The Space Race ignited a technological revolution that has fundamentally reshaped the daily lives of nearly every individual on the planet. From global positioning system satellites and the smartphones in our pockets to water purification systems, portable defibrillators, and ultrasound machines, countless technological breakthroughs are deeply rooted in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. As we stand on the brink of a new era in space technology, driven by increasing privatization and commercialization, the potential for equally transformative advancements is within reach.
When the space race launched in 1955, few could have imagined a future where the resulting technology would play such a critical role in everyday life for governments, businesses and individual consumers like it does today. Satellites, rockets, and space stations have sparked tremendous advancements in everything from communication and navigation to remote sensing and intelligence gathering, to cutting edge scientific research.
Over the last 20 years, the International Space Station conducted research that has led to breakthroughs in drug development, 3D printing and water purification systems. Satellites provide Internet, TV and radio around the world, feed our weather forecast, and geophysics models, and help us navigate that world with GPS. They even yield precise timing for financial transactions.
And telescopes like the Hubble and James Webb continue to help us unlock secrets of the universe and the origin of life. Satellites are smaller, more, and cheaper than ever, enabling companies like SpaceX and Planet to launch mega constellations that act as distributed space systems which can accomplish objectives otherwise impossible with a single spacecraft.
Like delivering Internet to the most remote places on Earth, or providing high resolution complete images every 24 hours. Features like free fall in space eliminate complications from buoyancy and convection currents and can improve product quality for alloys, optics and semiconductor material. The vacuum medium of space provides a contaminant free environment essential for manufacturing solar cells, integrated circuits, and pharmaceuticals.
Future potential includes space mining for important minerals, space based solar power that can beam energy down to Earth in the form of microwave transmissions and optical communications advancements. Of course, the challenges of space technology are as big as the possibilities. Orbital debris from satellite collisions and increased space traffic could threaten access to near Earth and outer space.
The proliferation of space assets calls for new technologies like on orbit servicing to increase autonomy, safety, and security. Anti satellite weapons in the hands of rival nations or bad actors could threaten global communications and military operations. There is also much work to be done in ensuring cybersecurity for space systems, updating legal frameworks like the outer space and regulating private space actors.
Right now, space assets are not designated by the US as critical infrastructure, but legislation has been proposed to change their designation. The US has been at the forefront of the space race from the very beginning, and today there are more reasons than ever to keep it that way.
The Space Race ignited a technological revolution that has fundamentally reshaped the daily lives of nearly every individual on the planet. From global positioning system satellites and the smartphones in our pockets to water purification systems, portable defibrillators, and ultrasound machines, countless technological breakthroughs are deeply rooted in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. As we stand on the brink of a new era in space technology, driven by increasing privatization and commercialization, the potential for equally transformative advancements is within reach.
RELATED SOURCES:
- Learn more about emerging technologies and the Stanford Emerging Technology Review (SETR).
- Read SETR Chapter on Space.
Simone D’Amico
W. M. Keck Faculty Scholar of EngineeringSimone D’Amico is associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics and professor, by courtesy, of geophysics at Stanford University, where he serves as the W. M. Keck Faculty Scholar of Engineering. His research explores the intersection of advanced astrodynamics, spacecraft navigation and control, autonomous decision making, and space system engineering. He currently leads satellite swarm and formation-flying projects for NASA and the National Science Foundation. He received his PhD in aerospace engineering from Delft University of Technology.