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G’day — and welcome to the 118 Trailblazers who have joined us since last time!

We’re Trailblazers, the Space Newsletter that navigates the delicate dance of geopolitics in space, where nations leap and twirl in a ballet of power, ambition, and the occasional moonwalk.

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#LAUNCHPAD

In today’s edition

• The Geopolitical Impact of Space Technology

• The Green Path to Space Sustainability

• StarGraph: Cost to Get Material into Earth Orbit

• 5 Resources to Boost Your Workflows

• InTheLoop: Tech Trends on Earth Shaping Our Future in Space

• GhostInTheMachine: Space Exploration Scenes as Video Games

#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.

#NEWS

🍪 Space Economy Bites & Snaps

Bites…

⭐ Space Data & Smart Grids: The EU Agency for Space Programmes (EUSPA) emphasizes the crucial role of space data in the energy sector, notably for grid balancing and monitoring. Utilizing Earth observation and GNSS data enhances network resilience, supports climate-related assessments, and improves renewable energy integration. This synergy between space technology and energy infrastructure offers innovative solutions for pressing global challenges, marking a significant step towards sustainable and efficient energy management.

⭐ Private Moon Landing: America's space strategy shifts ever more from public to private, with Intuitive Machines aiming for a historic lunar landing. As the race against global rivals like China intensifies, this approach offers both opportunities and challenges in maintaining leadership in space achievements. The success of this mission could redefine the future of lunar exploration and underscore the critical role of private enterprises in advancing space frontiers.

… and Snaps

• Satellite Strategy: Telcos ignoring satellite integration risk missing out on significant revenue streams, as satellites offer new growth avenues in an evolving telecom landscape

• Space Boom: Euroconsult predicts a $75 billion surge in the Middle East's space sector by 2032, marking a pivotal shift in global space dynamics.

• Methane Crisis: Over 1,200 Super-Emitter Events Detected by Satellites, Highlighting an Urgent Call for Advanced Waste Management and Methane Reduction Strategies.

• Tech Leadership: Arvind Srinivasan, veteran of Google, Apple, and Meta, becomes Maxar Intelligence's CTO, signaling a tech infusion in geospatial intelligence.

• Space Surgery: MIRA's mission takes medical innovation to the stars, promising a revolution in how we perform surgery both on Earth and in space, ensuring healthcare's leap into the future.

#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) ▲ $17.06 (+1.7%) 

• RK Space Exploration and Innovation (ARKX) ▲ $14.83 (+1.2%)

• S&P Kensho Final Frontiers (ROKT) ▲ $43.55 (+0.9%)

Prices as of February 12, 2024, 3:59 p.m. ET

#EVENTHORIZON

🆙 Trends in Space, Tech, and AI

The Geopolitical Impact of Space Technology

SpaceX's Starlink once again takes center stage in the Russo-Ukrainian War, underscoring the critical role of space technology in modern conflicts. This saga has taken an intriguing turn, shedding light on the double-edged sword of space technology.

When Elon Musk's SpaceX sent over 22,000 Starlink terminals to Ukraine, it was a game-changer. These terminals have kept the lines of communication open for Ukraine's military, despite relentless attempts to sever them. It's fascinating and somewhat surreal to think about how these devices, connecting to satellites orbiting our planet, have become lifelines in a modern conflict.

But here's the twist: reports suggest that Russian forces have gotten their hands on Starlink terminals too. This unexpected turn of events forces us to confront the complex reality of modern warfare—where technology designed to connect us can also be used in the chess game of geopolitical strategy.

I can't help but ponder the implications. The Pentagon stepping in to secure hundreds of these terminals for Ukraine underscores the strategic importance of maintaining an edge in communication. Yet, the very notion that this technology is being used by both sides of the conflict is a stark reminder of the dual-use nature of our advancements.

As we navigate these uncharted waters, the situation calls for a deep reflection on the need for robust legal frameworks. How do we regulate the use of space assets in warfare? The saga of Starlink in the Russo-Ukrainian War goes beyond the headline; it's a prompt for us to think critically about the role of space in our geopolitical strategies and the ethical considerations that come with it.

In sharing this reflection, I hope to highlight not just the facts but the broader implications for the space economy. It truly shows the interconnectedness of our world, where conflicts on the ground reach into the heavens. But it also reminds us of space's rising geopolitical importance and the urgent need for policies to manage its use in conflicts.

📚 Additional reading for a deeper dive:

• The Challenges of Dual-Use Space Technologies: The Non-Peaceful Use of Satellites

• Early Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine War as a Space Conflict

• How Will Space Impact the Future of Geopolitics?

