Changing how we build satellites could do more than reduce space junk

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., – "Space is for everyone" is a popular saying, but it rarely holds true — partly because space is expensive, and partly because certain countries have decades of a head start and established procedures to rely on. Rethinking those established procedures, however, could address not just inequity, but other looming challenges in space exploration as well. That's the argument that powers the research of Danielle Wood, who runs a program at MIT's Media Lab, which focuses on how to do things in space that further equity and justice on Earth, reports Meghan Bartels for Space.com.

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The Intelligent Aerospace take:

January 24, 2019-Meghan Bartels' story with MIT's Danielle Wood dives into a bit of history involving early space programs and the long-lasting ramifications of "space junk." More importantly, Bartels writes about how the future satellites could be made in space by 3D printers and truly make space "for everyone" by allowing less-established spacefaring countries put technology to work to solve their problems. It paints the future of technology as a more egalitarian one than currently exists.

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Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace

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