Summary

The dynamics of New Space offer unprecedented opportunities for countries such as Peru, which have limited economic resources and little experience in the space field. Therefore, it is imperative to establish clear objectives in the framework of a short-, medium- and long-term space policy, in order to maximize the benefits of New Space and face its challenges. In this context, these, on the one hand, will guide efforts in different domains, such as space governance, capacity building, knowledge and space industry. On the other hand, they will guide the initial investment needed to give the country visibility in this sector. It is essential that this investment be aligned with the established objectives, as it will be the starting point for Peru’s growth. Likewise, the development of the Peruvian space sector represents a great opportunity for progress in the scientific, technological and economic fields. The implementation of a strategic roadmap, based on five essential pillars, will provide a precise framework for achieving these ambitious goals.

Keywords: New Space, technology, satellites, rocket launchers, space economics

Introduction

The concept of New Space refers to a new era in space activities that emerged in the United States (U.S.) in 2006. According to a report by Euroconsult (2019)^[1] , between 2011 and 2020, 3,816 satellites were launched into space; moreover, between 2021 and 2031, more than 24,468 satellites are expected to be in space, implying an average launch of 2,000 satellites per year. This accelerated growth in the sector is evident both in the increase in the number of satellites developed and/or launched and in the number of countries that possess the technological capabilities necessary for this advance. In 1960, only six nations had these capabilities; today, more than 80 countries have at least one satellite in orbit.

Government space agencies, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Russian State Space Corporation (ROSCOSMOS) and the National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA), have historically been the main players in space activities in their countries. However, several private companies, such as Space X, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, Rocket Lab, among others, have emerged as new leaders in the competitive space market. Therefore, it can be said that we are experiencing a democratization of space with the entry of these new players in an activity that was previously reserved exclusively for state space agencies. This process is based on different factors, such as technological progress, the growing interest in space exploration and exploitation and, above all, the reduction of costs in access to space.

This opening for entry into space represents an opportunity and a great challenge for developing countries such as Peru, given that its space experience is relatively recent. Although CONIDA was created in 1974, its growth represents a significant challenge, mainly in the areas of earth observation, telecommunications and scientific research. Also, with the presence of new actors of various sizes, such as large multinational companies and medium and small startups, it is key to find the best way to connect these initiatives for the benefit of the exploitation and exploration of Peruvian space. One of the objectives of this article is to concretely present the advantages and disadvantages from the economic, scientific and military perspectives for space development in Peru.

In this sense, the possible interactions between the Peruvian space sector, mainly represented by CONIDA, and the new actors of the New Space will be analyzed under the prism of specific applications. At another point, the benefits and difficulties related to access to space, space environmental monitoring, development of space capabilities and, finally, the development of commercial applications that may arise under the conditions offered by the New Space will be measured. In order to fulfill this purpose, this article will be divided into three parts: the first part will present an analysis of New Space and its possible applications in Peru; the second part will define the objectives within the framework of a desired horizon in this new space era; and the third part will propose a CONIDA strategic roadmap, through lines of action oriented to the achievement of the proposed objectives.

Before continuing, it is pertinent to evoke the state of the art of the Peruvian space sector, beginning with the history of illustrious characters such as Pedro Paulet Mostajo, an engineer from Arequipa trained at the Sorbonne University in Paris. In 1902, long before the Wright brothers’ flight in the USA, Paulet Mostajo developed the “rocket engine” (Miranda 2021)^[2] which, years later, would be used by Wernher von Braun, as the engine that took man to the Moon in NASA missions. According to von Braun (1966)^[3] , “Paulet should be considered the pioneer of the liquid propulsion engine”.

