The space economy is a term indicating the production and financial sector oriented to the creation and use of goods and services and the exploitation of resources within the extra-atmospheric space.
The upstream segment foresees the creation of space infrastructures, satellites, carriers, space stations up to future bases located on the moon or on rocky planets of the solar system.
The downstream segment relates to the benefits that derive from the data collected in space and, in the future, from the physical resources taken to be transformed and used on Earth; for example it includes telecommunications, navigation and positioning services, environmental monitoring, weather forecasting, telemedicine, etc.
The global space sector is thriving. Over 80 countries have operated at least one satellite. Political and economic capital being invested in the space environment by governments and commercial entities is at record levels.
With an increasing number of public and private actors involved in the development and provision of space infrastructure and related products and services, the global space economy has been a consistent source of growth, exceeding $400 billion for the first time in 2019.
According to a Bank of America
study, the space economy will grow
up to $ 1 trillion by 2040.