Over the past few years, the U.S. space sector has undergone a commercial renaissance, helping the U.S. maintain its global dominance in space. But outmoded public policy threatens to slow the sector’s incredible progress, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to strategic threats from countries with fewer legacy structures holding them back.
The intensified commercialization of space has been driven by two fundamental breakthroughs—rocket reusability and micro-satellites. These innovations have made commercial space development viable without the subsidies or price insensitivity of government buyers that industry incumbents have relied on. Industry milestones, like propulsive rocket landings and the recent launch of the world’s largest satellite constellation, illustrate how the commercial sector’s capabilities are now surpassing those of the government sector.
