A space satellite orbits the earth in this illustration. Broadband satellites are set to drive at least half the growth that will see space-industry revenue almost triple to $1-trillion by 2040, according to Morgan Stanley. Picture: 123RF/COOKELMAThat is the view of rocket start-ups Isar Aerospace Technologies, Rocket Factory Augsburg and HyImpulse Technologies.
“It’s like the difference between taking a bus or a taxi,” says Christian Schmierer, founder of HyImpulse, which plans to charge €7,000/kg of payload, more than two and a half times SpaceX’s $2,700. “A bus is cheaper, but a taxi is more convenient and will get you to your destination quicker.” “Customers can book their satellite tickets at any time with maximum flexibility,” said founder and chief Daniel Metzler. Investors such as Lakestar, UVC Partners, Vsquared Ventures and Earlybird Venture Capital have provided Isar with a combined €90m over the past two years.