CloudMarch 23, 2023

Blast Off to the Future: How New Space is Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges

See how the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud is revolutionizing space engineering, helping startups accelerate innovation and bring products to market faster.
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Avatar Jessica Divakaran

The space industry used to be exclusive to government agencies for innovation. However, many companies and startups are now interested in exploring space for knowledge and commercial opportunities. This trend has accelerated due to iconic companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, OneWeb, and Planet Labs, which have shown that innovation is possible in this field. Since the 2000s, many private companies have invested in space, illustrating a real trend. 

These companies have different goals. SpaceX has a major role in reducing launch costs through reusable technologies, while Virgin Galactic focuses on space tourism. Other companies have even more ambitious projects, like colonizing Mars sustainably. Smaller players with innovation potential but less capital or organization size are also present in the industry. However, the space industry is complex and demanding, with major challenges in regulation, competition, and economic viability. If you’re interested in learning more about the latest innovations and trends in the space industry, check out our roundtable on New Space

New Space: Launching into a Bright Future

The New Space era, also known as the entrepreneurial space age, is currently booming with enormous potential in both technology and business. However, as almost everything is yet to be invented, it is crucial to start innovation on the right path, particularly in terms of sustainable development. 

Sustainability is not just a matter of our planet, but also essential for space exploration. For instance, with the Moon as the next frontier for human habitation, the establishment of bases would require recycling of essential resources like water, air, and food. Exploring these fields could lead to significant improvements in our practices on Earth. Geospatial analytics could also play a vital role in space exploration, providing valuable data and insights. In this context of boundless ideation, it is important to widen the field of possibilities.

Digital simulation and virtual twins are valuable tools to design solutions and equipment while evaluating thousands of technical hypotheses in digital environments. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud provides engineers with powerful and agile solutions for innovation. It is not only a tool, but also an essential ecosystem to help New Space players win the race against time.

“We help create a context in which startups can both mature their ideas faster and develop a network to accelerate financial and commercial opportunities,” says Florence Verzelen, EVP Industry, Marketing & Sustainability for Dassault Systèmes.

A double challenge of sustainability and safety…

In order to ensure sustainable development in the space industry, it’s important to avoid exposing the Earth to new dangers. One of the most pressing concerns is space pollution, which is caused by the increasing number of satellites being launched into orbit. There are currently over 3,400 satellites circling our planet, and this number could grow to tens of thousands in the next few decades. 

This pollution poses a significant risk, as more satellites in orbit means a higher chance of collisions. These collisions can trigger chain reactions, leading to more debris that could damage important communication, navigation, and weather satellites. 

To address this issue, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud provides the space industry with innovative engineering, manufacturing, and operational solutions. By simulating virtual missions, space companies can anticipate risks and take corrective measures to ensure the sustainability and safety of space activities. 

Concrete achievements…

With the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud, Dassault Systèmes is helping to revolutionize  space engineering. Startups such as Interstellar Lab and Yuri have already taken advantage of this opportunity. They leverage simulation, virtual twins, as well as 3D printing to accelerate innovation and identify the best technical biases in order to move forward at a fast pace. Read more about this in our whitepaper.

Indeed, unlike government agencies of the past, New Space players are willing to disrupt the market, but they are also faced with challenges that can shorten their time-to-market. To succeed, these startups need to be nimble and innovative. If you’re a startup in the space industry looking for cloud solutions, check out our startup offer. This offer provides startups with the tools they need to accelerate their development and bring their products to market faster.

Dassault Systèmes demonstrated its commitment to the industry by participating as a Silver Sponsor in the Paris Space Week trade show, which was held on March 9 and 10, 2023, at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. The event aimed to bring together leading companies and startups in the space industry to showcase their innovations and share their insights. As part of its participation, Dassault Systèmes had several speaking engagements where experts discussed the latest trends and solutions in the industry.

In addition to the trade show, Dassault Systèmes organized a hybrid event on March 8, called NEW SPACE NETWORKING, at its Vélizy Campus. The event was designed to bring together industry leaders, investors, and startups to discuss the latest developments in space engineering, manufacturing, and operations. Space leaders from the European Space Agency, Airbus Defence and Space, Audacia, and many other organizations shared their insights on how innovation and collaboration are driving the New Space industry forward. 

Startups had the opportunity to evaluate funding options and gain insight into effective methods for accelerating their own space innovations. Through this event, Dassault Systèmes aimed to connect with key players in the industry and showcase how its 3DEXPERIENCE platform can help drive innovation and accelerate time-to-market in the new space industry. A replay of this event is now available at this link.

If you’re interested in learning more about the space industry, be sure to visit our industry page. Additionally, if you’re looking to accelerate your development and bring products to market faster, be sure to check out our cloud solutions.

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