Jon Crocker of the University of Maryland says SpaceX’s Starship rocket could lower launch costs and intensify competition for low Earth orbit. He cautions that launch constraints could raise customer prices, while lunar operations and orbital debris remain significant challenges.

A Deloitte analysis projects the lunar economy could reach $566 billion by 2050. Smith professor Jon Crocker says investors should prioritize transportation, energy and communications, pursue government contracts and dual-use technologies, and build partnerships balancing scale with innovation.

The University of Maryland’s Smith School launched its first undergraduate space commerce course this spring, giving students firsthand exposure to the rapidly growing aerospace industry. Through industry speakers and career connections, the course advances the school’s broader Space at Smith initiative and workforce-development efforts.