In more recent times, specifically on April 24, 2014, a contract was signed for the acquisition of an earth observation satellite. Under this agreement, the European company Airbus Defence and Space was responsible for providing this system to Peru. On September 16, 2016, PeruSAT-I, a mini-Earth observation satellite, was launched by an Arianespace Vega rocket from the Kourou space center in French Guiana. This system circles in a helium synchronous orbit and delivers panchromatic images with a resolution of 0.7 meters. To date, PeruSAT-I has generated more than 104,000 satellite images (Pichihua, 2023)^[4] , of which 43% were destined to national research institutions and, in particular, to those in charge of disaster prevention.

New Space Accelerations

It is important to define the term New Space. It refers to a “set of evolutions born in the USA that marked the space industry two decades ago with the multiplication of space actors and in particular of startups, technological innovations, new financing, lower costs of access to space and the extension of the field of application of space technologies” (Cabaré and Lecoq, 2021, 71). (Cabaré and Lecoq, 2021, 71) .^[5]

In other words, it can be considered as an “economic process within a political context” (Kalafatian, 2023)^[6] , given that, on the one hand, new players dynamize the market thanks to their innovations and, on the other hand, they can develop on the basis of a well-defined legal and political framework.

It is crucial to underline that all New Space innovations and contributions are mainly characterized by cost-effectiveness, low cost, reusable vehicles, innovative launch methods and new technologies (Velocci, 2020)^[7] . However, not all of these innovations are applicable to the Peruvian reality, which makes it necessary to identify which are the most appropriate and relevant to be replicated with their respective adaptation, if applicable, for an optimal development in the Peruvian space sector.

In this sense, some of the most important characteristics of the New Space will be mentioned, materialized in the deep American accelerations such as the reuse of launcher engines, the miniaturization of satellites and the integration and use of materials coming from the common industry, which reduces costs and very high-quality controls in the space sector.

Figure 1. Falcon 9 reusable rocket taking off from Cape Canaveral. Photo credits: REUTERS/Joe Skipper.

As an example, the cost reduction will be detailed. The cost of one kilogram (kg) of payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) can be compared. In 1965, when the American Delta rocket made its launches, the cost was $177,900 per kg; in contrast, in 2020, this sum was reduced to $1,500 per kg with Space X’s Falcon Heavy (Roberts, 2022)^[8] . This indicates that the cost of each kg of payload sent to LEO orbit has decreased by 119 times its value, demonstrating the efficiency of launcher reuse.

The Desirable Horizon for Peru and Peruvian Objectives in this New Space Age

For the development of the Peruvian space sector, it is necessary to define four objectives in the very short, short, medium and long term, within the framework of a desirable horizon, as indicated below:

1. To produce the criteria and mechanisms of political and organizational regulation for the effective and efficient use of outer space in the very short term.
2. Expand and improve existing technological, operational and scientific capabilities in the space field in the short term.
3. Acquire technical, technological and scientific competencies (know-how) to design, build, launch and operate the necessary capabilities in the space field in the medium term.
4. Explore space for commercial, scientific and governmental purposes, taking advantage of the Peruvian space sector in the long term.

In this sense, it is also important to define and describe the time horizon for these objectives, as follows: for the “very short term”, in one year, since governance mechanisms must be implemented quickly to ensure a peaceful and sustainable use of space. For the “short term”, in two years, these efforts will contribute to provide Peru with qualified manpower in the space sector. For the “medium term”, in five years, these initiatives will position Peru as a competent and reliable player in the regional arena; and for the “long term”, in ten years, Peru will be able to capitalize on the opportunities offered by New Space and contribute to economic and scientific development.

By establishing these deadlines, over different time horizons, the country should create a clear roadmap for the progressive development of its sector, thus ensuring sustainable growth and meaningful participation in space.

The aforementioned objectives can be materialized in the following New Space initiatives:

1. Space Launch Port Development in Peru

According to the Boston Consulting Group (Bonucci, 2023)^[9] , approximately 53 spaceports currently operate in the world, mainly in the U.S., China, Europe and Russia. However, the increase in demand for launches has led to the need to open new spaceports. About 30 new sites have been proposed, of which at least 20 will allow orbital launches. One of these sites is located in Peru, possibly in the city of Talara, Chiclayo or Arequipa.

