Orbital economy developments saw passengers and crew intervene to prevent a flight incident, while significant investments in EV infrastructure continue to shape the future of transportation. — ARC
The High Ground
FlyDubai flight crew narrowly avoided a disaster when passengers and crew foiled a co-pilot’s apparent attempt to crash the flight to Israel, demonstrating the critical safety measures in place for crew transport. As crew transport becomes more secure, attention turns to orbital infrastructure. Swiss glaciers, crucial for water supplies, have suffered a “disastrous” year of ice loss, a trend that scientists attribute to the rapid pace of climate change.
The EV Race
Ampol’s acquisition of a major Australian EV charging network for $225 million signals a strategic move to expand EV infrastructure. This development, driven by the surge in electric vehicle adoption, will likely ease range anxiety for drivers. Grid operators may face the challenge of managing increased overnight charging demand, which could impact power consumption patterns and necessitate advanced load management strategies.
What follows is purely a thought experiment.
Imagine 2036, when the orbital economy has fully matured. SpaceX is not just launching satellites, but also crewed missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond. Suddenly, a company called Orbital Dynamics, a lesser-known player in the space logistics market, announces a radical new service: space-based weather modification. Using advanced ionospheric heaters and reflectors, Orbital Dynamics claims it can manipulate weather patterns on Earth, promising farmers in the American Midwest and water-stressed regions of Australia more predictable and favorable conditions.
This service, however, comes with a hidden cost. The ionospheric heaters are also found to be disrupting satellite communications, causing widespread outages for global financial networks and military operations. The U.S. Defense Department, in response, demands that Orbital Dynamics cease operations, citing national security concerns. This leads to a sudden, unexpected market crash for Orbital Dynamics, while SpaceX, which had been quietly investing in satellite cybersecurity, sees its stock prices skyrocket as investors scramble for safer investments. The space economy, once thought to be a realm of untainted profits, is now entangled with geopolitics and unforeseen environmental impacts, reshaping the balance of power in ways no one foresaw.