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G’day — and welcome to the 193 Trailblazers who have joined us since last time!

We’re Trailblazers, the Space Newsletter that keeps your feet on the ground while your head's on the Moon with Apple Vision Pro. Ah, we also bring you the latest on how non-space businesses can profit from the burgeoning space market!

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#LAUNCHPAD

In today’s edition

• Space Readiness Level’ as a tool to enter the space economy

• Apple Vision Pro’s mixed-reality magic to improve space operations?

• StarGraph: NASA Budget as % of Federal Spending 2000-2022

• 5 resources to boost your workflows

• InTheLoop: Tech trends on Earth shaping our future in space

• GhostInTheMachine: The State of the Space Industry

#NEWS

🍪 Space Economy Bites & Snaps

Bites…

⭐ Moon Mining: A startup named Interlune, led by former Blue Origin executives, has raised $15.5 million to pioneer resource extraction from the moon. With minimal public details, Interlune's approach aims to initiate a sustainable in-space economy, leveraging technology to sort lunar soil for various applications. This venture not only highlights the growing interest in in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) but also aligns with NASA's vision for long-term lunar outposts. Interlune's progress could mark a significant step towards harnessing the moon's resources, potentially revolutionizing space exploration and sustainability. Interlune joins other startups in this area like Magna Petra and Quosmosys.

⭐ Space Accelerator: AWS has launched a new Space Accelerator program in India, aiming to boost India-based startups in the space technology sector. This 14-week program offers technical, business, and mentorship opportunities to foster innovation and accelerate startup growth. It's significant because it supports the burgeoning space economy in India, which is expected to reach $44 billion by 2033. Participants will receive up to $100,000 in AWS credits, expert guidance, and business support, marking an interesting moment for space innovation in the region.

… and Snaps

• Next-Gen Connectivity: SpaceX upgrades Starlink with the V4 dish for all U.S. users, promising faster speeds and Wi-Fi 6, while phasing out the older model for enhanced internet service.

• JPL Layoffs: NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab announces an 8% workforce cut, possibly affecting the Mars Sample Return mission, highlighting the need for stable space funding models.

• Debris Management: Astroscale's ADRAS-J satellite launch with Rocket Lab aims at improving orbital debris management for space sustainability, stressing satellite servicing and long-term orbital health.

• Swan Song: ERS-2, a trailblazer in Earth observation, prepares for atmospheric reentry, highlighting the end of an impactful mission and the ongoing challenge of space debris management.

• Solar Boost: Innovative orbiting mirrors could amplify solar farm output, offering a potential leap in clean energy generation and a step towards 24/7 renewable power.

#TOGETHER WITH NOTION

Space Pros: Achieve More in 2024 with Goal Setting!

With Notion, it’s never been easier to set goals… and follow through. Whether you’re kicking off a new gym routine, organizing a family trip, or tracking your space business goals, Notion makes following through on your plans easier than ever. Simply choose a template, add friends and teammates, and start making progress on your 2024 resolutions.

Click here to learn more and get started for free.

#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) ▲ $16.58 (+0.8%) 

• RK Space Exploration and Innovation (ARKX) ▲ $14.42 (+0.9%)

• S&P Kensho Final Frontiers (ROKT) ▲ $42.87 (+0.7%)

Prices as of February 5, 2024, 3:48 p.m. ET

#EVENTHORIZON

🆙 Trends in Space, Tech, and AI

Space Readiness Level as a Tool to Enter the Space Economy

The space economy offers unprecedented opportunities for growth and innovation, and not just for the industry's giants but for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and non-space businesses too.

Antonio Del Mastro and Pietro Veragouth have penned an interesting white paper on “Space Readiness Levels” (SRLs), a concept that could shift the way we measure a company's potential in the space sector.

SRLs offer a nuanced metric, akin to Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), but with a focus on a company's overall readiness for space market entry.

This includes technological maturity and strategic positioning, providing a clear roadmap for investment and development in the space economy.

Why is this important? As the space sector expands, It will become more and more crucial for traditional companies to have a structured approach to transition into this market.

SRLs serve as a guide, ensuring that financial strategies align with technological advancements, which is vital for stakeholders like investors and venture capitalists.

The paper outlines seven SRLs, from basic space sector knowledge to having flight-proven systems.

It also introduces a certification system, enabling companies to validate and communicate their space sector involvement.

However, one might question the adaptability of SRLs across different industries and how they compare with existing metrics.

There could also be a risk of redundancy with TRLs, unless SRLs offer a more comprehensive view and are quickly adopted by the industry.

Nevertheless, the paper makes a strong case for SRLs to systematically catalyze the space industry's growth.

Their ultimate success will depend on buy-in from space agencies, investors, and companies.

An international certification mechanism could certainly be impactful if used by a critical mass. But past experience shows how extremely difficult it is to align industry players on open standardization and certification framework. This is in stark contract with the tech industry.

As space commercialization accelerates, SRLs may prove an essential index of private sector readiness.

In a future edition of Trailblazers, we'll dive deeper into how non-space businesses can enter the space economy. Hit reply to this email if there's a specific angle you'd like us to cover!

#STARGRAPH

📊 NASA Budget as % of Federal Spending 2000-2022

US Congress slashing NASA's science funding, a move that could stifle future economic growth and innovation in space exploration.

