Is Space Exploration Still a Pipe Dream?

Space is back at the centre of economic and geopolitical conversations. Over the past few years, SpaceX has become one of the most important technology companies in the world, Starlink has reached millions of users, and Starship has opened a new debate about what becomes possible next.In this episode, Dhruva speaks with Utkarsh and takes a slightly different approach from the podcast’s usual debate format. Rather than arguing a position, Dhruva plays the role of an interested sceptic and asks questions to explore one central idea: are we at the beginning of a new era in the space economy?The conversation begins with why space is suddenly attracting so much attention again. It then turns to SpaceX and the economics of access to space, asking what bottlenecks have existed in the past and what new technologies are making possible now. From there, the discussion widens to the business model of space itself, including three possible paths for the sector: colonising space, using space as a resource, and generating technological spillovers that create value on Earth.The episode also explores the geopolitical question, including the relationship between private companies and governments, and the risks that come with an increasingly strategic space domain. It closes with a broader historical question about what would need to happen for us to say that SpaceX truly changed the course of history.