How American New Space Emerged in the Late 70s and Early 80s

The term “New Space” refers to a movement of private companies and entrepreneurs that aim to make space exploration more accessible and affordable. New Space is often contrasted with “Old Space”, which is dominated by government agencies and traditional aerospace contractors. But how did New Space emerge in the first place? What were the historical and technological factors that enabled this shift in the space industry?

The Legacy of Apollo and the Space Shuttle

The origins of New Space can be traced back to the Apollo program, which was the first and only human mission to land on the moon. Apollo was a remarkable achievement of science and engineering, but it was also driven by political and military motivations. The United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a Cold War, and the space race was a way of demonstrating their technological and ideological superiority.

Apollo 11, the first moon landing, took place in July 1969, and was followed by five more successful lunar missions until 1972. However, after the initial excitement and public interest faded, the Apollo program became increasingly expensive and unsustainable. The last three planned missions were cancelled, and NASA shifted its focus to developing a reusable space vehicle: the Space Shuttle.

The Space Shuttle, officially known as the Space Transportation System, was designed to launch like a rocket, orbit like a spacecraft, and land like a plane. It had a large cargo bay that could carry satellites, scientific instruments, and crew members to and from low Earth orbit. The Shuttle also had the capability to rendezvous and dock with other spacecraft, such as the Skylab space station and the Hubble Space Telescope.

The Space Shuttle flew its first mission in April 1981, and was hailed as a revolutionary breakthrough in space transportation. However, the Shuttle also faced many challenges and limitations. It was extremely complex and costly to operate, requiring thousands of technicians and engineers to prepare and maintain. It was also vulnerable to technical failures and accidents, as demonstrated by the tragic losses of Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003. The Shuttle program ended in July 2011, after 135 missions and 30 years of service.

The Rise of Commercial and Entrepreneurial Space

While the Space Shuttle was the main vehicle for human spaceflight in the 1980s and 1990s, a new wave of commercial and entrepreneurial space activities was emerging in the background. These activities were fueled by several factors, such as:

• The deregulation and privatization of the satellite industry, which opened up new markets and opportunities for communication, navigation, and remote sensing services.
• The development and advancement of new technologies, such as microelectronics, software, and materials, which enabled the miniaturization and reduction of costs of space systems.
• The emergence and growth of the internet, which facilitated the dissemination of information, the creation of networks, and the access to capital and customers for space ventures.
• The inspiration and vision of space enthusiasts, who dreamed of expanding the human presence and potential in space.

Some of the early pioneers and examples of New Space include:

• The Ansari X Prize, a $10 million competition for the first privately funded, reusable, suborbital spacecraft, which was won by SpaceShipOne in 2004.
• SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002, which developed the Falcon family of rockets and the Dragon capsule, and became the first private company to launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft in 2010, and the first to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station in 2012.
• Virgin Galactic, founded by Richard Branson in 2004, which aims to provide suborbital space tourism flights using the SpaceShipTwo vehicle, which reached the edge of space in 2018 and 2019.
• Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000, which developed the New Shepard suborbital rocket and the New Glenn orbital rocket, and plans to offer human spaceflight and lunar landing services.

The Future of New Space

The New Space movement has grown significantly in the past two decades, and has become a major force in the space industry. According to a report by Bryce Space and Technology, there were over 375 active New Space companies in 2019, with a total revenue of $7.2 billion and a total investment of $25.7 billion. New Space companies are involved in various sectors and domains, such as launch, satellite, human spaceflight, exploration, and more.

The future of New Space is likely to be shaped by several trends and developments, such as:

• The increasing demand and competition for space services and applications, especially in the areas of broadband internet, Earth observation, and navigation.
• The increasing collaboration and cooperation between New Space and Old Space actors, such as NASA, ESA, and other national space agencies, as well as traditional aerospace contractors, such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Airbus.
• The increasing innovation and diversification of space technologies and capabilities, such as reusable rockets, small satellites, in-orbit servicing, asteroid mining, and more.
• The increasing democratization and participation of space activities, with more countries, regions, organizations, and individuals becoming involved and interested in space.

New Space is not only a movement, but also a mindset and a culture. It is characterized by a spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation, and exploration, as well as a vision of making space more accessible and beneficial for humanity. New Space is not a replacement or a rival of Old Space, but rather a complement and a partner. Together, they can create a more dynamic and diverse space ecosystem, and open up new horizons and possibilities for the future.

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