I was invited as a keynote speaker at the European Rover Challenge (ERC) in Krakow, Poland. The event was organized by the European Space Foundation with the co-organizer AGH University of Krakow.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐?
This was one of the questions from the audience. New Space emerged in the early 1990s as a paradigm shift from traditional space through three defining characteristics: agile product development, private investment-driven business models, and taking higher risks with less testing and COTS products. Where traditional space operates on government cost-plus contracts with 5-10 year development cycles, New Space companies embrace entrepreneurial risk-taking with 1 year deployment timelines using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components.
Traditional space companies are adapting toward greater agility, but institutional ownership structures limit their ability to implement changes as rapidly as New Space ventures. While the gap between traditional and New Space approaches continues to narrow, these fundamental differences persist.
SpaceX exemplifies a New Space business, achieving a price of approximately $67 million per launch compared to traditional systems exceeding $400 million, while maintaining a 60% market share in global commercial launches. This cost efficiency stems from reusable rocket technology, vertical integration, and accepting higher technical risks for faster innovation cycles. The dramatic cost reductions in launch services through reusable rockets are democratizing space access for 10,000+ companies globally.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐?
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Number one advice is to do a degree that has an internship. No theoretical studies can replace hands-on work experience.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Volunteer or do an internship outside your degree. Join the Space Generation Advisory Council or there are many New Space companies you can volunteer with or do your internship. My team at Team Tumbleweed for example is looking for unpaid volunteers or interns.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Network at local space events, conferences and of course on LinkedIn. Write an article about a topic you are passionate about. Iโm happy to review your article or collaborate.
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Update your CV and LinkedIn profile. If no one has reviewed you CV for the space sector yet, then send it to me for a free review.
The ERC showcased impressive engineering talent from universities worldwide. As space becomes more accessible, today’s students could play important roles in advancing space exploration upon graduation. Their dedication to innovation offers hope for continued progress in this evolving field.
๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐: ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ 2025
