SPACE ECONOMY

“… when thinking about the killer app or breakthrough for space it is clearly going to be in the field of biomedical research and/or biotechnology. The research and development pursued in microgravity focused on anti-aging, protein folding, 3D-printing tissue, and new drug discovery each hold keys to billions of dollars in revenues.” (Financial Express, February 8, 2022)

Although the global space economy is estimated to be worth more than 400 billion USD and predicted to grow to 1.1 trillion USD by 2040 (Morgan Stanley) or 2.7 trillion USD in 2045 (Bank of America Merrill Lynch), the potential benefits and potential of space-derived applications are currently serverly underestimated. Space is still being considered to be expensive, elitist and of no worth to people on Earth, narrowed down only to the production and launch of spacecrafts, with goals set by governments and dependent on public financing.

In contrast to this “old space” view, the Space Economy is the full range of activities and the use of resources that create and provide value and benefits to human beings in the course of exploring, understanding, managing and utilizing space (OECD), with nongovernmental market goals, market forces and entrepreneurship, i.e. risk-taking activities based on private financing and disruptive innovations.

The disruptive potential of biotechnology in space as a driver in the space economy is enormous: In vitro tissue engineering, 3D tissue cultures and 3D bioreactors, production of human tissue and organoids, pharmacological research, regenerative medicine, longevity, disease models, protein crystallization, telemedicine, non-invasive monitoring, Point Of Care Tests (POTC).

Star Sailors will help to exploit the new space technologies with our knowledge, experience and network.