As outlined by Andreessen Horowitz (last access date April 12, 2023):
For some of us, the echo of the Space Race remains a catalyst for our daily pursuits. But a changing world demands more, and we stand today at the dawn of a new age. Sixty years later, we are in the early innings of the Space Age, and control over this new arena will be the driver of economic growth and measuring stick of power for the coming centuries, perhaps millennia.
To grasp the weight of this, we must understand the source of America’s strength today, and the potential that a new frontier holds. Through looking at the past, we can also materialize a framework for space exploration and development — one that is not just a science-fiction future, but an increasingly tangible reality.
Ryan McEntush
A critical component of making the space race feasible is a supply chain, for which UpSmith is featured as one of the many solutions that will be needed.
Moving farther upstream, SpaceX requires parts to build its rockets, leaning on a fractured industry of independent metal shops — a problem that Hadrian is solving. But then Hadrian is reliant on raw materials, inputs that are becoming increasingly competitive. Additionally, a skilled workforce is needed to operate advanced tooling throughout this supply chain, perhaps powered by a company like UpSmith or Workrise. Undoubtedly, the space industrial base begins here on Earth.
Ryan McEntush
Read the full article at a16z.com
