Name: When the Heavens Went on Sale
Rating: 3.6 (111 reviews)
Author: Ashlee Vance

What’s in it for me? A new kind of spacewalk.

Ever thought about what happens when the fearless innovators of Silicon Valley take a good, hard look at the starlit canvas of space? Well, we're living it right now.

Remember the big bang moment when SpaceX's Falcon 1 successfully launched into orbit in 2008? That's when the game changed. Thanks to Elon Musk, we weren't just continuing the old space race but starting an entirely new one – with new rules. This time, it isn't superpower nations flexing their muscles but Silicon Valley dreamers and entrepreneurs going neck and neck.

Imagine the limitless possibilities of the Internet, but now transpose that to the boundless expanse of space. That's the playground we're talking about. A new Wild West, not of horse-riding outlaws and gold rushes, but of aerospace engineering and visionary startups powered by private money.

So, if you're simply fascinated by Silicon Valley’s bold entrepreneurial spirit in the space arena or can't help but gaze at the night sky wondering about the cosmos, you're in for a treat. In this Blink to Ashlee Vance’s When the Heavens Went on Sale, we’ll explore how four pioneering aerospace companies are shaping this booming industry and the future of space exploration.

Brace yourself – it’s going to be an unforgettable journey.

Four companies, one vision

The space exploration game is no longer just about governments and their bureaucratic red tape. Planet Labs, Rocket Lab, Astra Space, and Firefly Aerospace have burst onto the scene, shaking things up with their fresh approach to space exploration.

Before we look at these companies’ pursuits, let’s first see what they have in common and how these traits have changed the space industry forever.

To start, these trailblazers know that cost efficiency is key. They've cracked the code, finding ways to make space exploration more affordable and accessible. By thinking outside the box and taking a measured approach to time-consuming tasks, they've streamlined operations, harnessed innovative technologies, and reimagined rocket designs. The result? Lower costs and more opportunities, which are enabling scientists, researchers, and even everyday folks to get in on the space action.

But here's the best part: these companies aren’t simply out there for interplanetary colonization or moon tourism. Nope, these companies have their feet firmly planted on good ol' planet Earth. They're all about improving our lives via Earth-forward endeavors like climate change, resource management, and environmental monitoring. Each company uses space technology uniquely to gain valuable insights to help us better understand our planet and make informed, future-ready decisions.

So, forget the old notion of space exploration that’s confined to bureaucratic government agencies. These four companies are shaking things up and showing us that space is for everyone. They’re empowering us all to aim for the stars while keeping our sights on making Earth a better place.

Now it’s time to explore how Planet Labs democratizes space exploration.

Planet Labs: Shooting for the stars

Picture this: hundreds of small, inexpensive satellites fly in formation, snapping pictures of every nook and cranny of our planet on a daily basis. Sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, right? But that’s exactly what Planet Labs is achieving right now.

Cofounded by a trio of self-proclaimed space-nerds-slash-hippies – Robbie Schingler, Will Marshall, and Chris Boshuizen – Planet began with a unique vision. The founders believed in the power of these miniature satellites, lovingly named Doves, to be a force for good. These weren't stealthy spy satellites for snooping; they were the all-seeing eyes that could help us better understand and optimize our world.

Rocket Lab’s ascent toward stellar success

Forget the glossy NASA-led trope we’re all used to. The new Space Age is a down-to-earth innovation race – thanks to Rocket Lab. As its name suggests, the company reimagines how we reach the stars by developing and delivering small, cost-efficient rockets.

We can’t talk about Rocket Lab without revisiting the story of the company’s founder, Peter Beck. Beck, who grew up tinkering with machines in Invercargill, New Zealand, turned his venture into a billion-dollar space unicorn in 2018 – staking his claim on the final frontier with 3D-printed rockets and daring ingenuity.

A tale of Astra-nomical feats

Astra, formerly known as Stealth Space, wanted to make space more affordable to a wide range of customers and stakeholders across various sectors, including telecommunications and scientific research. So its driving force, Chris Kemp – an American entrepreneur of Silicon Valley fame – came up with practical and cost-conscious ways to build rockets.

But Astra’s journey up to the heavens wasn’t easy. In fact, the company experienced research and development turbulence in rocket manufacturing. Thankfully, the infrastructure setbacks and failed launches of various high-profile rockets, including Rocket 3, never deterred Kemp and his team from the road to space exploration success.

When Firefly lights up the sky

Max Polyakov and Thomas E. Markusic once got together and had a bright idea: Hey, let's shake things up! They founded Firefly Aerospace with some bold dreams and the grit to get into the game with the big guys in the industry. They were led by this incredible group of go-getters addressing the limitations of small rockets, which opened new opportunities for commercial space activities.

Polyakov and Markusic saw an opportunity in the small-launch market. But instead of settling for small rockets with limited cargo space, they aimed higher. Their groundbreaking Alpha rocket was designed to carry a whopping 2,200 pounds of cargo. And they didn’t stop there! They set their eyes on their Beta rocket, expected to carry an incredible 17,500 pounds. The idea behind Beta was to create rockets that could shoot multiple satellites into space with a single launch. In short, this rocket could be the way to meet the rising demand for space-based services.

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