A short history of space · 1957–2015
1957
Sputnik 1 launches
Space becomes operational, strategic, political and military, and the race is on.
1961
Gagarin, first human in space
Crewed flight is proven, making space a direct arena of superpower prestige.
1969
Apollo 11 lands on the Moon
The era’s defining achievement, and a measure of what ambition, science and engineering can reach.
1978
First GPS satellite launches
Positioning, navigation and timing embed space into daily life, defence, finance and logistics.
2000
Permanent crew aboard the ISS
Continuous human presence in orbit, and a landmark in international space cooperation.
2015
A Falcon 9 booster lands
Reusability resets the economics of launch and accelerates the commercial space era.
Independent research, convening and initiatives for the space century
The next fifty years of space are being decided now.
Neo Asteri is an independent organisation closing the policy, governance and funding gaps between today’s ambitions and a resilient, sustainable and investable space economy. Our work spans space security, sustainability and the in-space economy.
Why now
The choices made this decade will shape the space century.
Space has stopped being a frontier for a handful of states. It is becoming core infrastructure: security, communications, navigation, climate monitoring, scientific progress and economic growth all run through it. As more states, companies and communities come to depend on it, the rules that govern it, the systems that protect it and the capital that builds it have to mature just as fast as the technology.
That maturity is not guaranteed. Commercial activity is accelerating, orbital infrastructure is becoming strategically decisive, and new actors are arriving faster than the institutions and frameworks around them can adapt. The same forces creating the opportunity are also creating real risk.
Neo Asteri was built for this window. We combine long-term thinking with practical action, helping the space community move from fragmented debate to decisions that actually get made, and then carried out.
Who we are
An independent platform for the future of space
We work with governments, industry, researchers, investors and entrepreneurs to generate insight, build shared understanding and turn it into action. Our aim is a space future that is more secure, more sustainable and more open to the organisations and founders building it.
Naming the challenges of the next era matters, but our real focus is closing the gaps between ambition and a working space economy.
What we work on
Three domains, one lens
We work across three domains (security, sustainability and the in-space economy) and read each through a single lens: governance.
01 — SECURITY
Security
What security means when the systems that matter most are commercial: indispensable, exposed and increasingly strategic.
02 — SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability
Whether the orbital environment can absorb commercial-scale growth, and whether mostly-voluntary safeguards are adequate to it.
03 — IN-SPACE ECONOMY
The in-space economy
Building, making, powering and inhabiting space: governing the newest frontier before either the activity or the rules have matured.
How we work
From insight to action
We combine research, convening and implementation to turn complex space challenges into clear pathways for action.
I
We produce knowledge
We translate fast-moving developments in space policy, defence and entrepreneurship into clear, independent analysis decision-makers can use.
II
We convene stakeholders
We bring together the people who each hold part of the answer (government, industry, founders, investors, researchers and civil society) to build shared understanding.
III
We design practical initiatives
We build projects, programmes and partnerships that close specific gaps in the space ecosystem.
Our roadmap
The space century is the goal. Our first five years are the start.
The mission spans decades, but the plan is concrete. Over our first five years, Neo Asteri aims to become a trusted international platform for the governance of commercial space, across security, sustainability and the in-space economy. We are building a portfolio of research, dialogues and initiatives that help decision-makers act with confidence.
By 2031, our ambition is to:
- Establish Neo Asteri as a recognised source of independent analysis on space governance and defence.
- Build a global network of policymakers, founders, investors, researchers and strategic partners.
- Publish practical research that informs policy, investment and ecosystem-building decisions.
- Support space startups through targeted programmes, mentorship and ecosystem engagement.
- Deliver initiatives that move beyond discussion and produce real results for the sector.
Research & insight
Latest publications
Explore our research, policy briefs and insights on the issues shaping the future of space.
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Our team
Built by people who work across the whole space domain
Neo Asteri is led by a multidisciplinary team working across policy, strategy, research, entrepreneurship and ecosystem development.
Work with us
Shape the next era of space with us
We collaborate with organisations, institutions and individuals working to shape the future of space. Get in touch about research, partnerships, publications, events or ecosystem initiatives.