Chaos: Technology Cheat Sheet

When I sat down to write Chaos From the Cosmos, I wanted readers to experience the same thrill I felt witnessing my first rocket launch—that electrifying sense that we're already living in tomorrow. The novel nudges the 2020s just slightly forward, then watches the dominoes fall as emerging technologies mature and geopolitics remain, unfortunately, all too familiar.

In fact, the geopolitical scenarios I imagined in the summer of 2024 initially seemed wild. But as the year unfolded, they began to feel increasingly plausible. More on that in another post. For now, let's dive into the technology featured in the book.

Below you'll find the technology "cheat sheet" I kept at my desk. It shows where technology stands today, how the novel projects it forward to 2040, and why each advancement matters. Use it as your companion while reading—or as a quick primer to answer your "So what?" questions if you're new to modern space technologies. I've also included links to articles for additional background.

Category	Real World (2020s)	In the Novel (2040)	Differentiation
Satellite Communication Constellations (Low-Earth Orbit)	Starlink, OneWeb… broadband; satellite navigation	Satellite communications form the critical backbone for telecom, Internet, autonomous transportation, robotics, and power grids...etc...etc...	Much larger, fully integrated networks will bridge coverage gaps and enable seamless global communication, but will introduce system-wide vulnerabilities
Orbital Debris Management	Limited and mostly experimental	Active debris-removal fleets, lasers	A mature industry that jump-starts a circular space economy
Military Space Assets	Reconnaissance satellites; satellite navigation; anti-satellite tests; cyber tools; hybrid warfare, and software/maintenance “kill switches” for allies	Defensive space weapons and tactics; AI-driven targeting; drone swarms; quantum-encrypted comms	The next war may take place in space; on Earth advanced AI makes near-future conflict plausible—AI-vs-AI escalation risk; your personal and professional data in warfare
Human Spaceflight & Lunar Activity	ISS, Artemis, Tiangong—no permanent lunar industry	Permanent lunar settlements; robust international partnerships; growing cis-lunar and lunar economies	In-situ resource use plus international collaboration; Earth-Moon transport infrastructure takes shape
Space-Based Power	Experimental solar-power satellites at concept stage	Operational solar grids with beamed energy to Earth and Moon	Energy is behind everything - economically transformative
Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Economy	Early development phase	Backup services for higher orbits; dense commercial activity	Lower costs lure commercial operators, but under-regulation raises systemic risk
High-Altitude Nuclear Explosions	Nine states likely have delivery capability (e.g., India, Pakistan, North Korea)	Additional states acquire nuclear arms	The 2020s are already perilous; proliferation worsens the outlook
Weather satellites	Large satellites, centralized ground control, human oversight required	Satellites in several orbits and with new sensor capabilities;, autonomous on-board processing, minimal human intervention	Weather satellites will require minimal human intervention while providing intelligent, self-managing updates and forecasts

SATCOM: The quiet pulse in the sky

In 2025, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) broadband is reminiscent of the Wild West, with thousands of satellites streaming Netflix to remote campsites and providing critical data to Ukrainian drones. By 2040, in Chaos From the Cosmos, we will have moved from terrestrial networks to 6G, where space is integrated. Satellite constellations will have unified into a singular, invisible infrastructure underpinning modern life. Every new cell tower, Uber drone, autonomous vessel or drone, augmented reality, telemedicine, and smart city infrastructure depends on this interconnected network. Satellites will host advanced processing capabilities, including edge computing and content caching, reducing latency and network congestion. While convenience skyrockets, vulnerability increases dramatically. A skilled hacker, an unpredictable solar storm, or the "orbital shotgun" detailed in Chapter Seven could revert our seamless civilization into a scenario resembling a prolonged blackout from the 1990s.

Here's my takeaway: Today, your football game and in-car navigation already rely on satellites. But as these massive constellations evolve, the critical question becomes: will they prioritize affordability over security and resilience? Soon, your transportation, communications, food delivery, and even the cloud-connected brain of your robotic assistant will hinge entirely on the uninterrupted flow of satellite data.

Read more: I will link to The Sun's (!) article that highlights Chinese advances in using laser for satcom. Laser is an important enabling technology, and the article's infographics are nice.

Cleaning up the junk before it destroys us

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is quickly becoming overcrowded with satellites, leading to an accumulation of space debris—defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions or explosions. This debris significantly threatens active satellites and orbital stations, such as the International Space Station (ISS), because even small fragments traveling at high orbital speeds can cause catastrophic damage. As debris accumulates, the risk of a cascading phenomenon known as the Kessler Syndrome intensifies. In this scenario, collisions produce even more debris, severely jeopardizing future space operations.

