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Media has transformed the way that we see space. Space is no longer beyond what we can see - it can be consumed with a few clicks in a browser or opening a video player. The media landscape itself has transformed - with qualifications like journalism master's programs online being much more accessible than ever before.
As the role of media has changed, how has it impacted the space industry? While it's clear that major space events don't have as much sway as they used to, let's explore the media's role in the modern space economy.
The Kennedy Years: The Space Narrative
For more than four decades, the Cold War was a source of geopolitical tension and intrigue. The two major superpowers of the time, the United States and the USSR sought to get ahead of their rivals with new and advanced technologies - whether it be through military or broader commercial applications.
Space presented itself as a new frontier to lead for both nations. No nation on the planet had successfully put a person into orbit - for many, it was simply inconceivable. So, in secret, both the United States and the USSR hatched plans to get to space, and eventually, the Moon.
The 1960s saw great leaps forward in the capacity of humankind to get to space. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first man to travel into outer space - with the USSR surprising their American counterparts in a way not previously seen. In response, the United States fought to become a leader in space exploration.
In 1962, then-President John F. Kennedy made a speech on space exploration at Rice University, declaring that the U.S. had to put a man on the Moon by the end of the decade, famously stating "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."
During Apollo 11, media interest in space reached its peak - with an estimated 94% of the United States tuning in to watch the fateful mission to the Moon. No event since has had that level of media saturation.
The Digital Age: The Dispersion of Media
The media played a vital role in portraying the nascent space narrative in the 1960s. Broadcast television was able to present the successes and failures of the space program, straight into homes - it was a window between what was asked of space programs, and what they were achieving.
In the decades since, media technology has continued to evolve and develop. Television may still be a significant medium in some places around the world, although realistically, social media has emerged as the king of media distribution. As a result, audiences are now able to access space content through a variety of different channels - with the ability to learn much more about space in an informal environment through the world of space influencers.
In the context of space media, improvements in live broadcasting allowed for broadcasts of increasing levels of quality - and while interest in space did wane somewhat in the time after the Apollo missions, more and more of us can connect with more and more space media than ever before.
Companies that are working on space-related projects, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, now provide broadcasts accessible via their websites, as well as some social media outlets. While there may not be as many of us watching space-related media as there used to be, it continues to capture the hearts and minds of audiences around the world.
Ultimately, this dispersion of media has allowed space to capture the imagination of a much more diverse audience - allowing those with a passion for space to gather a much deeper understanding of how missions work.
The Future of Space Travel
What does the future of space media look like? As major projects, such as NASA's revived ambition to revisit the Moon through Project Artemis, continue to gather speed, the media will play a vital role in broadcasting its successes and failures.
While we may not see 90% of the population tune in to watch the landing of Artemis III, expected by the end of this decade, we may just begin to see space media capture the imaginations of a new generation of space enthusiasts. Who knows - maybe fifty years from now, we'll be watching the first travelers to places beyond our Solar System.
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