Book excerpt: Climb aboard an astronomical business opportunity before it takes off. The new Space Age has already begun, but there is still time for you to get in early. In The Space Economy: Capitalize on the Greatest Business Opportunity of Our Lifetime, accomplished venture capitalist and Space Capital founder Chad Anderson offers investors, entrepreneurs, and aspiring professionals powerful tools and information for understanding how space-based technologies have, and will continue to, transform enterprise, government, and consumer markets for decades to come. Whether you're seeking entrepreneurial ideas worth exploring, a career worth pursuing, or investments worth making, the burgeoning Space Economy represents a hidden opportunity larger than the nascent internet at the dawn of the Millennium. From global positioning, geospatial intelligence, and satellite communications to commercial human spaceflight and interplanetary transportation, this book explains how and why the space economy is the greatest opportunity of our lifetime. Readers will learn: How to develop a thesis for investing in innovation at a global scale The major and minor players in a business ecosystem of epic potential—and how to identify and exploit vast areas of blue-sky opportunity still unexplored Lessons from entrepreneurs and investors on what it takes to thrive in this new arena, including case studies of exciting startups successfully leveraging space-based technology In-depth advice on hiring and retaining out-of-this-world talent in an increasingly competitive landscape The in-demand skills and aptitudes of space careers—and tips on networking and getting hired at the hottest companies Deep dives into the legal, political, and diplomatic implications of space-based entrepreneurship A fascinating and accessible treatment of the latest, greatest, and most promising area of business opportunity since the internet, The Space Economy will be essential reading for anyone interested in seizing a brighter future.