What does space privatisation mean for climate?

With India kicking off 2025 with an historic space-docking experiment, and Elon Musk's growing power in the US government raising questions over the future of his spacecraft and satellite companies SpaceX and Starlink, we may be at the dawn of a new era for space exploration.


Unlike the 20th Century Space Race, however, it will likely be private companies that cross new mildstones - not public agencies. But who will regulate mining on the moon and tourism in space, and what are the environmental implications? 


Bertie talks about these issues with D. Raghunandan, Director of the Delhi Science Forum, as well as discussing the positive contributions of the space sector towards climate and environmental science. 


Further reading: 

• 'Indian Space Sector on a High This Year (https://www.newsclick.in/indian-space...) ', News Click, February 2025
• 'Mining the moon for minerals could be worth billions, but astronomers warn it's bad news for science (https://www.businessinsider.com/minin...) ', Business Insider, February 2025
• 'India File: Jostling for position in the space race (https://www.reuters.com/world/india/i...) ', Reuters, January 2025
• 'How Elon Musk’s partnership with Trump could shape science in the US — and beyond (https://www.nature.com/articles/d4158...) ', Nature, December 2024
• 'Donald Trump’s approach to US space policy could throw up some surprises, especially with Elon Musk on board (https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/cur...) ', Durham University, November 2024
• 'The dark side of SpaceX’s flight of innovation (https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/11/2...) ', People's Dispatch, November 2023

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