I've already written about the tremendous response we have received from students in North Carolina, and we still get email from students in other states... and nations. As wonderful as this is, it's even better to have face-to-face conversations with these young NewSpace advocates, especially outside the US.

Last week I participated in the American Bar Association’s annual Air & Space Law Forum in Montreal. I was part of the “Private Human Spaceflight Considerations” panel chaired by Patti Smith, former Associate Administrator of the US Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, and I gave an overview of the NewSpace industry, its six sectors(1), and a projected time frame for suborbital, orbital, and lunar NewSpace activity. The forum was co-sponsored by McGill University’s Institute for Air and Space Law, and many current and former McGill students were in the audience. I was delighted to be almost surrounded by them after our panel ended, as they were quite excited about the topic. Two young ladies, one a recent McGill graduate and the other still in school, told me about their plans to start a NewSpace consulting business in their home country of Mexico… and then they asked me to help. It's one thing to be excited about something and merely watch, it's quite another to act upon your desire to create an industry in your own country.

Another student was thrilled with the development of commercial spaceports and shared with me his pre-publication manuscript, “Law and Regulation Governing U.S. Commercial Spaceports: Licensing, Liability, and Legal Challenges."

During the reception that evening, I spoke with more students, and the common theme was a powerful excitement about and belief in the NewSpace industry, and a desire to enter the legal profession to support the industry’s development. If these students are any indication, the world has no idea what's coming.

(1) During my work with various non-space companies and economic development professionals, I've been frequently asked to provide an overview of the NewSpace industry. Inspired by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), it occurred to me that the NewSpace industry and its companies need a similar structure, so I've identified six sectors that comprise this industry: atmospheric flight, suborbital transportation, orbital transportation, orbital destinations, commercial spaceports, and service and support. This has been well-received during my conference presentations and in my proposals, so it seems a good start to what will undoubtedly evolve with the industry and contributions of others.

- Jeff Krukin