Analysis of the space economy demands a keen curiosity supported by a rigorous methodology and a strong sense of the problems at hand. However, the blend of these two capabilities is more unusual than one would be inclined to believe. Professor Martin Beckmann is one of those exceptional scholars whose original theoretical insights and elegant contributions have been crucial to our understanding of the complex mechanism of the space economy. Drawing on the basic social science theory, he has developed a significant body of knowledge which represents fundamental contributions to the fields of location theory, transportation economics, mathematical economics and organizational theory. For over four decades, Martin Beckmann’s creativity, originality and excellence in the broad sense of scientific discovery made him play a pivotal and leading role in regional science. A creative artist, Martin Beckmann was never a loner: he not only presented his views in that spare and elegant style we know him by, but also listened. One may say that on these intellectual voyages in the space economy, Martin Beckmann was both a teacher and a pupil. Accompanying him on such a discovery trip was a memorable experience: the final destination was not always defined, but the journey was ever exciting and full of surprises. Some of the great many fellow travellers of Martin Beckmann offer a tribute to a great scientist and professional colleague through this Festschrift.