SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

What if spacecraft could launch as individual pieces and assemble themselves in orbit? Rendezvous Robotics is commercializing TESSERAE, a modular technology that uses autonomous tiles to connect in microgravity and create larger structures in space.

A NEW PRESCRIPTION FOR SPACE

Low Earth orbit is becoming a new kind of medical laboratory. BioOrbit’s Ken Savin explores how microgravity can help researchers grow pharmaceutical crystals, print human tissue, test drugs, and develop technologies designed to improve life on Earth.

BEYOND THE LAUNCH LICENSE

Commercial space regulation has traditionally focused on reaching orbit and returning from it. Skip Smith of Greenberg Traurig explores the regulatory framework needed as more business, manufacturing, servicing, and other commercial activity begins happening in space.

LIGHTS-OUT IN ORBIT

Making something once in microgravity proves what is possible. Manufacturing requires repeatability, scale, and autonomy. Helogen CEO Shishir Bankapur explores how uncrewed orbital factories could create a new production infrastructure in space.

THE INTELLIGENCE LAYER

Physical infrastructure creates the places and systems where the space economy can operate. Sammy Moseley of Palantir explores the intelligence layer that connects data, models, automation, physical systems, and people so increasingly complex operations can scale.

BUILDING THE MARKETPLACE LOOP

Starlab CEO Marshall Smith sees the next generation of commercial space stations as more than destinations. They are part of a marketplace loop connecting Earth, orbit, research, manufacturing, logistics, and return to build a functioning commercial economy in LEO.

The Epicenter

The International Space Station became more than a laboratory in orbit. Through decades of research, technology development, commercial partnerships, and operational experience, it helped create the knowledge, capabilities, and market pathways supporting the next generation of commercial space.

RECONSTITUTING ORBIT

Orbital resilience begins on Earth. Amentum’s Win Farrell and Greg Wood explore the ground infrastructure required to launch, recover, and reconstitute space capabilities quickly, reliably, and repeatedly when missions demand it.

EXTEND-CLEAR-REPEAT

A sustainable orbital economy depends on keeping useful spacecraft working and clearing failed assets when their missions end. Michael Madrid of Starfish Space explores how servicing can extend satellite life, support disposal, and create a more sustainable operating environment in orbi

Fuel with no expiration date

What changes when fuel becomes something spacecraft can acquire instead of simply conserve? Stefan Powell of Dawn Aerospace explores an orbital refueling network designed to make propellant a replenishable resource and expand what spacecraft can accomplish after launch.