The average person today can’t even fathom the dream of owning their own satellite but here we are. What an amazing and wonderful time to be alive! And as companies like Spacex work to reduce the cost of aerospace infrastructure, the crazy idea of space travel for the common man is becoming a reality before our very eyes. The rocket industry has its role in this story, but now I want to focus on the growing industry of the space travel business and the cost reduction of satellites.
After 2010 NASA started a program to make the cheapest and smallest satellite possible. Because smart phones are more sophisticated than most satellites in orbit, the idea was to make a satellite that runs on Android. This idea was revolutionary because at the time all you could do was higher a satellite imagery service like Digital Globe to do space travel jobs for you. Since then we have seen the beginning of a variety of satellite companies like Planet Labs, Spire and Skybox Imaging (which was purchased by Google in 2015).
In the past couple years colleges like University of Kentucky and Arizona State have had students building their own satellites and putting them up to into orbit just to push the limits of the industry. Arizona State even reduced the cost of theirs to $1,000 (and an additional $20,000 to launch) A few things that satellites can do include television, telephones, navigation, development and space science. 
Now I know what you’re thinking “what would I do with a satellite?” Well if you’re a farmer it could help you determine clement and environmental change, and it will assist you with land stewardship. For people who travel to the remote places in the world it can give you a reliable signal without having to rely on a ham radio. You can even get an attachment for your iPhone to make it a satellite phone for around $500!
satellites and internet are changing our world so much that organizations like Ahumanright.org are claiming internet service be converted to a right. If you are a business owner it may be inevitable that you invest in the space travel industry. Whether through a mandate, or subsidy it is likely businesses will be taxed to create a cost efficient infrastructure for the world to have wifi.
Wherever this journey takes us it will be an amazing one. You may start out by having the best Instagram photos or becoming your own internet provider, but may end up taking that venture into interstellar worlds. Who knows what will come of that.
-Brandon
