Point-to-point rocket travel: A consumer application for space transportation

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Point-to-point rocket travel: A consumer application for space transportation

Point-to-point rocket travel: A consumer application for space transportation

Subheading text
Existing firms, including SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, and new ones, such as Astra, aim to provide rapid, space-based international transit for passengers and freight.
    • Author:
    • Author name
      Quantumrun Foresight
    • June 29, 2022

    Insight summary

    The push towards point-to-point air travel could reshape global transport, cutting down international cargo delivery times to mere hours and opening doors to swift troop transport for military strategies. However, challenges like environmental concerns regarding low-orbit rockets and the affordability of such fast space travel services could present hurdles. As this trend advances, it could potentially unfold a new era of space exploration, from space tourism to possible human colonies on the Moon, sparking a myriad of changes in how we perceive and utilize space.

    Point-to-point rocket travel context

    Commercial spaceflight firms are gearing up to join a new market: suborbital trips from one location on Earth to another. More companies are entering the space travel industry, with different methods developed by various firms, including SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Astra, to provide rapid, space-based international transit for passengers and freight. Concurrently, space tourism for the public may become a reality in future decades, with billionaires such as Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos taking brief flights into orbit before returning to Earth.

    In 2019, a Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) analysis examined the market for what is known as point-to-point space travel. On principle, point-to-point space travel would be the same as traveling around the planet in a commercial airplane, but in less than an hour rather than 16 hours. UBS estimates that if the barriers to point-to-point space travel can be overcome, the service will have a market value of more than USD $20 billion per year. However, some critics argue that the technology's safety is not guaranteed. In addition, point-to-point rocket travel does not necessarily address the significant logistical challenges associated with long-distance air travel.

    The US military is expanding a development program that aims to use reusable rockets like those built by SpaceX to carry cargo swiftly anywhere in the world. The US plans to test this concept with an experimental initiative known as Rocket Cargo. 

    Disruptive impact

    The emerging trend of point-to-point air travel piques the interest of various sectors, notably governments, commercial enterprises, and military institutions. The competition among companies to attain a first-mover market advantage is expected to propel the industry's growth, reflecting the potential value seen in this form of transport. For instance, the global freight industry stands at the cusp of transformation, with the possibility of international cargo deliveries being completed in mere hours as opposed to the current standard of a day or two. This acceleration in logistics could be a game-changer for time-sensitive industries such as perishable goods supply chains, offering them a faster alternative to meet consumer demands.

    While the benefits are substantial, there are several considerations that may temper the growth of point-to-point space travel. Environmental impacts of low-orbit rockets are a concern, and the reaction of lawmakers and industry bodies towards these environmental implications could result in restrictive regulations. Moreover, affordability may emerge as a dividing factor, where the global shipping and air freight industries might adjust their business models to cater to customers who find point-to-point rocket travel financially out of reach. In scenarios where rocket travel is impractical, traditional shipping and air freight services could continue to serve as reliable alternatives, ensuring that a diverse range of transportation options remain available to meet varying consumer and business needs.

    Furthermore, the advent of point-to-point space travel brings about exciting prospects beyond Earth. The associated advancements in battery technologies, crucial for long-duration space travel, may enable the exploration of destinations previously uncharted by tourists. Moreover, as militaries envisage the rapid transport of troops via space vehicles, a new dimension in strategic military mobility and readiness is on the horizon. Nations with the capability to swiftly deploy forces anywhere on the globe could gain a discernible strategic edge, inciting a race among nations to develop and harness space vehicle technologies. 

    Implications of point-to-point rocket travel 

    Wider implications of point-to-point rocket travel may include:

    • Creation of new trade routes between nations, especially for landlocked nations dependent on neighboring countries to export their goods.
    • Revolutionizing modern warfare and military tactics.
    • Opening new frontiers for space tourism and commercial travel for the wealthy.
    • Enabling a range of new space-based businesses and business models that will prove out the viability of space-based commercial activity. 
    • Encouraging the development of more environmentally-friendly propulsion systems.
    • Enablement of long-term missions, including establishing potential human colonies on the Moon.

    Questions to consider

    • Do you believe that most people will have the opportunity to travel into space at some point in the future?
    • What types of parcels and cargo do you believe will benefit from point-to-point rocket travel? 

    Insight references

    The following popular and institutional links were referenced for this insight: