utilization of space resources through a position paper released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). This document, titled "China's Position on the Exploration and Utilization of Space Resources," was made public on February 28, 2024, marking a significant development in international space policy.

The Details

The CNSA's position paper outlines several key points regarding China's approach to space resource utilization:

• International Cooperation: China stresses the importance of international cooperation and mutual assistance in space resource activities, suggesting the formulation of principles to ensure safe and orderly conduct and promote coordination among States.

• Legal and Policy Framework: The document underscores the need for space resource activities to be regulated within the framework of international space law, with the Outer Space Treaty as the basis. It calls for the consistent and universal application of these laws to provide legal certainty and predictability.

• Sustainable Development: China recognizes the necessity of sustainable space resource activities, advocating for practices that consider the long-term sustainability of resources and intergenerational equity.

• Peaceful Use and Non-appropriation: The position paper reaffirms China's dedication to the peaceful use of outer space and the principle of non-appropriation, suggesting that space resource exploration and utilization must conform to this principle.

• Transparency and Sharing: China plans significant scientific investigations related to space resources, such as the Chang'e lunar probes, and emphasizes that the scientific results and data from these activities should be shared for the benefit of all humankind.

Why It Matters

China's position on the use of space resources carries significant implications for the global space industry. As one of the leading spacefaring nations, China's stance on this issue can influence the development of international norms and regulations governing space resource exploitation. The country's emphasis on international cooperation and a fair, reasonable, and transparent approach suggests a willingness to engage in multilateral discussions on the topic. This could potentially lead to the establishment of a global framework that ensures equitable access to space resources while preventing conflicts and promoting sustainable development. But one must read beyond the fine print. The publication of China's position paper also reflects a growing interest in space resource exploitation, as countries and private companies increasingly look to tap into the potential of space resources for economic and scientific gain. With China's position now on the table, the international community will need to formulate plans in how it will cooperate and collaborate in this emerging field, ultimately—and hopefully—paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable approach to space resource utilization.

#STARGRAPH

📊 The Origin of International Women’s Day

International Women's Day (IWD), observed on March 8th, has its roots in the early 20th century labor movements in North America and Europe, emerging from women's demands for better pay, shorter hours, and voting rights. Officially recognized by the United Nations in 1975, IWD celebrates women's achievements and advocates for gender equality. It's a day to honor the progress made towards gender parity and to acknowledge the ongoing struggle for women's rights worldwide. Importantly, it also celebrates women's contributions in various fields, including space exploration, where women like Valentina Tereshkova and Sally Ride have broken barriers, highlighting the critical role of women in advancing human spaceflight.

#PRODUCTIVITY

🎛️ 5 Resources to Boost Your Workflows

Dataku → Utilizes Large Language Models for advanced data extraction and transformation, turning unstructured texts into structured insights at scale.

Athena → Unlock a wealth of time with the world's best assistants and exceptional delegation coaching.

Monday.com 🎫 → A collaboration platform that allows teams to focus on executing tasks, projects, and processes efficiently and achieve shared goals at scale.

New Space: Access to Space - Basics 🎫 → Introduces space access basics, covering mission analysis, launcher and rocket engine design.

Lightspeed → Podcast: An Explorer Takes an Emotional Journey Across the Stars in This Afrosurreal Sci-Fi Tale.

🎫 indicates a promoted resource, if any.

#DEALFLOW

🌄 The Latest Investments in the Space Economy

Kurs Orbital Secures €3.7M Seed Funding to Boost Satellite Servicing Tech.

Sidus Space Completes Public Offering, Raises $7.9M for Strategic Expansion.

Iridium Announces Acquisition of Satelles to Expand Global PNT Services, Envisions $100M Annual Revenue by 2030

Momentus Closes $4M Direct Offering at Market Price, Aiming for In-Space Services Expansion amidst a difficult financial situation.

#GHOSTINTHEMACHINE

🤖 Inspiration from the World of AI

Magic & Moon Dust

In a groundbreaking blend of magic and space exploration, the globally acclaimed magician David Copperfield, together with the Arch Mission Foundation and supported by the female-led Galactic Legacy Labs LLC, has achieved the remarkable feat of securing a compilation of his most prized secrets and accomplishments on the moon. This significant milestone was facilitated by the successful lunar landing of Intuitive Machines' Nova C lander.

Until Next Time

That brings us to the end of this edition, Trailblazers! Here's how we can assist you further:

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#MISSIONDEBRIEF

🌠 Getting Better Together

I value your opinion, so if you have specific advice or anything interesting you’d like to share, please let me know by replying to this email.

Thank you for reading and see you at the next orbit!

Francois

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