Can We Do Business in Space?
Collection No. 9
Two decades into the era of private space flight, companies are establishing ventures in low-earth orbit, sending private citizens into space, and pursuing exploration and development on the moon and beyond. We talked to Yale alumni and other leaders about how finance, law, and other day-to-day details of business get translated into space.
Assembling an Economy in Space
Sven Eenmaa
A mix of public and private investments are positioning the space economy for a period of growth and innovation, says Sven Eenmaa ’98, director of investment and economic analysis at the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory.
Exploring the Business of Space
John-Paul Menez
Dramatic reductions in payload costs have spurred tremendous innovation in space technologies. John-Paul Menez ’07 warns that the finance, insurance, and legal infrastructure supporting space firms must make similar advances if the sector is going to mature.
Is Space Becoming the Next Front for War—and Traffic Jams?
Jamie M. Morin
Satellites enable everyday tools like GPS and weather forecasts, and allow militaries to track troop movements and target weapons. But the most desirable orbits are increasingly crowded and vulnerable to attack. Jamie Morin, an expert in space defense and policy issues, explains how we avoid squandering this shared resource.
Chris Cummins
Nanoracks, co-founded by Chris Cummins ’89, started as a niche startup that facilitated research on the International Space Station. Now it’s building a space station.
Who Makes the Rules for the New Space Economy?
Gershon Hasin
The international legal framework to oversee the growing commercial activity in space doesn’t yet exist. Gershon Hasin, a graduate of Yale Law School and an expert in international law, explains how the rules for new contexts are established, and the pitfalls with space law that we can already foresee.
The Joy and Opportunity of Living in Space
Cady Coleman
Retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman describes the wonder of living in orbit and calls for a wiser, more inclusive approach in a new age of space exploration.
