A NOT SO GIANT LEAP: THE TRILLION-DOLLAR SPACE ECONOMY

The space ecosystem is growing at an exponential rate and projected to reach $1 trillion by the year 2040. As the demand for innovation and supplies increases, the supply chain and workforce begin to feel the pressure of a rising space economy. AIAA will convene more than 2,000 people to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities of the expanding space economy during 2023 ASCEND. Set to take place October 23-25 in Las Vegas NV, this event will feature collaboration and knowledge exchange, igniting the brightest sparks of imagination to envision, design, and construct the future of space commerce in low Earth orbit and cislunar space. Here, the views of several aviation experts including Clare Martin, John Shannon, and Hemali Vyas, on the space ecosystem, are presented.