Progression of Space Commerce – Past, Present, Future
Jeremy Seeley
Physics 3010
I. Progression of Space Commerce – Past, Present, Future
From the earliest men wondering at the sight of the moon in the night sky to mind boggling theories of traveling to far galaxies in faster-than-light spacecraft, we have always looked to the skies for the future. Space has always been a source of amazement for mankind. It is only fitting, that now we are looking to space to stimulate economic growth. When the scientists of the mid-twentieth century began to make space travel a possibility, a new door was opened, allowing for the exploitation of the endless expanses and resources of outer space.
Space commerce began as a small, risky idea, but has become a huge force in the global economy. It will continue to grow, as technology makes the space environment cheaper and more accessible.
II. Development of Space
Commerce
Commercial development and use of space has been a long process, beginning long before the first companies invested money.
2A. Space Science Paves the Way
for Commerce
In the 1950’s,
when the space race in the
Telescopes and light sensitive equipment were placed into orbit, where there measurements and photographs would be more effective. An orbiting space platform can be placed above 99.99% of the earth’s atmosphere. This gets rid of atmospheric interference, allowing for clearer readings and pictures. The Hubble Space Telescope is a good example of this. The pictures from Hubble cannot be matched in quality by the biggest and best telescopes on earth. Other ways that this is useful are: measuring and studying gamma and cosmic rays, and limb scanning atmospheres of other planets. Earth’s atmosphere filters out this light, so study from earth is not possible.
At over 300 kilometers above the surface of the earth, experiments on an orbiting space platform can be done in a state of free-fall. These micro-gravity experiments can be very useful in chemistry and formation of various proteins, plastics, uniform metal alloys and crystals. They were also used to study human and plant physiology.
Space platforms were also used for earth imaging. From space cloud movement, surface features, and air temperature fluctuations could be better observed, helping to better understand weather patterns. In addition to earth imaging, space platforms were equipped to study the magnetosphere, radiation belt, and Auroral fluxes. Because the atmosphere filters out so much of the light spectrum, these measurements would be impossible from earth.
The space platform could be placed in the plasma sphere, which allows for study of plasma. These experiments included studying electrical currents, particle interactions, and solid matter interaction with plasma. To do such experiments on earth would have been very difficult and involved vacuum chambers. These chambers have drawbacks, because they are relatively small, and the walls often disturb particles. Space provides a limitless vacuum, with no walls.
Although these experiments were intended to promote science and draw funding for further space missions, they had a perhaps unforeseen effect on economics. As people learned of the success of these scientific missions, they began to realize that profit could be made through their use.
2B. Initial Hindrances of Space Commerce
Although the potential for monetary profit was recognized, two main obstacles blocked the way for the commercialization of space. Placing a satellite into orbit is very expensive. It requires designing, building, and purchasing a satellite then it must be put into space by a rocket. In the early years of the space age, corporations were hesitant to invest shareholder money for a risky idea.
The initial problems involved launch risks, impossibility of performing repairs, and the various hazards that accompany the space environment. Through space science, NASA developed means to minimize the risk of space commerce. NASA showed that it was possible, then allowed corporations to follow.
2C. The Geosynchronous Satellite
Author Arthur C. Clark published ideas of geosynchronous satellites used for communication in 1945, long before the space race began. However, at the time, the necessary technology and money were not available. NASA began placing satellites in space in 1958. In 1963, the first geosynchronous satellites were placed in orbit. The geosynchronous satellite prove to be one of the most important developments in commercial space communications.
The Geosynchronous satellite orbits
over one point on the earth along the equator.
The satellite appears to be stationary, but actually is moving very
quickly. Its circular orbit is actually
35,786 kilometers above the surface of the earth. This is calculated using the equation:
P=2piR/(gR)1/2
P is the orbital period, or one day.
R is the altitude of the satellite.
g is the force of gravity exerted by the earth
By solving for R we determine the altitude.
Figure 1 Circular Orbit (Orbital Equations)
As the process became more refined and safe, corporations began to use these satellites for economic gain. Over the years, cable television and telephone companies made huge profits off these satellites.
III. The Current Status of Space Commerce
Advances in technology and science, as well as prolonged economic prosperity have allowed more and more corporations to enter the field of space commerce. Some of the most notable are GPS, telecommunications, and earth imaging companies.
3A. Global Positioning Systems
NASA was not the only government agency that aided in the progress of space commerce. The U.S. Department of Defense recognized the usefulness of space. One of the major commercial developments sparked by the Department of Defense was a global navigation system that could be used regardless of weather, time of day, or position on earth. The original idea was to place satellites in to orbit. These satellites would be beacons, or artificial stars. The last satellite was placed in orbit in 1994.
Originally this
system was called NAVSTAR (Navigational System with Timing and Ranging), but
has come to be called GPS (Global Positioning System). The military has released limited use of this
technology for civilian applications. It
is now used for many recreational uses such as hiking, treasure hunting and
sailing. Corporation use it to track
fleet vehicles and in mapping and surveying. (
GPS
is a constellation of 24 satellites orbiting the earth, separated in a way that
at least three satellites are visible from any point on the earth at any
time. This allows a receiver to
triangulate its position and get very accurate coordinates. (
3B. Global Communications
Cable
television was one of the first commercial areas to cash in on the use of
satellites. In one of the most famous
boxing matches ever, Mohammed Ali boxed and beat George Foreman. This was not so much famous because of the
fight, but where it was held. The fight
was telecast via satellite from
Space communications has also enabled faster, cheaper long-distance telephone. Rather than stretch cable across the ocean, a satellite uplink can carry thousands of conversations between continents.
