Despite ISRO’s PSLV failing during launch, Orbital Paradigm’s KID reentry vehicle survived long enough to transmit valuable data.

In a press conference at ESA HQ in Paris, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher laid out the agency’s plan for 2026.

2026 has a chance to become an inflection point where commercial expansion, AI integration, and sovereign partnerships could collide to redefine what the next decade of space looks like.

This year, Europe took major steps to break out on its own in space, including investing in sovereign tech, forging new relationships, and gaining an appreciation for dual-use hardware.

Despite ISRO’s PSLV failing during launch, Orbital Paradigm’s KID reentry vehicle survived long enough to transmit valuable data.

Aspiring lunar tourists can place a $1M deposit to reserve a spot in the company’s planned lunar hotel, which aims to open its airlocks in 2032.

The space industry is growing and growing—and today we’re looking at some of the companies that threw their hat in the ring in 2025. 

In a magic trick, making something disappear is only part of the act—bringing it back is what earns the applause.