Space Industry
What if the edge isn't at the ground — but 550km above it?
Space infrastructure follows the same Three Flows pattern as terrestrial networks. Satellites are DePIN nodes in orbit — collecting data, routing signals, and settling transactions at the speed of light.
Playbook
| Prompts | Questions | Reflections |
|---|---|---|
| Principles | What truths guide us? | 6 invariants, physics constraints |
| Performance | Is it working? | KPI hierarchy, 6.5/10 opportunity score |
| Protocols | How do we coordinate? | Intercognitive, Three Flows |
| Platform | What tools? | ABCD stack, ground segment |
| Players | Who's building? | Ecosystem map, Rocket Lab deep dive |
Most Important Question
When infrastructure extends beyond Earth, what happens to ownership, coordination, and trust?
The Transformation Thesis
Space infrastructure is transitioning from:
| From | To | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Government-dominated | Commercial-led | Launch cost reduction (10x in decade) |
| Vertically integrated | Modular, API-driven | Standardized interfaces (Intercognitive) |
| Proprietary data silos | Composable data markets | Blockchain provenance + token incentives |
| Earth-based control | Autonomous operation | AI + edge compute on satellites |
| Per-asset ownership | Tokenized capacity | Crypto enables fractional infrastructure |
S-curve position: Late Adoption / Early Growth. Launch costs down 10x, mega-constellations deploying, but tokenization and DePIN models still emerging.
Opportunity Score
Aggregate: 6.5 / 10 | Classification: Monitor Closely
| Dimension | Score | Key Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Market Attractiveness | 8.0 | $1.1T space economy by 2040, 9% CAGR |
| Technology Disruption | 7.0 | Launch costs 10x lower, reusability proven |
| VVFL Alignment | 6.0 | Loop works conceptually, tokenization nascent |
| Competitive Position | 5.5 | SpaceX dominance, high barriers |
| Timing Risk | 6.0 | Regulation uncertain, debris growing |
Verdict: Strong long-term fundamentals, but centralized players dominate. Watch for tokenized constellation plays and ground station DePIN opportunities.
See Space Performance for full KPI analysis.
Navigate This Analysis
📄️ Principles
The immutable truths that govern space infrastructure — physics, economics, and sovereignty
📄️ Performance
The KPIs that matter in space infrastructure — from launch economics to constellation operations
📄️ Protocols
The standards and workflows that enable space infrastructure coordination — from launch to operations
📄️ Platform
The ABCD technology stack for space infrastructure — AI, Blockchain, Crypto, and DePIN at orbital scale
📄️ Players
The ecosystem shaping space infrastructure — incumbents, disruptors, enablers, and the emerging DePIN opportunity
Friction → Opportunity Map
Where the ABCD stack creates intervention opportunities:
| Friction | ABCD Layer | Status | Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|
| High launch costs | DePIN | 🟢 Improving | Still centralized, costs dropping |
| Ground station lock-in | DePIN | 🟡 Opening | Permissionless antenna networks |
| Data silos (EO) | Blockchain + AI | 🔴 Closed | Composable data markets |
| Satellite identity | Blockchain | 🔴 Gap | On-chain machine passports |
| Cross-constellation coordination | Crypto | 🔴 Gap | Token-incentivized standards |
Highest-Value Gaps
1. Ground Station DePIN — Helium-style permissionless antenna network for LEO downlinks.
2. EO Data Composability — Blockchain-verified, AI-fused Earth observation as composable service.
See Space Platform for full stack analysis.
The Scale Progression
The same pattern from inner to outer space:
| Scale | What Moves | Infrastructure | Feedback Loop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner space (mind) | Attention | Neural pathways | Reflection |
| Games | Player actions | Game engine | Skill development |
| Earth surface | Data/value | Sensors, robots | AI learning |
| Orbit | Photons | Satellites | Orbital mechanics |
| Deep space | Probes | Relay networks | Multi-year delay |
The loop is the same. The timescale changes.
Deep Dives
| Section | What's There |
|---|---|
| Rocket Lab Case Study | Data architecture, vertical integration thesis |
| Intercognitive in Space | Nine pillars at orbital scale |
| Robotics Industry | Mobile DePIN, same patterns |
| Telecom Industry | Terrestrial Three Flows |
Context
- Robotics Industry — Mobile DePIN on Earth and beyond
- Intercognitive Standard — The protocol layer for physical AI
- Telecom Industry — Terrestrial Three Flows
- AI Data Industry — Earth observation feeds AI
- DePIN — Physical infrastructure patterns
- DePIN Asset Analysis — Investment framework
Resources
- Rocket Lab Investor Relations
- Space Foundation Report
- Intercognitive Foundation
- GEODNET — DePIN RTK network
The Meta Question
"When infrastructure extends beyond Earth, does ownership follow gravity — or the chain?"