{"id":65894,"date":"2018-03-09T17:25:14","date_gmt":"2018-03-09T09:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/10-trends-that-will-define-newspace-in-2018-2\/"},"modified":"2018-03-09T17:25:14","modified_gmt":"2018-03-09T09:25:14","slug":"10-trends-that-will-define-newspace-in-2018-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/10-trends-that-will-define-newspace-in-2018-2\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Trends that will Define NewSpace in 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Over the past decade, the space industry has seen a gradual transition from an industry populated almost exclusively by governments and large corporations toward something more decentralized and accessible. Falling launch costs, the proven utility of smallsats, and strong investment in startups had resulted in steadily increasing optimism about the future of commercial space. It\u2019s tempting to say that 2018 will be the year where commercial space proves itself, and here are 10 reasons why.<\/p>\n<p>In January of this year, Rocket Lab launched its Electron rocket into orbit from New Zealand, successfully deploying three commercial CubeSats into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Rocket Lab may be the first of this new breed of smallsat launchers targeting commercial satellite payloads of less than 500kg, but it\u2019s certainly not alone: Vector Space Systems test launched a full-scale prototype of its Vector-R launch vehicle (designed for 66kg payloads) in late 2017, while Virgin Orbit is working toward 300-500kg payloads with its Boeing 747-based in-flight launch system, scheduled for a first flight in early 2018.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GOamGTdROSusQdXRDUQw_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL-1-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GOamGTdROSusQdXRDUQw_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GOamGTdROSusQdXRDUQw_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL-1-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GOamGTdROSusQdXRDUQw_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL-1-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GOamGTdROSusQdXRDUQw_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the April 2018 Issue<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-0 fs-smaller text-balance\">Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"offcanvas\" data-bs-target=\"#offcanvasMENU\" aria-controls=\"offcanvasExample\" aria-label=\"button\" style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tView More <i class=\"bi bi-arrow-right-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<p>Rocket Lab\u2019s recent success is an initial validation of both the technical and economic feasibility of privately-funded smallsat launchers, and not just for commercial payloads \u2014 one of Virgin Orbit\u2019s first customers will be the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). It\u2019s likely that we\u2019ll see more companies entering this market as smallsats prove their utility and cost effectiveness, resulting in competition that will benefit customers in two significant ways. First, launch availability will increase, meaning more satellites in orbit faster. This alleviates the risk of launch delays while helping narrow the gap between manufacturing satellites and generating revenue. Second, more launch options will force smallsat launchers to compete with each other, driving down costs.<\/p>\n<p>Historically, launch costs have been exorbitant, with two companies (United Launch Alliance and Arianespace) effectively holding a duopoly on commercial launches. SpaceX has disrupted this by offering Falcon 9 launches at prices considerably lower than its competitors. It seems inevitable that smallsat launchers will follow this business model of success through aggressive competition on price.<\/p>\n<p>Rocket Lab\u2019s recent success may serve as an inflection point for investors in NewSpace companies. By reaching orbit and delivering commercial payloads, Rocket Lab has moved beyond proof-of-concept and technology demonstrations. In an increasingly crowded field of hopefuls we may see venture capital dollars shift from seed and series A rounds to later stage, less risky investments. This applies to verticals beyond smallsat launch, including Earth Observation (EO) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). In fact, this shift would be in line with trends in the broader entrepreneurial community, which is already experiencing a precipitous drop in early- and seed-stage round activity for technology companies.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6db08f7d2d5;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6db08f7d2d5 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6db08f7d2d6').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6db08f7d2d6'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Investors inject capital into startups to help hit critical milestones and prove their business cases on the path to delivering products or services to paying customers. If we do see a shift away from early-stage investments toward less risky investments, then the pressure for companies that have already raised venture capital to hit those milestones and burn down their risk will be that much greater. In that scenario, we may see startups that lag behind their schedules fade away in a tighter fundraising climate. Additionally, hardware companies have their own challenges, of course, and as they move from research and development to commercial deployment, they may discover that the theory underpinning their core technology isn\u2019t as straightforward as they thought.<\/p>\n<p>There are a number of companies who have expressed interest in developing Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite constellations to provide pervasive high-speed data communications services. In 2016, OneWeb petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for use of the Ku-band portion of the spectrum, sparking additional filings from SpaceX, Boeing, ViaSat, Telesat, LeoSat, and others. Many of these companies are planning constellations of thousands of satellites, representing a huge economic opportunity for smallsat launch companies.