Opinion
Opinion section includes op-eds, columns, commentaries and editorials on all things related to the global space business enterprise.
Op-ed | Space Force should break the mold in recruiting and retaining talent
The U.S. Space Force now has the perfect opportunity to revolutionize the military personnel system.
Op-ed | Commitment to space exploration should be on the ballot
With less than a month to go in this election cycle, the public is awash in big issues, COVID and healthcare to national defense and economic recovery. Lest we forget, an issue also on the ballot is space – with national unity, security, and economic implications in tow.
Op-ed | Can SpaceX profit on certain Starlink launches?
It is no longer a surprise to industry observers that partial reusability, economies of scale and vertical integration have enabled SpaceX to achieve extremely low Falcon 9 launch costs. It may however remain a surprise to some that SpaceX will further reduce the Starlink launch capex by manifesting paying customers as rideshare payloads on some Starlink launches.
Op-ed | China’s Arctic gambit a concern for U.S. air and space forces
The United States must work with long-time Arctic partners to increase vigilance in this increasingly vital region.
Op-ed | Social distancing, self-isolation, and … space debris?
In addition to better preparing us for the next pandemic, or teaching us how to prevent it altogether, reflection also reveals lessons we can apply to other issues we face as a collective society, writes Mike Lindsay.
Op-ed | Celestial property rights: How we can achieve a new, commerce-fueled space age
One of the largest hurdles is coming up with a set of legal rules for governing behavior in outer space. The issue of celestial property rights is tricky.
On National Security | Space Force’s tech-heavy vision faces daunting obstacles
Space Force leaders frequently remind audiences that the newest branch of the U.S. military will be a “digital service” on the leading edge of technology.
Foust Forward | Seeking small victories in space policy
As the House and Senate struggle with pandemic relief and other spending bills, there seems little opportunity for anything space-related to get through Congress.
Op-ed | Materials that could bring life to Mars
With the right materials, a future for humanity on the Red Planet isn't just science fiction.
Op-ed | Building a robust space economy requires more partnerships
While public-private partnerships are getting a lot of attention, the space industry has not traditionally leveraged non-supply chain partnerships as frequently or as fluidly as some industries.
Commentary | Senate Democrats: Stand against China, protect U.S. space programs
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner argues that contracting provisions he added to a draft NASA authorization act last year would help safeguard U.S. space technology against Chinese efforts to steal it.
Op-ed | China must be held accountable for its actions on Earth and in space
A disregard for terrestrial international norms has also been witnessed with regard to space.
On National Security | Like Uber, except for satellite imagery
The U.S. military wants timely intelligence from space to be as fast and easy to obtain as hailing an Uber ride.
Commentary | A critical mission for human spaceflight: a quest for value
The next goals for human spaceflight should be industrialization and settlement, writes aerospace engineer Gary Oleson.
Peace of the Worlds
While humans have found a shared imperative in the fight against the coronavirus, we need something more than a common enemy to combat the isolation and loss that have come to define this pandemic.
Foust Forward | Space at the table for everyone
As its first term nears its end, the Trump administration has yet to issue its own national space policy, despite a wave of more specific space policy documents on everything from space traffic management to the Space Force.
