Techfastly Magazine - September 2021

In this issue

Space Technology: Special Issue July marked a pivotal time in the private sector’s push to commercialize space travel. With the sub- orbital flights made by Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, the privatization of the space industry has gained irreversible momentum. This edition takes a peek at Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin’s space venture and what this means for the space tourism industry. Know this, the concept of sight-seeing in space isn’t new by any means. In fact the idea has been in the making from the ’90s, at least for Richard Branson. He trademarked “Virgin Galactic Airways” in 1999 and licensed the SpaceShipOne technology. Mr Branson hoped that a more extensive version could begin commercial flights within three years. But it took 17 years instead. While we are on the subject of sub-orbital flights, go ahead and delve further into a swelling ecosystem of start-ups that are attempting to build everything- from small-sat launchers to satellite data applications infused with the next-gen of AI and ML. An exciting time indeed for the space industry and science on the whole. Could AI-powered imagery help us glimpse into the far recesses of the universe that have remained mainly in the dark until now?