With a surface area of over 1,000 m², the future Peruvian spaceport, located near the Earth’s equator, will take advantage of the Earth’s rotation speed, allowing for faster launches and reducing the fuel needed to transport more payloads, increasing its profitability and the magnitude of the benefits of this investment, which represents a fundamental asset in this context.

2. Launch of a Communications Satellite or Constellation of Small Communications Satellites

The implementation of a satellite or a constellation of satellites should be a national priority to reduce the existing digital divide in the country, especially in the Amazon regions such as Loreto, Madre de Dios and Ucayali, where there is no connection by radio link or fiber optic networks that allow access to state services. According to Caballero and Fanolla (2020)^[10] , 65 % of the localities in Peru that have at least one public entity lack network connection; that is, 16,255 public institutions do not have access to the services offered by the Peruvian State.

The offers in the market are varied and range from strategic autonomy in terms of communications through the acquisition of its own robust system, ideal for national defense, to solutions such as those proposed by Starlink. This service was recently contracted in Mexico with an initial investment of US$89.8 million to provide internet services from 50 to 200 Mbps until December 2026, with the aim of reducing the digital divide (Reuters, 2023) .^[11]

3. Cooperation between the Laboratory for Space Innovation (LISA) of the French Air and Space Force and CONIDA for Solar Disturbance Surveillance

Space climatology focuses on space environmental conditions, especially solar activity, which manifests itself in 11-year cycles and results in electromagnetic storms. This phenomenon represents a threat to satellites. The capability to study and understand these events is well developed by the French Armed Forces Space Innovation Laboratory (LISA Laboratoire d’innovation spatiale des armées) of the French Space Command (CDE Commandement de l’Espace). Through the cooperation between France and Peru, through CONIDA, an exchange of knowledge in this specific area can be initiated.

4. Platform-as-a-service for Payload Delivery to Space

Loft Orbital (Loftorbital, 2023)^[12] is an example of platform as a service, as this French American company deploys and operates the means for users to concentrate on exploiting their payload, offering fast, reliable and simplified access to space. The company transports its customers’ payloads aboard regularly scheduled satellites and manages the entire mission as a service, thereby reducing the costs associated with putting them into orbit. In this way, customers can send their payload and concentrate on their operation, reducing some costs.

5. Commercial Services Application for and from Space

There are different commercial applications for space-based products. In the case of precision agriculture, satellites equipped with optical and/or radar sensors provide high-resolution images to monitor crop health, assess water needs, detect diseases and optimize agricultural management. In space surveillance, satellites are used for large-scale monitoring, covering specific geographic areas, weather phenomena, natural disasters and human activities.

Another relevant application is the surveillance of maritime, air and land traffic, where satellites can track ships, airplanes and vehicles through the Automatic Identification System (AIS), contributing to real-time tracking, according to the user’s needs.

6. Spatial Data Analysis Service

It involves the use of space technologies and modern solutions to collect, process and interpret the large volume of data from space. To perform this service, it is necessary to implement the following value chain:

a. Data collection: It is carried out from satellites, space probes and CubeSats.

b. Processing and analysis: The raw data collected is processed with advanced algorithms.

c. Analysis with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning.

d. Online storage service: cloud platforms and web services are used, ensuring that the results are easily accessible to users.

The French startup Preligens (Preligens, 2023)^[13] , a specialist in the analysis, processing and production of intelligence, through spatial information thanks to AI, is cited here. This company offers two major products: ROBIN, a solution for the surveillance of strategic sites, and XERUS, an operational mapping tool that makes it possible to automatically detect and vectorize roads, buildings and passive protections in record time, thanks to very high resolution (THR) optical satellite imagery and also to AI.

