Getting a satellite into space has traditionally been an expensive business, but a new generation of cost-effective rockets is poised to change this, which means commerce, to security, to agriculture will be impacted, affecting everyday life, globally. For instance, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries says time-to-launch will be reduced to 2020 and cut the cost of admission by 50% with the H3 Rocket in just 12 months. The firm is also developing a younger and cheaper model. Cheaper launch costs will also speed up the rollout of new space technology. A thirst for data is driving the development of cheaper satellites, with industries such as agriculture and finance keen to exploit high-quality imagery and scans. However, this boom will also increase space debris, add regulatory scrutiny and pose territorial issues.
Getting a satellite into space has traditionally been an expensive business, but a new generation of cost-effective rockets is poised to change this, which means commerce, to security, to agriculture will be impacted, affecting everyday life, globally. For instance, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries says time-to-launch will be reduced to just 12 months and cut the cost of admission by 50% with the H3 Rocket in 2020. The firm is also developing a younger and cheaper model. Cheaper launch costs will also speed up the rollout of new space technology. A thirst for data is driving the development of cheaper satellites, with industries such as agriculture and finance keen to exploit high-quality imagery and scans. However, this boom will also increase space debris, add regulatory scrutiny and pose territorial issues.