Exploring the future of the space sector

Today, the space sector plays a crucial role in the development and improvement of technology, communication and scientific research. Exploring the cosmos brings us closer to new horizons of knowledge and development that we thought unattainable years ago. Let’s explore the future of the space sector together.

Growth and innovation in the space sector

The expansion of the sector in recent years has been exponential. The first satellite was launched in 1957; by 2024 we have exceeded 11,000 satellites in orbit. This growth is a reflection of several things: firstly, the technological and scientific progress we have made, and secondly, the commercial interest in space.
It is a sector that is positioning itself as mature and strategic, defining itself as one of the business opportunities with the most options in the global ecosystem. It is increasingly diversified, globalized and brings with it new business models, moving us towards a mature space economy.

Projects in progress

• Satellite constellations: Satellite constellations are a group of satellites working together as a single system. There are three different types of constellations depending on their orbital altitude: GEO, MEO and LEO. They are intended to provide global communications coverage. More and more constellations are being developed, such as Beetlesat.
• ARTEMIS II: This NASA mission aims to return humans to the Moon. For this mission, they will send four astronauts for 10 days to our satellite. It will be NASA’s first manned mission aimed at establishing a long-term presence on the Moon for science and exploration. The launch is scheduled for September 2025 at the earliest. More information about the program here!: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/ 

Challenges facing the sector

Despite being a constantly growing sector, it faces major challenges on the road to a more mature and consolidated space economy.

• Sustainability: in the socio-political framework in which we find ourselves, implementing sustainable measures is a must. The space industry is increasingly committed to the use of clean technologies and sustainable fuels to reduce the environmental impact of missions.
• Safety: Missions like ARTEMIS remind us of the risks of manned space exploration. Improving safety and minimizing risks on every mission is a priority.
• Autonomy: For Europe, technological independence is fundamental. Work is currently underway on initiatives such as the Ariane 6 launch and the promotion of small private launchers to ensure autonomous access to space.
• International regulation: developing a unified regulatory framework is crucial to avoid conflicts of interest in the exploitation of space resources. The UN has stressed the need to establish international regulations to manage space traffic and address problems such as space debris.

In ARQUIMEA we work to continue developing technology within the space sector. We have participated in more than 180 space missions and we have contributed to NASA and ESA scientific missions, as well as to commercial missions such as Hispasat or Beetlesat. The space sector is in full evolution, consolidating itself as a strategic pillar with great growth potential. Despite the challenges we will have to face, there are also great opportunities ahead.

Find out more about our participation of ARQUIMEA’s technology in space missions: https://www.arquimea.com/sectors/space/

Image: Unsplash | NASA