Space

With a new Executive Order pushing for faster, cheaper space launches, Harvard economist Matthew Weinzierl weighs in on the risks and rewards of deregulating America’s space economy—and whether launch frequency is the right metric for national progress.

Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project explores how orbiting satellite arrays could beam clean energy back to Earth, offering a scalable, radiation-hardened alternative to fossil fuels. Richard Madonna’s team faces major technical and orbital challenges—but the promise of powering entire towns from space keeps the vision alive.

A look at how AI-driven decision frameworks are optimizing satellite collision avoidance in low-Earth orbit, with new approaches that balance fuel use and safety to reduce long-term congestion and collision risk.

A look at how policy frameworks for open data, space situational awareness, and lunar governance are shaping the future of space sustainability, emphasizing the need for international cooperation, transparency, and responsible behavior in orbit and cislunar space.

A detailed look at innovative detection methods for small-scale space debris using electromagnetic signals from hypervelocity collisions, enhancing orbital safety through improved situational awareness.

An exploration of how artificial intelligence and economic modeling are being used to quantify, predict, and manage space debris, highlighting the integration of large language models and real-time simulation tools for smarter orbital decision-making.

A look at how gravity-mapping satellites like GRACE are transforming our understanding of Earth’s water cycle, sea-level rise, and climate change through high-precision space geodesy.

An exploration of emerging policy frameworks and legal strategies designed to tackle orbital debris, highlighting efforts to balance international cooperation, commercial growth, and long-term space sustainability.

An examination of the strategic importance and complex challenges of managing cislunar space sustainably, including international cooperation, debris mitigation, and advancements in space domain awareness.