<\/p>\n<p>OneWeb\u2019s petition was approved last year, and the FCC says that it hopes to approve many more constellations. Once they do, that company has just six years to begin using that spectrum. The clock is ticking, and smallsat launch companies will need to be ready. This year we\u2019ll see who\u2019s serious about developing megaconstellations, and who\u2019s just sitting on spectrum.<\/p>\n<p>Established companies have a significant competitive advantage in the Earth imaging space, due to expertise and infrastructure that allows them to expand when possible and pivot when necessary. Hyperspectral imaging and SAR are lucrative technologies that can be deployed on smallsats, appealing to new markets that may not have previously considered satellite imaging. Additionally, Earth imaging companies are beginning to move beyond data collection into data analysis. The massive amount of data that these satellite constellations acquire will need to be interpreted and converted into actionable information, a market that is projected to grow nearly 30 percent annually over the next decade.<\/p>\n<p>Made in Space is currently test-manufacturing high-purity ZBLAN optical fiber aboard the International Space Station. ZBLAN has superior optical properties over conventional silica optical fiber, but manufacturing it without impurities is difficult \u2014 except in microgravity. In partnership with NASA, Made in Space hopes that a successful test will eventually lead to the manufacturing of ZBLAN optical fiber at larger scale on-orbit, representing the first step toward a commercial space economy. We may even see the first instance of a customer buying product manufactured in space.<\/p>\n<p>Even if competition drives down launch costs significantly, it will still be much more cost effective to repair or upgrade satellites in space rather than replace them. DARPA has been working on this concept for years, and recently signed an agreement with SSL to collaborate on a servicing spacecraft that is scheduled to launch in 2021. Orbital ATK is working through FCC approval to send a servicing satellite to relocate an old Intelsat communications satellite. And in 2020, Effective Space will launch a pair of 400kg service satellites capable of attaching to larger spacecraft and providing station keeping and attitude control. Considering the level of positive reception the concept of satellite servicing has been getting, it seems likely that more companies will enter this space, relying on smallsats as service vehicles. Additionally, NSR just released its first report on In-Orbit Servicing Markets (IOSM), in which it forecasts a total market of more than $3 billion in the next 10 years.<\/p>\n<p>China may not have allowed private companies to build and launch satellites until 2014, but the country is now determined to grow its share of the commercial space industry from 3 percent to 10 percent by 2020. As success stories emerge (even in the preliminary contexts of funding and regulatory approval), new entrants into the commercial space sector will crop up. As U.S. companies are barred by export-control laws from launching on Chinese rockets, American launch providers may find growing competition for international customers.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past few years, several startups have been developing in-space propulsion systems that primarily target the smallsat market. Novel, compact, and highly-efficient propulsion is critical to the future utility of smallsats: for increasing lifetimes, constellation phasing, end of life de-orbiting, and other maneuvers critical to mission success. In 2018, expect to see the first on-orbit demonstrations of these systems.<\/p>\n<p>]Over the past few years, a narrative has been growing in the defense sector about risks associated with the government\u2019s procurement processes, current space-based assets and overall resiliency as it relates to space operations. Many connect these risks to the defense spending downturn that started in 2010. Reports show that Pentagon contracts for space systems dropped from nearly $10 billion in 2009 to just over $6 billion in 2016. This reduction in spending led to 17,000 vendors exiting the defense business from 2009 to 2016.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6db08f7d818;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6db08f7d818 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6db08f7d819').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6db08f7d819'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>As other nations expand in-space capabilities, we may see the narrative around current vulnerabilities or stagnating innovation translate into more concrete policies and budget decisions aimed at improving current infrastructure and processes. If implemented, those spending increases could lead to a much more vibrant space sector economy.<\/p>\n<p>Within the context of lowering costs and increasing flexibility, the DOD is committed to continuing innovation. This translates into exploring how the commercial space industry can be leveraged to provide affordable, on-demand imaging and communications services.<\/p>\n<p>What makes 2018 unique in the history of NewSpace are the number of companies that are tangible, funded, and working toward significant milestones this year. For many of them, the progress that we\u2019ll see this year will impact the entire industry, whether it\u2019s making space access faster and more affordable, making smallsats more useful, or selling products and services to sectors that may never even have considered what the modern commercial space industry has to offer. It\u2019s clear that we\u2019re advancing toward an inflection point in NewSpace that will have global implications, and now is the right time to get excited about it. <\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"widget-title\">In This Issue<\/h2>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 407228:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zhWtwdVGRPmem51wu6go_First_Class_Private_Suite_-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zhWtwdVGRPmem51wu6go_First_Class_Private_Suite_-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zhWtwdVGRPmem51wu6go_First_Class_Private_Suite_-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zhWtwdVGRPmem51wu6go_First_Class_Private_Suite_-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zhWtwdVGRPmem51wu6go_First_Class_Private_Suite_.