7. Satellite Image Analysis with AI

The key capability of AI in satellite image analysis lies in the sheer volume of information it can process in a short time. AI can be trained to automatically detect specific objects, such as buildings, vehicles, land types and industrial facilities. Algorithms can then classify these elements, distinguishing between residential, agricultural, forest and industrial areas. It is imperative to mention that AI can also be used to improve the resolution of satellite images, thanks to advanced processing techniques, allowing a more detailed view of the areas of interest to be obtained.

Strategic Roadmap for Peruvian Space Development

In order to achieve the objectives of space development in Peru, it is necessary to establish a roadmap to guide the activities of the national space sector, integrating the scientific and technological advances of New Space. This should consider the current international, regional and national reality in which the Peruvian State finds itself, and can be summarized in four strategic axes (Barrueto, 2021) :^[14]

1. Space governance: Establish rules and mechanisms for a responsible and efficient use of outer space for Peruvians.

2. Development of spatial knowledge: Acquire the necessary spatial competencies.

3. Increasing space capabilities: Improving technological and scientific capabilities in the space field.

4. Space industry development: Exploiting space for commercial, scientific and governmental purposes.

Spatial governance	a. Implement a national space policy Strategic Roadmap for Peruvian Space Development
	b. Implement a national spatial strategy
	c. Promote international space cooperation	1) With the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO)
		2) With the American Group on Earth Observation (AmeriGEO).
		3) With the U.S. Space Force (SPACEFORCE)
		4) With NASA’s Artemis project
		5) With the French Air and Space Force (in particular the CDE)
		6) With international environmental organizations
		7) Within the framework of the exchange of satellite imagery
2. Development of spatial knowledge	a. Strengthen the National Center for Space Studies (CNEE).
	b. Establish and/or improve the spatial academic offer	1) Training of new cadres
		2) Strengthening of the technical competencies of trained personnel
		3) Fostering national interest in space issues (raising awareness among the Peruvian public).
		4) Encourage international mobility to acquire specific competencies.
	c. Development of R&D&I projects	1) Establishment of laboratories for space technology research and development.
		2) Encourage the creation of incubators and accelerators for start-ups in the space sector.
	d. Development of space doctrine for national security
3. Increased spatial capabilities	a. Development of ground infrastructure for space operations.	1) To create the infrastructure for the operation of the communications satellite.
		2) Promote the implementation of the spaceport in Peru.
	b. Development of technology for space operations	1) Extending the useful life of the PeruSAT-I satellite
		2) Acquire an optical and/or radar payload to complement the activity of the PeruSAT-I satellite.
		3) Acquire platform-as-a-service (Platform-as-a-service) and system operation services.
		4) Acquire a communications satellite or a constellation of small satellites.
		5) Develop space applications
		6) Processing satellite images using AI
		7) Develop space environment protection capabilities, such as avoiding collision risks and ensuring cybersecurity.
		8) To develop a geo-platform that integrates all CONIDA services.
		9) Implement a space weather monitoring center to track solar disturbances.
		10) Develop space environment monitoring capabilities (radar, telescopes, radio frequency antennas) or acquire monitoring services, through private companies.
4. Development of the Peruvian space industry	a. Development of launching vehicles (Paulet project)
	b. Development of a spatial cluster
	c. Coproduction of technology through Offset

Following this roadmap, Peru aspires to consolidate its position as a major player in South American space, contributing to the progress and realization of its national and international aspirations.

Conclusions

The dynamics of New Space offer unprecedented opportunities for countries like Peru, which until now have had little space experience and scarce economic resources. The reduction of launch costs, the miniaturization of satellites and the exploration of extra-atmospheric resources open the way to greater participation in the space field.

In order for Peru to benefit from the new era of New Space, it is imperative to establish clear short-, medium- and long-term objectives to maximize its benefits. These will guide efforts in various areas, such as space governance, knowledge development and the space industry, which will be the pillars of this growth. In addition, they must be framed in a space policy based on a well-defined strategy that guides actions in this sector and that can be adapted based on the ideas presented in the roadmap of this work.