One adventurous attempt to revolutionize global communications was the Iridium project. The idea behind Iridium was to build a wireless telephone network that could be accessed from anywhere on earth using a relatively small handset. The initial plan was to put 77 communications satellites in Medium Earth Orbit. It was named Iridium because 77 is the atomic number of the element Iridium. Only 66 satellites were placed in orbit, but global coverage was still provided. The company went bankrupt, but was purchased by a private group who now maintains the constellation with help from the Department of Defense.
3C. Earth Imaging
Initially, earth observation was envisioned as a way
for the government to spy on its enemies.
First U2 spy planes flew at high altitudes and took pictures. Other countries did not look kindly on
this. Not only was this an invasion of
privacy, but an invasion of airspace.
The Department of Defense found a better way. They put cameras on satellites. As the satellite orbited the earth, it took
pictures. When a role of film was full,
the satellite would eject the film canister and airplanes would catch the
falling film with giant nets. This
canister would be taken back to earth and then developed and examined. This was beneficial, because no one but the
Department of Defense knew where the satellites were, so no one could get mad
at them for it.
This process has been refined over
the years. CCD sensors replaced film
canisters. The digital information from
the sensors was relayed by telemetry links.
This eliminated the need for flying nets. And although a few pilots might have lost
their jobs, this is looked upon as good.
As technology has progressed, so
have the uses for earth observation.
Weather observation is one of these uses. Polar orbiting and geo-synchronous satellites
photograph cloud cover and the earth’s surface.
During the day, they use the visible light spectrum and during the
night, infrared. This allows a constant
view of cloud movements. The military
uses this to plan field operations, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration uses this the most. It is
helpful in weather forecasting and weather disaster prediction. Satellite weather images are used by national
and local television news programs, as well as newspapers and Internet sites.
Recently, images have become
available commercially, up to 60 centimeters resolution. This resolution is high enough to make people
discernable (See figure 1). These
photographs are useful and interesting. They
are purchased from private companies who place the satellites in orbit and
maintain them. Although such an
operation is very expensive, profits outweigh costs.
IV. The Near Future of Exploitation of Space
The current endeavors of commerce in space seem to be limitless, but in comparison to the future of such undertakings, they seem small. There are already plans to make better global communications. People are now paying to take a ride to the space station. NASA is conducting experiments to determine the feasibility of manufacturing in space. Eventually we will send people to other planets, and perhaps even to other solar systems if faster than light travel is possible. As technology develops, the limits of what can be done in space will be as limitless as the human imagination.
4A. Teledesic
Lockheed
Martin and Motorola have teamed up to build the first satellite based Internet
broadband service. The constellation
of 288 Low Earth Orbit satellites serve
as a “Global, Broadband Internet-in-the-Sky.”
Teledesic would offer its users wireless, high-speed Internet anywhere
on earth. It is estimated to cost over
$9 billion to build the network and place satellites in orbit. The project has received financial backing
from Microsoft founder Bill Gates, media mogul Craig McGraw, Boeing, the prince
of
Figure 3- Teledesic Constellation
(Wood)
4B.
Space Tourism
In
May of 2000, Dennis Tito became the first space tourist. He paid about $20 million dollars to the
Russian space program for a chance to travel to the Space Station Mir with
Russian cosmonauts. NASA was very
critical of this venture, fearing that the American could damage something on
the space station. (Rueter’s) The flight went well, and two years later, Mark
Shuttleworth of
But the idea has been instilled even deeper in the minds of entrepreneurs and visionaries. The European Space Administration even has some plans for capitalizing on space tourism. (see figure 4) Short flights through zero gravity in a sub orbit could cost just $50 thousand per ticket. A night’s stay at an orbiting hotel would cost $100 thousand. And for a yet to be determined sum, a vacation to Mars or the Moon would be possible. Expensive as it may seem, future developments in launch vehicles could make this an appealing and affordable vacation option for anyone.
4C. Space Manufacturing
Recent experiments by NASA have attempted to determine the feasibility of space production. The free fall atmosphere provides a unique environment for manufacturing, as discussed in section 2A. The freefall state would allow for perfect mixing of metals in alloys. Perfect crystals could be formed. This higher quality comes with a trade-off. It is very expensive at this point. Though the technology is being developed, it is still far from being used in a capitalist way. It is envisioned that eventually, it will be cheap enough to allow production to take place on a commercial level. If that happens, mechanized factories could be built is space and the products would be shipped back to earth. There is even a possibility of manufacturing electricity in space and using microwaves to beam the power back to earth. This would involve huge solar receptors on satellites in space. It could be dangerous, however, because to the high-power energy beam that would be sent down to earth.
V. Beyond
Eventually, humans will be able to travel to other planets. Plans have already been made for a manned mission to Mars by 2014. Because the trip would take several months, we have to wait for some technological advances to make the mission possible. After people have been sent to the ends of the solar system, there is a possibility that minerals could be extracted from these foreign planets. The possibilities are limitless, but for now we are limited to using space to make life on earth better.
Bibliography
Wood, Lloyd “Lloyd’s Satellite
Constellations,” accessed
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/L.Wood/constellations/teledesic.html
“Orbital Equations,” NASA, accessed
“
“Teledesic
Quicklook,” NASA, accessed
Rueter’s News
Service, “Space Tourist Due Back on Earth,” Deseret News,
Bellaby, Margaret,
“Rocket Set for Second Space Tourist,” Associated Press,
Remaining
information taken from course notes for Physics 3010. W. John Raitt,
Ph.D. Spring 2002 semester.
