How Space Explorations are Changing Future Life | Chen Shen | TEDxSansuSquare
The presentation argues that space exploration technology remains highly active, enabling new areas like space funerals, asteroid mining, and low-Earth orbit internet via constellations. The core technological leap enabling global connectivity is SpaceX's Starlink, which uses thousands of satellites in LEO to provide high-speed internet despite existing terrestrial limitations. The overall message encourages people to participate in the "golden era for aerospace" to advance human capability and exploration.
## Speakers & Context
- Speaker presents on the influence of space exploration on future life, referencing Neil Armstrong's 1969 Moon landing.
- The speaker is associated with a company, E1, which collaborates with NASA and SpaceX on aerospace missions.
- The presentation structure moves from historical achievements (Moon landing) to nascent commercial ventures (space funerals, mining) to mature infrastructure (satellite internet).
## Theses & Positions
- Space technology has not plateaued after the Moon landing; the "dreams of escaping the life on earth for the mystery of space" continue.
- The future of aerospace success relies on commercializing activities beyond government-run missions, specifically citing the potential of satellite internet and space tourism.
- To make future space endeavors successful, two prerequisites are necessary: a safe space environment (managing debris) and a reliable vehicle.
- The ultimate message encourages audience members to be "a change maker" rather than a bystander.
## Concepts & Definitions
- **Astrogology:** The practice or belief involving the study of celestial bodies; the speaker notes the trend of "space funerals."
- **Low Earth Orbit (LEO):** The orbital altitude used by the Starlink constellation, specified at around 300 miles above the surface.
- **Permafrost:** A layer of ground (on the Moon's poles) containing permanently frozen water or ice.
- **Space Debris:** The accumulated objects orbiting the Earth; over 20 thousand are currently in the Earth's orbit, mostly centralized in LEO.
- **High Altitude Flight Campaign:** Ambitious ventures, like those for internet access, that are being addressed by constellation deployment.
## Mechanisms & Processes
- **Space Funeral Process:**
1. Customer provides cremated remains samples in a custom ash capsule.
2. The startup Edison launches a spacecraft from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
3. The event is webcasted, and relatives can join the launch viewing.
4. Families can track the journey for about two years via a mobile app.
5. The spacecraft executes a harmless re-entry into Earth's atmosphere as a shooting star.
- **Satellite Internet Constellation (Starlink):**
1. Thousands of satellites are placed in LEO.
2. These satellites work with ground transceivers.
3. Improvement 1: Orbiting at ~300 miles reduces distance and drastically improves speed/reduces latency.
4. Improvement 2: Over 40,000 satellites ensure global coverage without service dropouts.
- **Space Mining:** Programs and legislations are being implemented for prospecting and extracting resources, citing the goal of rewriting the Earth's industry power grid.
## Timeline & Sequence
- **1969:** Neil Armstrong lands on the Moon.
- **Post-1969:** US coordinates the Apollo astronauts for three weeks following their return for gene-sharing study.
- **Today:** Space funerals are becoming more popular.
- **2015:** SpaceX launched Starlink, beginning the shift toward constellation internet.
- **Last October:** SpaceX plans to bump up the downlink speed to 300 megabits per second with 20 milliseconds latency.
- **2027:** Gateway Foundation plans to open the first space hotel.
## Named Entities
- **Neil Armstrong:** Astronaut who first landed on the Moon in 1969.
- **Nixon:** U.S. President who welcomed Armstrong and two other Apollo 11 astronauts.
- **Dr Schumacher:** Expert who devoted himself to astrogeology and stayed "on the moon forever" (presumably a nickname or reference to dedication).
- **Vandenberg Air Force Base:** Location from where the Edison spacecraft is launched.
- **Gateway Foundation:** A U.S. company founded by former NASA engineers, planning a space hotel.
- **Edison:** The startup responsible for the space funeral launch.
- **Orange Space:** Company funded to pursue asteroid mining.
- **Apollo 11 astronauts:** Three astronauts landing on the Moon with Armstrong.
## Numbers & Data
- Lunar landing year: **1969**.
- Apollo 11 astronauts cohort size: **3** (plus Armstrong).
