Libra Group Launches World’s First Dedicated Space Leasing Company
On our sister site Future Mobility, I recently wrote about how MaaS (mobility as a service) advancements are set to revolutionise how the next generation feels about cars. They’re expensive, they’re bad for the environment and well, keeping one all to yourself seems rather wasteful when there are so many other people trying to get around. Do you see where I’m going with this…? Libra is launching a bold new program: as a space leasing company, they’re set to make those that want to exit our atmosphere share.
It’s a bold ambition.
Worth above the earth
As reported by PR Newswire, this week, Libra Group has launched the world’s first dedicated space leasing company. What does this mean? The privately-owned organisation’s new aerospace subsidiary aims to send the $1 trillion space economy into the stratosphere by leasing a substation portfolio of “space assets”. It’s also acquired an Arctic-based ground station and committed to building ground stations around the world.
“Building on the Group’s 20 years of aviation leasing experience, Space Leasing International will own and lease assets critical to the space economy.” – PR Newswire
Space Leasing International’s first major mission is the construction of a space centre in the “geo-spatially critical” Alaskan Arctic; it’s vital for polar orbits. These monitor climate change, and with SLI in charge of the ground station’s upkeep and management, operators like Washington’s own RBC Signals can focus on what’s important – their conversation work.
A space leasing company – to boldly grow
The organisation has committed to acquiring an additional 20 stations within the next three years. The Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston may still be in constant use, but our vision of a space launch is much different than the early Apollo missions – the privatised nature of space exploration and research, in a sense, trivialises aspects of missions beyond our boundaries. Yet Libra Group’s expansion levels the playing field for organisations of all sizes.
“By applying Libra Group’s proven leasing model used within its aviation and maritime subsidiaries, SLI is positioned to support and accelerate the space industry by bridging the divide between manufacturers and operators of space assets.”
– PR Newswire
Libra’s leases
Or, wait, is this a step in the wrong direction? When I first read this headline, I was worried we were getting into a leasehold situation: the dystopian outcome where freeholders choose who goes where in space. Remember people buying lunar plots?
I prefer to think of this as one small step in the right direction – any one nation’s space mission has always been propped up by private companies. Capitalism, and indeed, good business, works better together. Libra claims that by adding a new, wholly-dedicated owner/lessor “into the value chain”, it can support innovation and asset creation whilst providing non-dilutive capital. Just as on Earth, this is critical to scaling assets vital to the space economy.
Empty pockets can only get you so far, after all.
What do you think? Will this approach peel back the boost towards monopoly?
Source: Libra Group Launches World’s First Dedicated Space Leasing Company.
Want to read some innovative space solutions? UK’s Insulation Problem – How Satellites Are Being Used To Tackle It.
