Episode 19: Space Economics 101

The space industry is a multibillion-dollar sector that is growing each year and becoming increasingly commercialised – the phenomenon of new space. But how exactly does it work? Who is funding the bulk of space activities? And does one need insurance as a space operator? Professor Akhil Rao, Assistant Professor at Middlebury College in the US, talks to us about the space economy and how we should understand it. We discuss how the rules of the road are shaping the industry, and how new ideas – such as that of an ‘orbital use fee’ – might in turn help regulate the domain. Finally, we discuss where the future of the space industry may lie; is it time to talk about asteroid mining and space resource extraction?

Om Podcasten

Space is becoming increasingly congested, contested and competed over. It has never been so easy – or so cheap – to launch a satellite into orbit. With space activity proliferating, its impact on national security has grown too: space assets are becoming vulnerable and space debris is becoming increasingly dangerous. War in Space is a series of interviews with experts in space and defence that will analyse the intersection of space and national security, unravelling the technical jargon that so often accompanies these discussions and explaining why space matters for our everyday lives and security. The views or statements expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by RUSI employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of RUSI.