Governments are starting to tackle this challenge by funding various demonstration projects. Today's "space janitors" are testing multiple technologies—such as harpoons, magnets, and sails—to capture debris hurtling through orbit at speeds between 7 and 8 kilometers per second (25,000 to 29,000 kilometers per hour).

In Chaos From the Cosmos, I envision a future where humanity recycles space waste efficiently. My personal favorite solution from the novel is the Lunar Forge. Picture this: a discarded rocket booster redirected into a low-energy Earth–Moon trajectory, melted down in a solar-powered furnace near Shackleton Crater, and repurposed into structural elements for lunar radio arrays.

Here's my takeaway: The pollution in LEO is a ticking time bomb. If we delay addressing it, collisions could trigger an unstoppable cascade of debris. In the novel, this very chaos spawns an entirely new industry dedicated to profiting from the cleanup.

Read more: A 2023 study on the economic value of space debris

AI on the trigger

Military organizations are already experimenting with AI, though currently, humans still maintain ultimate control over decisions. But how long will this remain the case? There's ongoing discussion about establishing an AI-driven drone barrier in Europe. Chaos From the Cosmos envisions autonomous targeting systems managing drone swarms capable of identifying individuals. These systems recognize your appearance from every angle—think of setting up facial recognition on your smartphone or passing through a border checkpoint. Once identified, the drones pursue autonomously. Human oversight is limited to strategic-level approvals rather than individual tactical actions. While this dramatically improves reaction speed, it severely reduces control over escalation. If opposing AI systems misinterpret intentions, Moscow and Washington could suddenly find themselves just "one click away" from catastrophe. This reality may be closer than we’d like to admit.

Here's my takeaway: Killer AI won't necessarily come from sinister laboratories; it's more likely to arise from automation systems initially created with good intentions but eventually evolving beyond diplomatic control.

Read more: Newsweek did a story in 2023 on the US installing facial recognition on drones.

There are many articles on AI triggering and escalating warfare. I liked one aggregating findings from Chinese scholars, as that is an unusual source

The Moon as the New Singapore?

NASA anticipates the first Artemis crewed lunar landing...soon. By 2040, Chaos From the Cosmos imagines a bustling lunar main street built entirely through in-situ resource utilization (ISRU)—extracting water for fuel and concrete, turning regolith into building materials, and even cultivating small-scale agriculture. The Moon evolves into a critical hub, housing cargo depots, repair yards, and eventually becoming the launchpad for missions to Mars and deeper space destinations. And yes, there's even a Chinese restaurant included—given the current trajectory, it might be established before NASA makes its return.

Here's my takeaway: The Moon's harsh lunar poles aren't merely a fantasy colony; they resemble an ancient seaport—harsh, profitable, and fraught with geopolitical complexity.

Read more:

My blog post about how there is a historical imagination gap that must be overcome. A dangerous complacency of the successful.

Selling sunlight

Space-based solar power (SBSP) might feel reminiscent of NASA’s ambitious visions from the 1970s—but why dismiss it? And why limit its potential to Earth alone? SBSP could be transformative for lunar development as well. Electricity collected in orbit could be beamed across the lunar surface or even exported back to Earth, powering lunar-based data centers and leveraging the Moon’s naturally cold environment to manage heat efficiently.

Here's my takeaway: Energy revolutions rarely arrive quietly. As fossil fuels decline, solar energy will inevitably dominate—on Earth and beyond.

Read more: Go geek, ESA's Advanced Concept's Team "Concepts for wireless energy transmission via Laser" (2009).

Dark Stars over South Asia

By 2025, nine nuclear-capable states already pose significant global concerns. Among them are two mid-tier economies locked in mutual hostility and an ideological micro-state hostile to everyone—including its own citizens. Yet, this issue rarely enters mainstream discussions. In the Chaos From the Cosmos scenario, escalating India-Pakistan tensions culminate in a high-altitude nuclear detonation that cripples half of Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Satellite navigation collapses, weather monitoring goes dark, and financial timestamps become erratic. The world abruptly discovers the devastating impact of Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and has to to rebuild satellite constellations with radiation-resistant designs.

Here's my takeaway: Even a nuclear blast that never physically touches Earth can still dramatically affect your mortgage rate, disrupt the flight path of life-saving drones, and halt the pumps at your local gas station.

Read more: Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (2025 article in English)

Final Thought

The technologies in Chaos From the Cosmos seem extreme until you consider how quickly "impossible" becomes "everyday." In 2010, no one streamed HD video from a phone. By 2025, most of us are frustrated when anything buffers. If my novel's 2040 feels wild, that's intentional—it should. The purpose of science fiction is not to predict; it's to prepare. Explore the story, and decide which future rehearsals you want to practice for real.

For a future with fewer nukes and more lunar coffee shops: Ad Astra! To the Stars!