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In two respects, 2026 is set to be a decisive year for space. The first is that, as geopolitical tensions rise globally, space is becoming a new arena for warfare. States are looking to protect key assets that have become essential in the case of war. The second is the new projects and companies that can impact not only space but also contribute to enhancing life on Earth. These projects have been empowered by lower launch costs enabled by SpaceX through its partnership with NASA.
The first and most immediate change we are witnessing is in space telecommunications. This is nothing new; for decades, transmitting locations, voice or data directly from satellites to devices on Earth has been available, but often at prohibitive prices. We are now witnessing large-scale adoption for the first time.
SpaceX is leading the way with its Starlink project, which offers its internet services across the globe at a fast pace. Individuals, airlines and militaries (such as in the Ukraine conflict) are now using it for data services. Amazon is also developing a broadband network through Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper. With other companies also competing, competitively priced direct-to-device satellite communication is hence just around the corner.