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tEmirates Could Have 1.3 Million Connections a Month by End of Year<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 407247:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/cCqEhEHbS7aTpVwSjZgx_oroville-dam-20160904-full-1-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/cCqEhEHbS7aTpVwSjZgx_oroville-dam-20160904-full-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/cCqEhEHbS7aTpVwSjZgx_oroville-dam-20160904-full-1-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/cCqEhEHbS7aTpVwSjZgx_oroville-dam-20160904-full-1-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/cCqEhEHbS7aTpVwSjZgx_oroville-dam-20160904-full-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tEO from LEO: Earth Observation Going Mainstream<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 407235:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bZJttGgEQhmeR7iiDVV4_ThinkstockPhotos-683716072-300x199.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bZJttGgEQhmeR7iiDVV4_ThinkstockPhotos-683716072-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bZJttGgEQhmeR7iiDVV4_ThinkstockPhotos-683716072-800x531.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bZJttGgEQhmeR7iiDVV4_ThinkstockPhotos-683716072-640x425.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bZJttGgEQhmeR7iiDVV4_ThinkstockPhotos-683716072.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tEvolving Cybersecurity in the NewSpace Era<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 407254:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"177\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A5SQSRYdQ2Gg0GfUJW4p_Flickr_Kees_Torn-300x177.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A5SQSRYdQ2Gg0GfUJW4p_Flickr_Kees_Torn-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A5SQSRYdQ2Gg0GfUJW4p_Flickr_Kees_Torn-800x472.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A5SQSRYdQ2Gg0GfUJW4p_Flickr_Kees_Torn-640x378.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A5SQSRYdQ2Gg0GfUJW4p_Flickr_Kees_Torn.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tHas Maritime Reached the Tipping Point for Satellite?<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 407261:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ZbJ75MFWSZa95KiBDmUq_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL4-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ZbJ75MFWSZa95KiBDmUq_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL4-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ZbJ75MFWSZa95KiBDmUq_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL4-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ZbJ75MFWSZa95KiBDmUq_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL4-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ZbJ75MFWSZa95KiBDmUq_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL4.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tKeeping Up with Important Trends, Emerging Tech in Media and Entertainment<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 407218:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uWYfmISSMeJib3InpnKw_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL2-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uWYfmISSMeJib3InpnKw_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uWYfmISSMeJib3InpnKw_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL2-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uWYfmISSMeJib3InpnKw_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL2-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uWYfmISSMeJib3InpnKw_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL2.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tLatin America: DTH Wrestles for Mindshare<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 407223:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/blcPcm4RMiyoIUGLYt4Z_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL3-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/blcPcm4RMiyoIUGLYt4Z_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/blcPcm4RMiyoIUGLYt4Z_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL3-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/blcPcm4RMiyoIUGLYt4Z_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL3-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/blcPcm4RMiyoIUGLYt4Z_01_VS_040118_Cover_DGTL3.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tMegaconstellations: Recipe for Disaster or Biggest Opportunity Yet?<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 407267:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vLX3iKUeQ6iXxlnPAEJB_tXooM5VsR0ukpPFIk98Y_EdNote_Header_Web-300x167.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vLX3iKUeQ6iXxlnPAEJB_tXooM5VsR0ukpPFIk98Y_EdNote_Header_Web-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vLX3iKUeQ6iXxlnPAEJB_tXooM5VsR0ukpPFIk98Y_EdNote_Header_Web-800x446.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vLX3iKUeQ6iXxlnPAEJB_tXooM5VsR0ukpPFIk98Y_EdNote_Header_Web-640x357.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vLX3iKUeQ6iXxlnPAEJB_tXooM5VsR0ukpPFIk98Y_EdNote_Header_Web.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSATELLITE 2018 is over, but Many Talking Points Remain<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 407212:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/D0LfllETSaCJ2cUcXn8A_social-fb-nelson-1-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/D0LfllETSaCJ2cUcXn8A_social-fb-nelson-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/D0LfllETSaCJ2cUcXn8A_social-fb-nelson-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/D0LfllETSaCJ2cUcXn8A_social-fb-nelson-1-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/D0LfllETSaCJ2cUcXn8A_social-fb-nelson-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSenator Nelson on the Way Forward to a Sustainable Space Future<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the past decade, the space industry has seen a gradual transition from an industry populated almost exclusively by governments and large corporations toward something more decentralized and accessible. Falling launch costs, the proven utility of smallsats, and strong investment in startups had resulted in steadily increasing optimism about the future of commercial space. It\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":65896,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65894"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65894"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65894\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}