- Lunar monitoring period after return: **three weeks**.
- Lunar resource type: **water or hydroxide** existing in the form of permafrost or ice at the lunar pole.
- Asteroid 241 Germania potential mineral wealth: **95 trillion U.S. dollars**, surpassing the GDP of all countries combined.
- Satellite constellation required: **over 40,000**.
- Current active satellites: **only 4,000**.
- Starlink downlink speed plan: **300 megabits per second**.
- Planned latency improvement: **20 milliseconds**.
- Comparison data point: Saving **six milliseconds** on the New York to London cable vs. the Atlantic crossing.
- Apollo 11 crew size: **3** (besides Armstrong).
## Examples & Cases
- **Space Funeral:** Illustrated by the process involving custom ash capsules and the Vandenberg launch.
- **Starlink's impact on finance:** Reducing the time from New York to the Royal Exchange from **65 milliseconds to 43 milliseconds**.
- **Space Tourism:** Gateway Foundation building a hotel accommodating **100 tourists every week** since **2027**, featuring a sunrise view.
- **Geological Resource:** Asteroid 241 Germania could possess **95 trillion U.S. dollar** in minerals.
## Tools, Tech & Products
- **Custom ash capsule:** Container for cremated remains samples used in space funerals.
- **Spacecraft:** Vehicle launched by Edison from Vandenberg AFB.
- **Mobile App:** Used to allow families and friends to follow the space funeral journey for about two years.
- **Starlink:** Satellite internet constellation orbiting Earth.
- **Ground Transceivers:** Equipment working in combination with the satellites.
- **Falcon 9:** Rocket vehicle capable of launching satellites in stacks.
- **Starship:** Mentioned vehicle type for future space tourism.
- **Space Hotel:** Planned facility by Gateway Foundation.
## References Cited
- None.
## Trade-offs & Alternatives
- **Space Internet vs. Traditional Broadband:** Starlink offers huge advantages in long-distance communication (e.g., New York to London), suggesting it cannot replace existing networks but offers superior capabilities.
- **Space Mining:** Offers alternative revenue streams to rewrite the current industry power grid compared to relying solely on Earth's resources.
- **Lunar bases:** Could serve as a "base or springboard for the future deep space explorations."
## Counterarguments & Caveats
- The speaker notes that the **$1 trillion** estimation for asteroid mining needs improved accuracy and cost control.
- The space hotel offering must develop reliable technology and regulations to ensure success.
- Two prerequisites for success:
1. A safe space environment (addressing the **over 20 thousand debris** in LEO).
2. A safe and comfortable vehicle (learning from past failures).
## Methodology
- The speaker's company, E1, uses a "strategic asset" approach to testing, involving everything "from the hardware in the loop to qualification testing from launch operation to monitoring the payload in real time."
- The process of achieving milestones is described as a "series of concepts design and test."
## Conclusions & Recommendations
- The era is defined as the **"golden era for aerospace."**
- The call to action is for the audience not to be a bystander, but to **"join and to be a change maker."**
## Implications & Consequences
- Space exploration promises to fundamentally rewrite the Earth's industry power grid and the existing global order.
- Technological progress is accelerating through commercialization (space tourism, LEO internet).
- The Moon's abundant hydroxide reserves offer potential sources of oxygen and hydrogen for long-term habitation.
## Verbatim Moments
- *"It has been over 50 years since a giant leap for mankind on the moon."*
- *"The answer is definitely no [to the idea that space technology is stuck on the plateau of slow growth]."*.
- *"there's a more convenient way space funeral is becoming more and more popular"*
- *"This fantastic event will be webcasted"*
- *"Starlink in 2015."*
- *"If the fed announces a 200 basis point reduction of the federal run rate imagine the time from new york to royal exchange were shortened from 65 milliseconds to 43 milliseconds"*
- *"the most beautiful sunrise over the earth"*
- *"we still need two prerequisite conditions on the one hand we need a safe space environment... on the other hand we need a safe and comfortable vehicle"*
- *"it's now the golden era for aerospace"*
- *"do not just be a bystander join and to be a change maker"*
- *"i miss him always but to this day i can look up at the moon imagine him and his rockets there looking down at me"*