Cosmic Link

Do you know how closely we interact with space on a daily basis? One of Rogel Mari Sese’s main undertakings is helping people understand and appreciate the underestimated role that space plays in our everyday life, and that the innovations and benefits of modern technology essentially come from space or space-related innovation.

Spreading this understanding paved the way to establishing a national space agency for his home country, the Philippines. A space agency creates the institutional backbone of a nation’s access to technological and ultimately socio-economic progress. It links its citizens to each other and the rest of the world, and to the possibility to act and explore in unison.

We have moved past the space race of the 50s and government-owned programs having a monopoly over the sector. The New Space movement stands for opening up access to independent individuals and entrepreneurs from all around the world. A majority of the new players entering the stage are not only seeking space exploration but Earth reflection: how can space help our lives down on Earth?

As an investor in social businesses around the world, Karen Hitschke recounts many stories where space tech entrepreneurship helped improve life significantly. These projects include preventing deforestation with satellites, connecting remote areas in the world in times of crisis, or launching a healthcare system in rural India. A social mission with satellite communication technology at its core marks a milestone in changing the overall system long-term.

From access to education, the global economic system, and more, the cosmos represents the role of an equalizer for the world. As Prateep Basu puts it, advanced connectivity through satellites can lead to “a very equal world, or at least [we will] finally [be] moving towards an equal world.” Through Prateep’s innovations in satellite technology he can provide India with access to teaching and information about agriculture and thus improve access to the global economy.

The list of tangible examples of space improving human conditions could go on forever, from the invention of the incubator to LEDs and water filtration systems. On the other hand, Prateep implies caution; space industry entrepreneurs must understand the ethical and moral implications of achieving sky-high dreams.

In a lead-up to Chris Boshuizen co-founding Planet Labs, a company that provides a daily global mapping of our changing planet with tiny satellites, he worked at NASA. During his time there he discovered that putting smartphones into orbit was more economical and effective than using the computers that were usually sent up.

This curious and out-of-the-box thinking reinvented certain areas of the space sector, and led to many private space companies launching their ventures.

The condition for everybody that enters this stage: Affordability. Inspired by the industry leaders from the West, Feng Yang leads the Chinese space entrepreneurs into an era of accessible entrepreneurship to create the tools for tomorrow.

But breaking traditions and forging new paths comes with barriers to overcome: How to convince investors that these technologies are going to be the future and that you are not only daydreaming?

Whether reality or daydreams, that question can be answered by Noor Sweid, who is creating an ecosystem that gives founders access to capital focused on health care, farming and financial inclusion. With her investment company entering the space sector, we can understand where the progress is coming from: Entrepreneurs in tech.

In partnership with the national institutions in the form of space agencies, the private sector accelerates tech innovations and pushes for affordable solutions to global problems.