From Moon Landings to Mars Missions: The Growth of the Space Industry and Its Potential for Investors
From Moon Landings to Mars Missions: The Growth of the Space Industry and Its Potential for Investors
Apr 27, 2023INTRODUCTION
According to Citi, the space industry is expected to reach $1 trillion in annual revenue by 2040, with launch costs dropping by 95% to unlock more services from orbit. This is a significant increase from the $424 billion generated in 2020.1
Recognizing the promising long-term growth opportunity the space industry presents, various private companies, agencies, and institutions are actively developing space technologies and conducting space activities. NASA is one of the most popular government agencies driving the space Industry’s growth. The agency has recently announced a budget increase of $8.1 billion for its Artemis program, which aims to fund manned lunar missions.2 The proposed budget will cover the costs of:
- Artemis II mission: This will be the first crewed flight test of the Space Launch System and Orion aircraft, which will take humans the furthest they’ve ever been in space.
- Artemis III mission: This will land the first female astronaut and first astronaut of color on the Moon to establish its first long-term presence on the Moon.
Furthermore, NASA plans to develop a space tug that can safely deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) in 2030. This is the first time that funding has been sought for the deorbiting and decommissioning of the ISS. The proposed budget also includes $949 million for a mission to retrieve Martian soil and bring it back to Earth.2 This successful mission would provide scientists an opportunity to examine the Red Planet’s soil under a microscope for the first time.
NASA’s goals under Artemis include enabling a safe and cost-efficient long-term approach to accessing the lunar surface and becoming one of multiple customers purchasing services in a lunar transportation market. Much of what the agency develops for the Moon will be applied to future exploration at Mars.
BEHIND THE SCENES: MAJOR PLAYERS SUPPORTING NASA’S SPACE MISSIONS
As NASA continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, it relies on a wide network of partners and collaborators to make its missions possible. From research institutions to private corporations, these key players are essential in developing and deploying the cutting-edge technologies and resources required for space travel. Below are some of the major partnerships, space tech companies and contributors that are supporting NASA’s missions:
Agencies
The human spacecraft for the Artemis mission is being built by NASA along with three partner agencies: European Space Agency (ESA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Orion’s deep space exploration missions, coupled with record levels of private investment in space, will help put NASA and America in a position to unlock the mysteries of space and usher in a new era of space exploration.
Private Companies
Lockheed Martin is one of the major companies supporting NASA’s missions and building NASA’s spacecraft, Orion. This special spacecraft will be the first spacecraft to have the technology needed for the extremes of deep space.
Figure 1: Critical Technologies Empowering Orion Spacecraft to Survive the Extremes of Deep Space3
The solid rocket boosters for the NASA Space Launch System and the abort motor and attitude control motor for the Orion spacecraft’s Launch Abort System are being developed by Northrop Grumman. The company is also developing integrated digital technologies to rapidly conceptualize, design, build, and sustain value-driven solutions in space exploration.4
Today many people are not aware that the space economy has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of our lives, such as how we work and live. This is similar to when people first started using the internet in the 1990s. They could not have predicted that computers would eventually become such a significant part of their daily lives, providing news, entertainment, and social interactions. With advancements in technology and lowering launch costs, the space industry is poised for significant growth in the coming years. Investing in the space industry can yield substantial returns and provide a platform for diversifying portfolios. As the space industry continues to expand, it is crucial for investors to stay abreast of new developments and identify opportunities to capitalize on this long-term trend and invest in innovative space tech companies that are shaping the future of space exploration and commercialization.
EXPLORE RELATED SPACE INDEXES
- Indxx Global Aerospace & Defense Index
- Indxx Global Space Thematic Index
- Indxx Us Aerospace & Defense Index
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References
1. CNBC 2. Payload Space 3. Lockheed Martin 4. Northrop Grumman