A Different Kind of Growth In Spacecraft Deployments

Since next week more or less begins with the 4th of July holiday in the United States, there will be no analysis next week. For U.S. compatriots, have an enjoyable and delicious 4th! Breaks are nice!

I’ve written several observations about the state of the global launch industry and its extremely heavy lean on one particular launch company, SpaceX. While I have no issue with the launch company, I believe dependency on a single launch company is unhealthy–especially if it doesn’t have to be that way.

This analysis, however, is one about plenty.

Come On In, The Water’s Fine!

It’s one about organizations and nations taking advantage of opportunities, in this case, to operate spacecraft. They are flourishing despite the potential bottleneck of using one launch company, SpaceX, and, ironically, mainly because of the inexpensive launch opportunities that the company provides. SpaceX isn’t the only one providing rideshares–Russia’s Glavkosmos and the Indian Space Research Organisation also offer similar services. Companies in China do as well. But SpaceX conducts more of them, and at very good prices.