When The Heavens Went On Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach

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It surprised me that the author didn't spend much time/paper diving deeper into space-related opportunities - I think there's much more there than it was covered (incl. access to minerals/rare substances). So, forget the old notion of space exploration that’s confined to bureaucratic government agencies. These four companies are shaking things up and showing us that space is for everyone. They’re empowering us all to aim for the stars while keeping our sights on making Earth a better place. A momentous look at the private companies building a revolutionary new economy in space, from the New York Timesbestselling author of Elon Musk The deployment of Planet’s revolutionary Doves satellites was groundbreaking. No other company in history had ever launched close to 88 satellites simultaneously before. Normally, you'd see one or two – four or five on a good day. Planet had to invent new ways to locate, control, and command their constellation of Doves as they whirled around Earth. It was like conducting an orchestra in zero gravity.

Full Book Name: When the Heavens Went on Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach A very interesting and comprehensive (read: very long) journalistic profile of four lower profile (read: not founded by Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk) consumer space companies that have arisen in the last ~10-20 years and have had varying fortunes: Vance: Planet Labs is in some ways the furthest along, in that it's already put up so many satellites and has delivered this service. But I think it's early days for people understanding how to use these images it provides. A momentous look at the private companies driving the revolutionary new space race, from the 3-million copy New York Times bestselling author of Elon Musk

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Vance has delivered that rare book that educates and entertains while opening the reader up to a brand-new universe of wonderful characters and ideas. It's non-fiction that reads like a novel." —Andy Weir, New York Times bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary Now that you’ve learned Astra’s story, it’s time to uncover how Firefly – our fourth and final company – has made history in the space industry.

A] fantastic new book ... I can highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in space, especially if you want to know how space startups work behind the public promises and marketing ... [ When the Heavens Went on Sale] provides real insight into these companies and the people who toil in them." — Ars Technica The frenzied race by stargazing entrepreneurs to build a new economy in space is one of the most exciting tales of our time. Ashlee Vance, with his immersive reporting and exuberant writing, has captured the ambition and idealism of the colourful characters who are not only transforming our world but our heavens. It's the next tech frontier, and Vance turns it into a thriller Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of STEVE JOBS

Vance spent years researching this book including months spent interviewing key players at these four companies (and others), and traveling around the globe to witness launches, successes, and failures. His writing is engaging and accessible, though I thought he relied on direct quotations from some of his more colorful subjects a bit too much. Cofounded by a trio of self-proclaimed space-nerds-slash-hippies – Robbie Schingler, Will Marshall, and Chris Boshuizen – Planet began with a unique vision. The founders believed in the power of these miniature satellites, lovingly named Doves, to be a force for good. These weren't stealthy spy satellites for snooping; they were the all-seeing eyes that could help us better understand and optimize our world. Ashlee Vance is the New York Timesbestselling author of Elon Muskand a feature writer at Bloomberg Businessweek. He is also the host of Hello World, a travel show that centers on inventors and scientists all over the planet. Previously, he worked as a reporter for the New York Times,the Economist, andthe Register. Vance has had a front-row seat and singular access to this peculiar and unprecedented moment in history. When the Heavens Went on Sale travels through private company headquarters, labs, and top-secret launch locations around the world, including California, Texas, Alaska, New Zealand, Ukraine, India, and French Guiana. He chronicles it all in full color: the private jets, communes, gun-toting bodyguards, drugs, espionage investigations, and multimillionaires guzzling booze to dull the pain as their fortunes disappear.