The space economy has transitioned from a government-led endeavor to a booming commercial sector. With launch costs plummeting thanks to reusable rockets, low-Earth orbit (LEO) is becoming crowded with satellite constellations providing global internet coverage, earth observation data, and secure communications.
The LEO Infrastructure Boom
Companies like Starlink and Kuiper have paved the way, but a secondary ecosystem is emerging. "Space tugs" for satellite servicing, orbital debris removal startups, and specialized manufacturing in microgravity are the new frontiers. Investors are looking at the infrastructure providers—the companies building the "roads and bridges" of space—as safer bets than the high-risk exploration ventures.
Asteroid Mining: Science Fiction or Near Future?
While still in its infancy, the legal frameworks for asteroid mining are being established. The potential resource wealth—rare earth metals, platinum group metals, and water for fuel—is astronomical. Forward-thinking funds are beginning to take small positions in companies developing the robotic prospecting technology required to unlock these resources.