Section 12: Space Infrastructure & Ecosystem Mapping

Overview

Space isn’t a single industry—it’s a constellation of interconnected domains. Founders must understand how their company fits into the broader ecosystem to position themselves effectively, identify partnerships, and avoid solving the wrong problem. This section helps teams map their role within the space economy.

Part 1: Define Your Ecosystem Layer

Purpose: Clarify which layer of the space economy you’re building in—and who you depend on or enable.

Tool: Space Economy Stack (Layer Map)

1. Launch – Vehicles, rideshare, launch ops

2. In-Orbit Logistics – Propulsion, tugs, refueling

3. On-Orbit Infrastructure – Satellites, comms, habitats, manufacturing

4. Data & Downlink – TT&C, ground stations, data fusion

5. Applications & Insights – Earth observation, agriculture, defense, fintech, comms

Exercise: Place your startup across the stack. Who are your suppliers? Who are your customers? Who completes your value chain?

Part 2: Strategic Positioning Canvas

Purpose: Identify your core value in a crowded and overlapping market.

Framework: Strategic Positioning Canvas

• Our Category: _______________________

• Our Differentiator: __________________

• Our Upstream Dependencies: _________

• Our Downstream Enablers: ___________

• Our Core Insight: “We believe ______, so we’re building ______.”

Goal: Craft a 1-page ecosystem and value proposition summary.

Part 3: Ecosystem Mapping for Collaboration

Purpose: Find integration points with existing players, primes, and infrastructure.

Tools:

• Ecosystem Relationship Map (Notion + Miro Template)

• Strategic Integration Tracker (Key partners + timeline)

• Tech Interoperability Matrix (standards, APIs, docking protocols)

Exercise: Identify 3 companies you could integrate or partner with. Build a plan to approach each.

Part 4: GEO/LEO/Lunar Landscape

Purpose: Contextualize your roadmap within spatial domains.

Use Cases by Domain:

• LEO: Observation, comms, debris

• GEO: Weather, defense, broadband

• Lunar: Power, comms relay, robotics

Tool: Spatial Domain Fit Matrix (Coming Soon)

Part 5: Public, Private & International Ecosystems

Why It Matters: Space is global—and crowded.

Checklist: External Ecosystem Scan (Coming Soon)

Tools:

• Global Space Agency Landscape

• SpaceTech Standards Map (interoperability + regulatory)

Part 6: Competitive Differentiation in Ecosystem Context

Purpose: Understand what sets you apart—not just from competitors, but from every adjacent solution.

Exercise: Build your Ecosystem Differentiation Grid

Competitor/PlayerCategoryCore TechShared PartnersOur Advantage