The SpaceX IPO isn’t just a financial event—it’s a cultural one. It marks the moment when the dream of space colonization stopped being the stuff of sci-fi novels and became a line item on Wall Street’s balance sheets. Personally, I think this is a turning point, not just for SpaceX, but for humanity’s relationship with space. What makes this particularly fascinating is how SpaceX has managed to bridge the gap between visionary ambition and tangible, near-term utility. It’s not just selling a dream; it’s delivering infrastructure that’s already reshaping industries, from telecommunications with Starlink to the potential of orbital data centers.
But here’s the thing: as SpaceX scales, it’s running into a problem that’s as old as time itself—literally. Space is running out of space. Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where the majority of satellites operate, is getting crowded. And when I say crowded, I mean dangerously so. With SpaceX planning to launch up to 1 million satellites, the collision risk is no longer theoretical—it’s imminent. In 2025 alone, Starlink satellites performed 300,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers, a 50% increase from the previous year. If you take a step back and think about it, this isn’t just a logistical challenge; it’s a wake-up call for the entire space industry.
What many people don’t realize is that the Kessler effect—a cascading debris scenario that could render parts of Earth’s orbit unusable—is no longer a distant threat. It’s a ticking time bomb. And yet, the conversation around orbital sustainability feels eerily absent. Governments, regulators, and even companies like SpaceX seem more focused on expansion than on the long-term health of our orbital environment. This raises a deeper question: are we repeating the same mistakes we made with Earth’s ecosystems, but this time in space?
From my perspective, the solution lies in rethinking where and how we operate in space. Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), roughly 200 to 300 kilometers above Earth, is emerging as a critical alternative. Historically, VLEO has been dismissed as commercially unviable due to atmospheric drag, which pulls satellites back to Earth within weeks. But what this really suggests is that we’ve been asking the wrong questions. Instead of seeing drag as a problem, we should see it as a feature—a natural mechanism for clearing debris and reducing collision risks.
At NewOrbit, we’ve developed technology that allows satellites to operate in VLEO for over five years, turning what was once an impractical orbit into a sustainable one. This isn’t just about avoiding collisions; it’s about unlocking new possibilities. VLEO can enable sharper imagery, direct-to-device connectivity, and even reduce insurance costs for expensive hardware like orbital data centers. If you ask me, this is the kind of innovation that could redefine the space economy.
But here’s the catch: transitioning to VLEO requires a paradigm shift. Regulators need to prioritize orbital sustainability, investors need to back long-term solutions, and companies need to design satellites with end-of-life removal in mind. This isn’t just about SpaceX or NewOrbit—it’s about the future of space as a shared resource. What this really suggests is that the race to space isn’t just about who gets there first, but who ensures it remains usable for generations to come.
The SpaceX IPO is a milestone, no doubt. But it’s also a warning. It proves that space infrastructure is now a mainstream investment, but it also highlights the urgent need for sustainable practices. If we don’t act now, LEO could become a permanent traffic jam, and the Kessler effect could turn parts of our orbit into a wasteland. Personally, I think the choice is clear: we can either continue down this path of unchecked expansion, or we can embrace a future where space is both ambitious and sustainable.
One thing that immediately stands out is how much we’ve learned from SpaceX’s approach—move fast, think big, and challenge conventions. But as we look to the future, the real challenge isn’t just about scaling up; it’s about scaling wisely. The next frontier isn’t just in space—it’s in how we manage it. And increasingly, that future will be lower than we think.
