A New Era in Space

Outer space was once the preserve of the great powers, but today it is increasingly accessed by a range of state and non-state actors. The decreasing costs for launch and space hardware have lowered the barriers to entry, democratizing access to orbital space. The space economy is booming, with some estimates projecting it to reach a trillion dollars by 2040. At the same time, intensifying great power competition raises other dangers in space. The international community has only just begun to grapple with the implications of these developments for national security, the global economy, and global governance. This essay series and the conference address the implications of the democratization of space, focusing on both the promises and perils of this new space age.