Initial investments are necessary to give Peru visibility in various space sectors, such as the purchase of PeruSAT-I, which has opened the doors to the opportunities currently available to CONIDA. In short, these investments generate the necessary interest for other States to participate in the exchange of information, such as satellite images, space situational awareness (SSA) or purely scientific research.

The opening of the country to different actors in the space sector, within the framework of the space strategy, is a crucial axis for national development. This will not only allow for a sustained growth of space sciences and technologies but will facilitate national actors to play a significant role in this new era, while responding to the challenges inherent to this rapid evolution.

The development of the space sector in Peru represents a great opportunity for scientific, economic and technological progress. The implementation of a strategic roadmap, focused on the four fundamental pillars, provides a precise framework to achieve these ambitious goals. By following this roadmap, Peru aspires to play a significant role in the space arena in South America and globally.

Endnotes:

1. Euroconsult. Satellites to be built & launched by 2030. Digital platform Euroconsult, 2021. https://digital-platform.euroconsult-ec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Extract_Sat_Built_2021.pdf (accessed January 12, 2024). ↑
2. Miranda, Boris. Pedro Paulet, the Peruvian who became the father of astronautics inspired by a book by Jules Verne”. BBC Mundo, July 22, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-38197437 (accessed January 13, 2024). ↑
3. Von Braun, Wernher. History of Rockets and Space Travel. Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1966. ↑
4. Pichihua, Sofía. “En 2023, la agencia espacial peruana concluirá informe para adquirir nuevos satélites.” Agencia Andina, February 17, 2023. https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-en-2023-agencia-espacial-peruana-concluira-informe-para-adquirir-nuevos-satelites-929531.aspx (accessed June 10, 2024). ↑
5. Cabare, Pierre, and Lecoq, Jean-Paul. “Rapport d’information sur l’espace.” Rapport d’information de l’Assemblée nationale, 2021. https://www.assemblee-ationale.fr/dyn/15/rapports/cion_afetr/l15b (accessed January 18, 2024). ↑
6. Kalafatian, Brian. “Le new space européen: une chimère ? Une approche politique d’un processus économique.” Space international n° 2 (2023): 66-71. ↑
7. Velocci, Anthony. “New space: nouvelle ère spatiale, nouvelles opportunités.” Dassault System, the 3D experience company, 2020. https://www.keonys.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ad-ebook-new-frontier-fr-1-1.pdf (accessed January 15, 2024). ↑
8. Roberts, Thomas. “Space Launch to Low Earth Orbit: How Much Does It Cost?” Aerospace CSIS, 2022. https://aerospace.csis.org/data/space-launch-to-low-earth-orbit-how-much-does-it-cost/ (accessed January 23, 2024). ↑
9. Bonucci, Alessio, et al. “A Launching Pad for the New Space Economy.” Boston Consulting Group, July 21, 2023. https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/the-growth-of-the-space-economy (accessed January 23, 2024). ↑
10. Caballero, Carlos, and Fanola, Wilfredo. “Gasto del Estado Peruano en Telecomunicaciones Satelitales.” Wilfredofanola, August 2020. https://www.wilfredofanola.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Gasto-del-Estado-Peruano-en-Telecomunicaciones-Satelitales-Carlos-Caballero-Wilfredo-Fanola.pdf (accessed January 13, 2024). ↑
11. Reuters. “Musk’s Starlink secures $90 mln contract to offer free internet in Mexico.” Reuters, November 15, 2023. https://www.reuters.com/technology/musks-starlink-secures-90-mln-contract-offer-free-internet-mexico-2023-11-15/ (accessed January 13, 2024). ↑
12. Loftorbital. “What we do.” August 2023. https://www.loftorbital.com/whatwedo (accessed January 13, 2024). ↑
13. Preligens. “Technologie d’AI pionnière pour un monde plus sûr.” December 15, 2023. https://www.preligens.com/fr (accessed January 23, 2024). ↑
14. Barrueto, Edgardo. “Comparative national space policy and its strategic relevance to spatial development”. Lima, August 25, 2021. ↑