Rapidly falling launch costs are making space more accessible than ever. New research suggests the economics are improving faster, potentially opening the door to entirely new industries beyond Earth.
The industry’s progress is inextricably tied to the fate of a single company. SpaceX already accounts for roughly 80 percent of payload reaching orbit.
A company with a stranglehold on the global launch market may also be tempted to take advantage of its monopolistic position, calling for government control.
Moreover, low Earth orbit could quickly become clogged with debris that makes it increasingly difficult to reach orbit safely.
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