• Conflict and Controversy in the Space Domain: Legalities, Lethalities, and Celestial Commodities

#STARGRAPH

📊 Cost to Get Material into Earth Orbit

Space-sourced materials, notably lunar samples, represent significant costs, but space-based solar power (SBSP) could economically facilitate mass material assembly in orbit for future space development.

#SPACESUSTAINABILITY

🟢 The Green Path to Space Sustainability

If you are interested in the future of space activities and how they can be more sustainable, you might want to check out this paper by Nonthapat Pulsiri and Victor Dos Santos Paulino. It's in the International Journal of Technology Management and Sustainable Development.

This paper analyzes space sustainability literature. It focuses on challenges and solutions for near-Earth space, where most satellites and spacecraft operate. The authors highlight space sustainability's importance for ensuring the long-term viability of space activities for the benefit of all.

The paper reveals some interesting trends and insights, such as:

• Publications on space sustainability surged post-2016. This shows rising interest and awareness in the field among researchers and practitioners.

• Core publications come from the space sector. Journals like Acta Astronautica and Space Policy lead. Yet, interdisciplinary work from other fields is needed, such as management, innovation, entrepreneurship and politics.

• The country collaboration network shows that Europe is the most active and cohesive region in space sustainability research, followed by the Anglo-Pacific and Eurasian clusters. However, there is still room for more global cooperation and dialogue among all stakeholders.

• The main emerging theories that underpin the concept of space sustainability are governance theory and regime theory, which can help design and implement effective policies and practices for managing space debris and other related issues. However, there are also other promising perspectives, such as intellectual property theory, geopolitical theory, game theory, value theory and circular economy theory, that require more attention and development.

The paper also discusses the implications and recommendations for further research and practice, such as:

• The need for a comprehensive and clear definition of space sustainability, as well as a common framework and indicators for measuring and monitoring it.

• The importance of fostering international cooperation and coordination among public and private actors to address the common challenges and opportunities in near-Earth outer space. This also includes civil society and environmental groups.

• The potential of applying circular economy principles and practices to space activities. Reusing and recycling space objects and resources can reduce waste and environmental impact, and create new value and opportunities.

• The role of innovation and entrepreneurship in developing new technologies and business models that can enhance space sustainability and competitiveness.

The paper offers a thorough overview and suggestions for future progress. It's another valuable tool for those interested in sustainable space development.

To delve deeper, access the paper here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377636109.

We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this topic, so feel free to contact us in reply to this email.

Let's work together to make space more sustainable for everyone!

#PRODUCTIVITY

🎛️ 5 Resources to Boost Your Workflows

InSummary → Automates status reports and updates by analyzing your calendar, offering free, weekly, categorized reports on time management and work summary.

Reclaim AI → Reclaim is an AI-powered app that boosts team productivity by creating 40% more time — it automates scheduling for tasks, habits, meetings, and breaks.

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

Space Safety Magazine - Space Economy → Covers the space economy's scope, resources use, business implications, industry activities, and socio-economic impacts from space investments.

Asia and the New Space Economy → This video delves into the topic of Asia and the New Space Economy, providing region-specific perspectives on the evolving space industry.

🎫 indicates a promoted resource, if any.

#INTHELOOP

💡 Tech Trends on Earth Shaping Our Future in Space

• Sustainable Score: Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium's Big Game Powered by 100% Carbon-Free Energy, Setting a New Standard for Sports Sustainability

• Bold Moves, Baffling Words: Elon Musk's perplexing comments on Tesla's supercomputer, Dojo, spark intrigue and skepticism. Is the tech titan losing his touch, or is it all part of the plan?

• Robotic Surgery Risks: Fatal incident in Florida spotlights the dangers of robotic-assisted surgeries. Is innovation outpacing safety?

• Bold Ambition in AI: Sam Altman aims to raise a staggering $7 trillion for a new AI hardware venture, potentially revolutionizing chip manufacturing and AI training capabilities

• Energy Storage Ascends: BYD and Tesla led the energy storage revolution in 2023, with BYD's significant market leap and Tesla's solid performance signaling a competitive and evolving landscape

• Air Quality Alert: Climate Change Reverses Progress on Air Quality, with Wildfires Majorly to Blame, Highlights Urgent Need for Adaptation and Policy Shifts.

#GHOSTINTHEMACHINE

🤖 Inspiration from the World of AI

Space Exploration Scenes as Video Games

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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