#SPACEAPPS

🕶️ Apple Vision Pro’s mixed-reality magic to improve space operations?

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies are increasingly becoming integral to the space industry. They offer innovative solutions for training, mission planning, and operations. Up until now, space agencies have been the main players leveraging these technologies for astronaut missions. The introduction of Apple's Vision Pro introduces new possibilities at a lower cost. It blends digital content with the physical world. Here's a rundown of how VR and AR are currently used in space and how the Vision Pro could kick things up a notch.

How We're Using VR and AR in Space Right Now

1. VR Control of Robots: VR helps operate robotic arms and vehicles in space. It uses haptic interfaces for touch and motion simulation.

2. Immersive Exercise: Astronauts use VR for exercise motivation, like cycling around lunar craters. This potentially improves well-being during long missions.

3. AR Maintenance Assistance: AR assists crew members in inspecting and maintaining equipment by providing guided instructions and visual aids.

4. Space Experimentation and Upgrades: VR and AR facilitate space experimentation, allowing for virtual reconstructions of environments for research and planning purposes.

5. Space Safety Training: These technologies simulate environments and scenarios for astronaut training, enhancing preparedness for real-world challenges.

6. Planetary Exploration: VR helps map planetary surfaces and plan exploration routes.

How Apple Vision Pro Could Change the Game

The Vision Pro, with its advanced spatial computing capabilities, could potentially enhance the existing uses of VR and AR in space applications. It offers a commercial-of-the-shelf option for private companies and operators:

1. Enhanced Astronaut Training: Its high-resolution and intuitive controls could offer more realistic training simulations, improving skill acquisition and retention.

2. Improved Remote Operations: Its spatial computing might refine VR interfaces for robotic control, offering more precise and intuitive manipulation.

3. On-Orbit Servicing: On-orbit servicing involves the inspection, repair, and upgrading of satellites in space. Vision Pro could visualize the servicing process, providing a 3D view of the satellite and the servicing equipment. This could make the process more efficient and reduce the risk of errors.

4. Augmented Maintenance and Experimentation: Vision Pro has the ability to overlay digital content onto the physical world, like HoloLens. Vision Pro could provide more interactive AR guides, enhancing efficiency and reducing errors at a lower cost.

5. Collaborative Mission Planning: Vision Pro could be used to create more detailed 3D simulations for better mission planning. This could include simulating the launch, orbit, and landing of spacecraft, as well as any planned extravehicular activities.

6. Communication: Vision Pro could be used to enhance communication in space. It might enhance video conferencing, making astronauts feel more connected to their colleagues and family on Earth.

7. Education and Outreach: Vision Pro could create immersive educational experiences about space to inspire and educate the next generation . This could include virtual tours of the International Space Station or other planets, or simulations of historical space missions.

8. Sustainability and Accessibility: Apple's commitment to carbon neutrality and the elimination of harmful materials in its products, including the Vision Pro, aligns with the space industry's growing focus on sustainability. The device's potential for widespread adoption could also make advanced VR and AR tools more accessible to space agencies and companies.

The Vision Pro's success in the space industry depends on developing specific applications that leverage its spatial computing capabilities. Developers now have the resources to create these specialized applications: visionOS, Xcode, SwiftUI, RealityKit, ARKit, Unity. This opens up broader access to business opportunities in comparison to bespoke, more costly hardware-based solutions.

What’s your idea for a VR/AR space application with Vision Pro?

#PRODUCTIVITY

🎛️ 5 Resources to Boost Your Workflows

Sune AI → An AI operating system for team collaboration and automation, integrating documents, spreadsheets, and projects into one productive workspace.

Venturekit → An AI business plan generator that creates a full plan with an executive summary, SWOT, marketing strategy, and more from a few questions.

Notion 🎫 → A collaboration platform that allows you to create, organize, and share various types of content, such as wikis, projects, notes, and documents

Expanding Frontiers → A guide on investing in space, highlighting sector growth, company diversity, and increasing investor opportunities.

AI on Mars → On the "Me, Myself, and AI" podcast, NASA's Vandi Verma talks about how AI supports space exploration, particularly through the Mars rovers.

🎫 indicates a promoted resource, if any.

#INTHELOOP

💡 Tech Trends on Earth Shaping Our Future in Space

• Rebranding: Bard to Gemini, Google renames its AI to boost cultural relevance in the competitive tech landscape.

• Fusion: JET's record energy output brings clean, unlimited power within closer reach, marking a significant leap in nuclear fusion research.

• EVolution: Breakthrough gel and lithium-ion tech promises 1000-mile range on a single charge, revolutionizing electric vehicle travel.

• Semiconductors: China nears 5nm chip production, challenging Western tech restrictions and reshaping global semiconductor dynamics

• Metalens: Harvard's large-scale glass metalens promises to revolutionize space imaging, offering high-resolution views of celestial bodies.

• Blockchain: The next Bitcoin halving is set to draw new users, offering a big chance for companies to boost revenues and change crypto perceptions.

#GHOSTINTHEMACHINE

🤖 Inspiration from the World of AI

The State of the Space Industry Today

Until Next Time

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🌠 Getting Better Together

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What others are saying

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

Francois

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