Space is the final frontier (前沿). Sending rockets into space has become almost common. The demand for communications satellites and space-based image services is growing.
Today, space efforts cost about 200 billion a year. Joint efforts between governments and businesses are helping to lower costs and increase our understanding of the universe.
The business of space looks good for Orbital ATK, a company based in the United States. In January, the company launched its Antares rocket. The rocket was carrying the first of eight planned supply shipments to the International Space Station.
Orbital ATK is one of the two American companies paid by nasa to transport supplies to the space station.
A company called Arianespace is a private European space business. Clayton Nowry heads the American division of the company. He says the increase in rocket launches is partly the result of increased demand for space-based technologies. These include high-definition (高清的) broadcasts and satellite broadband services.
While there is more demand for satellites, the end of nasa's Space Shuttle program in 2011 has hurt the space industry. Janice Starzyk works at International Launch Services. She works on education issues at the Washington Space Business Roundtable. She said, "It's a pity (遗憾)that the programs shutdown was a huge, huge set of lay-offs (下岗人员) in the industry. "
But even as NASA reduces its spending, other countries have announced plans to explore space. In December 2013, China became just the third country to land an unmanned space vehicle on the moon. A month later, India sent its first communications satellite.
微信扫码预览、分享更方便
