Space Shuttle Shown at CES Marks Off-Earth Commercial Exploration

The presentation of a full-scale model of the Sierra Space company’s “space plane” at the traditional CES technology fair in Las Vegas this week is proof of the beginning of the space market era, which has dizzying potential and also implies scratchs.

With more private companies interested in exploring space appearing, industry experts believe this trend will lead to many technological advances, albeit with the almost certain prospect that there will also be space disasters and lives will be lost.

Sierra Space, a subsidiary of the Sierra Nevada company, wants its nine-meter spacecraft, called “Dream Chaser”, to make its first missions this year. Bet on this reusable spacecraft as the cornerstone of your ambitions.

“Before, only governments could do this. Now, ordinary human beings can go into space,” Sierra Nevada president Neeraj Gupta told AFP.

The small space shuttle is designed to transport people and equipment to and from commercial space facilities that the company plans to build over the next ten years, especially a system of inflatable structures intended to house humans in orbit.

Sierra Nevada has signed an agreement with NASA (the American Space Agency) for unmanned flights to the International Space Station (ISS), which should begin in 2022. Collaborates with the company Blue Origin, by Jeff Bezos, co-founder from online commerce giant Amazon.

Commercial space-related projects are advancing at a dizzying pace, in particular with the launches of rockets by SpaceX, a company founded by South African Elon Musk — who also owns the electric car company Tesla — that transports astronauts for NASA.

Last year, Bezos’ space trip aboard a Blue Origin rocket generated fascination and, at the same time, a flurry of criticism of the “space race” waged among billionaires.

Space risks

In addition to tourism, space is now seen as a new commercial horizon to be taken seriously.

Many companies leaned towards more or less extravagant ideas, such as asteroid mining, or biomedical applications, but until five years ago, the idea of ​​producing something in space and bringing it to Earth didn’t make sense, says Mason Peck, a professor of astronautics at Cornell University.

“Today, there are companies that are studying this question: How can I make money in space?” Peck added.

The lure of profit has the power to greatly accelerate productivity and technological advances, far more than the slow, reflexive approach of NASA or the European space agency.

“More capital is being invested in the space industry. Technology improves, costs go down, so everyone benefits,” says Mike Gruntman, professor of astronautics at the University of Southern California.

The prospect of increased space activity by private companies can also create real risks, however.

“For sure, there will be a moment when a tragedy occurs. There are traffic accidents, bridges that collapse”, anticipates Peck.