What to Expect in 2025
2024 was a record-breaking year for the global space industry. More launches from more spaceports brought more satellites into orbit, and 2025 is expected to be no different.
Douglas Gorman
Around the World in 365 Days
From rockets taking flight to alliances forming in orbit to Space Race 2.0 with all eyes on the Moon, it’s clear that the busy year in space extended well beyond America’s borders.
Europe Lays Out Plans for IRIS2 Constellation
The constellation is the latest effort by the EU to advance its autonomy in space.
NASA Cozies Up To Industry With 2025 SBIR Plans
If NASA’s 2025 SBIR and STTR solicitation themes are any indication, the US return to the Moon will rely heavily on small business’ tech.
Esper Satellites Signs Bus Contract With Loft Orbital
The partnership will send next-generation hyperspectral imagers to orbit as hosted payloads aboard Loft’s Yet Another Mission (YAM) satellites beginning in early 2026.
Maxar and Satellogic Tag-Team EO Offering
The combined constellation gives governments the ability to gather insights on multiple geographies at once, while balancing image resolution and cost.
DoD Doubles Down on Viasat Tech
The award suggests that cyber security and broadband SATCOM services have become a central aspect of the DoD’s overall defense strategy.
ICEYE and Space42 Join Forces in the UAE
The venture will increase ICEYE’s footprint in the UAE and allow the UAE to build its own self-sustaining industry.
Ukrainian Small Launcher Finds Refuge in the US
Promin’s plan is to hire as many as a dozen US engineers in the coming year who will build Promin 1 with guidance from the engineers who remain in Ukraine.
NASA Pushes Artemis Lunar Landing To 2027
While the news is a setback for the Artemis mission, officials said the adjusted timeline will still ensure the next boots on the Moon are American, not Chinese.
Accelerator Announces First European Space Resources Cohort
Interestingly, for an accelerator shooting for the Moon, one-third of this first cohort operates largely outside the space industry.
Orbit Communication Systems Wins $9.1M Israeli Contract
Orbit will ship an undisclosed number of multi-purpose satellite communications terminals (MPTs) to the Israeli Ministry of Defense next year.