Source: https://spacenews.com/spacex-proceeding-with-starship-orbital-launch-attempt-after-static-fire/

Starship, SpaceX’s reusable launch vehicle, is planned to conduct a orbital launch demonstration in March after everything went well in a static-fire test on February 9th. According to a company official on February 21st, this test was the “last box to check” before a launch attempt. They are still waiting for the FAA license, but that should be approved within the next few weeks.

The reusability of Starship dramatically cuts down on the cost per weight for spacecrafts that it is launching, with Gary Henry, SpaceX official, saying that it would take costs from $2000 per kilogram to $200 per kilogram. After the orbital test, they are planning to launch the next generation of Starlink satellites.

If the costs of launching are lowered this dramatically, this would mean that it would open up a lot of opportunity for SpaceX as well as other companies to get things into space. With a lower barrier to entry and increased opportunity, there will be more and more critical infrastructure that is in space.

With the increased reliance on space infrastructure, this means that we must increase the investment in cybersecurity for these systems. The more we rely on these systems, the more detrimental the consequences will be if hit with a cyber attack. For example, many people rely on Starlink for fast internet in remote locations, and if they are hit with ransomeware for example, there will be approximately a million people that will be left with no internet. As these systems become more and more critical, the more they will be targeted by malicious actors, and thus, investment in cybersecurity is imperative.