I was able to attend and provided a summary on the The Space Show along with Kim Holder of Moonwards. Videos of the conference are available on SSI’s website here. Kim and my appearance on The Space Show is here.
Satellite servicing database
An Earth orbit service and supply industry is emerging to deliver propellant, components, and repairs, as well as the ability to transfer satellites between different orbits. SpaceFund has established a database of the companies providing these services. Potential investors can view the database here .
The “First Base” on the Moon
Bigelow Aerospace already has it designed
A practical space elevator
Called Spaceline, this cable made of currently known materials could be dropped down to Earth’s vicinity for relatively free movement between geostationary orbit and the Moon
What’s next in the commercial space transportation market
Dallas Bienhoff on the near term future of launch and cis-lunar infrastructure
The economics of mining water on the Moon
This white paper outlines the business case and identifies the gaps to be closed
NASA announces partnerships with industry on technologies needed to settle space
Of particular interest is work with SpaceX to study on-orbit refueling and rocket plume interaction with lunar regolith: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-us-industry-partnerships-to-advance-moon-mars-technology
Lunar in situ resource utilization
Dennis Wingo summarizes the historical context and business case for ISRU to enable lunar settlements: https://denniswingo.wordpress.com/2019/07/25/chicken-egg-chicken-on-the-moon/
Made in Space to demo 3D-printing components in space
The California based company scored a $73.7 million NASA contract to demonstrate how its Archinaut One spacecraft will manufacture and assemble parts while in low-Earth orbit: https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/nasa-3d-print-spacecraft-parts-in-orbit/
Astrobotic scores $5.6 million contract from NASA to deliver MoonRanger lunar rover
Partnering with Carnegie Mellon University the space robotics company was selected by NASA’s Lunar Surface and Instrumentation and Technology Payload (LSITP) program on July 1 to develop the autonomous rover to validate remote sensing and communication technologies to be used for eventual prospecting for lunar resources. The robot could be delivered to the lunar surface via the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program as soon as 2021: