Our world runs on satellites. What happens when we can’t launch more?

‘This will undoubtedly change the nature of competition in the space sector.’

[Source Illustration: Getty Images]

“Like riding a broomstick in a hurricane.” This is reportedly how one SpaceX engineer described the intense atmospheric reentry of the first Falcon 9 rocket to go to space and then successfully land back here. That moment, on December 21, 2015, marked the beginning of a dizzying decade-long spell for the space sector, as engineers no longer had to worry about getting their technology into space. Now, the industry’s main challenges were building enough satellites, raising enough capital, finding enough customers.

It’s important to remember how fundamental space is to ordinary life. It’s no exaggeration to call it the backbone of the world economy. Satellites tell ships, aircraft, cars, and phones where they are; keep large parts of the financial system and communications........

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