ARTICLES

Articles, Policy Georgetown University Space Initiative Articles, Policy Georgetown University Space Initiative

Lessons Learned from the Space Launch System

By Jeremy Lee

As recent announcements inform us that the SLS will be the primary launch vehicle for the Artemis missions that aim to return to the Moon, it seems as if the SLS is indeed fulfilling this mission. However, a dive into the SLS program’s setbacks provide a warning and lesson for the future of American and broader international space policy.

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Commercial, Articles Georgetown University Space Initiative Commercial, Articles Georgetown University Space Initiative

Launching Civilians to Space: The Inspiration4 SpaceX Mission

By Carlos Gonzalez Ortiz

In 2021, the commercial space industry will reach yet another crucial milestone: the first all-civilian flight to space. The Inspiration4 mission operated by SpaceX—and facilitated by a hefty donation from billionaire Jared Isaacman—will launch four civilians on a multi-day journey across low earth orbit. The dual purpose of the venture is to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude´s Children Research Hospital, as well as promote Shift4Payments, a company led and founded by Isaacman.

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Articles, Commercial Georgetown University Space Initiative Articles, Commercial Georgetown University Space Initiative

One Small Step for bluShift, One Giant Leap for Sustainability

By Sarah Myers

On Sunday, January 31, a startup named bluShift made history in multiple ways. First, the company is the first to launch a test rocket from the snowy coast of Maine. Even more importantly, bluShift is the first commercial company to launch a rocket using bio-derived solid fuel or fuel made with a renewable, plant-based formula.

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Articles, Policy Georgetown University Space Initiative Articles, Policy Georgetown University Space Initiative

The Developing Issue of Space Debris in Low Earth Orbit

By Andrew Colliton

The outer space and aerospace industries have seen a renaissance in the last decade with the rise of private enterprises such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic among others. With hundreds of satellites being launched annually into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), a small section of the earth’s atmosphere, the proliferation of satellites and space junk is accumulating at an alarming rate.

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Articles, Policy Georgetown University Space Initiative Articles, Policy Georgetown University Space Initiative

Space, the Final Frontier or Our Best Chance for Liberalism?

By Ty Brownlow

Most have not been to outer space, but there's something about the idea of breaching terrestrial boundaries that makes earthly rules seem as if they have the potential to be less binding. This sentiment leads me to ask; what are the real limitations of our actions? Are there real consequences to our decisions or are they merely socially constructed?

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Articles, Policy Georgetown University Space Initiative Articles, Policy Georgetown University Space Initiative

The Future of NASA as an Effective Vehicle for Advancing National and Global Interests

By Nikki Farber

It is no secret that the impact and role of NASA in the exploration of space has been waning for some time. Discussions of private space initiatives run by SpaceX, Blue Origin, and others have dominated the conversation in recent years and some have even been considering the value of the existence of NASA in a post-cold war world.

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Articles, Investment Georgetown University Space Initiative Articles, Investment Georgetown University Space Initiative

The SPAC(e) Race

By Ross Kujdych & Madeleine Meier

The last few years have seen an unprecedented jump in target companies utilizing SPACs to go public. In 2020, SPACs raised $79.87 billion in proceeds from 237 public offerings, surpassing the $13.6 billion raised in 2019. Further, fundraising from SPAC IPOs surpassed that of traditional IPOs, which raised $67 billion in 2020.

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Articles, Science&History Georgetown University Space Initiative Articles, Science&History Georgetown University Space Initiative

Astrobiology – How Did We Get Here?

By Jessica Wahl and Tim Chiu

In 1955, Stanley Miller and Harold Urey’s now-famous experiment simulated prehistoric ocean-atmospheric conditions on Earth, resulting in the synthesis of twenty-two amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and, consequently, life, from inorganic components.

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Articles, Commercial Georgetown University Space Initiative Articles, Commercial Georgetown University Space Initiative

Liftoff for India’s Private Space Sector

By Connor Brennan

In 2014, India became the fourth nation to reach Mars as the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO; the Indian equivalent of NASA) successfully put its space probe Mangalyaan into the red planet’s orbit. What’s more, they did it with a budget of only 17 million USD.

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Investment, Articles Georgetown University Space Initiative Investment, Articles Georgetown University Space Initiative

To Invest, or Not to Invest: Skepticism and the US-Russia Relationship

By Ross Kujdych

Last week, the founder of Momentus Space, Mikhail Kokorich, abruptly resigned from his role as CEO. Kokorich’s involvement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian business institutions left regulators skeptical of the company—and ultimately suspended Momentus’s ability to go public.

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