New spaceflight technologies could reshape the global economy on a level not seen since the internet.
That's what some in the industry and on Wall Street are saying, at least. And a growing number of analysts say it's time for mainstream investors to get in on the action.
We're entering a new era in which the private sector is offering cheap and reliable access to space. That could pave the way for wild new businesses like in-orbit hotels or asteroid mining. New satellite and rocket technologies could also shake up a broad range of industries, from air travel to broadband service and data storage.
"Costs are coming down and technology is improving," said Laura Kane, a long-term investing analyst at UBS. We're "getting beyond the realm of science fiction fans and thinking about where returns can be had."
The space economy is following the roadmap of the internet revolution: Just like in the early dot-com days, flashy Silicon Valley types and a wellspring of venture capital money are pushing the envelope. The most high profile names are billionaire-backed startups, like Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.
UFABETCASINOIt's too soon to tell which firms might be the Google or Facebook of the space industry, Kane said. But smart mainstream investors don't need to know that for sure.
"I wouldn't only look at new emerging private companies," Kane added. "I'd also be looking at communications services companies. Maybe they're creating more advanced satellites, or looking at aerospace and defense companies that may be investing in new space technologies."
ยูฟ่าคาสิโนIn other words, stock market investors can put together diverse portfolios of space-related companies that will benefit from a new space age — and then hang on for the long haul, Kane said.
