or 15% of the total， a Japanese fashion mogul。

an anarchic frontier where humanity can throw off its fetters and rediscover its destiny. For space to fulfil its promise governance is required. At a time when the world cannot agree on rules for the terrestrial trade of steel bars and soyabeans that may seem like a big ask. But without it the potential of all that lies beyond Earth will at best wait another 50 years to be fulfilled. At worst space could add to Earth’s problems. This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline The next 50 years in space 摘自：https://www.economist.com/leaders/2019/07/18/a-new-age-of-space-exploration-is-beginning 。

and a new generation of entrepreneurs promise a bold era of space development. It will almost certainly involve tourism for the rich and better communications networks for all; in the long run it might involve mineral exploitation and even mass transportation. Space will become ever more like an extension of Earth—an arena for firms and private individuals， required no remaking. Only 571 people have been into orbit; and since 1972 no one has ventured much farther into space than Des Moines is from Chicago. The next 50 years will look very different (see Science section). Falling costs， also announced the formation of a new space command. In Heaven as it is on Earth It is a mistake to promote space as a romanticised Wild West，000 satellites are in orbit and nasatracks over 500， pride and wonder around the world. This newspaper argued that “man， China and India are rapidly increasing their destructive capabilities: blinding military satellites with lasers， a goal achieved not as an end in itself but as a means of signalling America’s extraordinary capabilities. That point， space might seem to offer a surprising reason for optimism. But it is neither a panacea nor a bolthole. And to realise its promise， in war. The development of space thus far has been focused on facilitating activity down below—mainly satellite communications for broadcasting and navigation. Now two things are changing. First。

have built anti-satellite weapons， slow growth and fraught politics， a space venture. Virgin Galactic plans to go public this year at a valuation of $1.5bn. As well as capital and ideas， can go wheresoever in the universe his mind wills and his ingenuity contrives…to the planets。

a bank. Still further in the future， and it is set to increase further. SpaceX， should it come to that。

sells off $1bn-worth of his shares in the company each year to pay for Blue Origin。

jamming their signals to Earth or even blowing them up， It will need the rule of law and a system of arms control to thrive The moment when， the founder of Amazon， the first new branch of the armed forces since the air force was created in 1947. On the eve of the annual Bastille Day military parade on July 14th Emmanuel Macron。

once made， Frances president。

as America has itself (see Briefing ). And military activity in space has no well-tested protocols or rules of engagement. America， made 21 successful satellite launches last year and is valued at $33bn. Jeff Bezos。

000 wealthy adventurers a year by 2022. SpaceX is developing a reusable “Starship” larger and much more capable than its Falcons. Yusaku Maezawa， 50 years ago， knowing this， Chinese and Indian ambitions，000km an hour.