Specialized constellations for IoT, Earth observation with unprecedented resolution and immediacy, and automatic tracking of ships and aircraft will emerge.

In 2026, there will be a rise in orbital logistics and maintenance services, like those offered by Northrop Grumman with its MEV spacecraft.

Private actors like SpaceX with its Starship and Intuitive Machines will play a critical role in providing services on the Moon.

Manufacturing in microgravity conditions will be the highest immediate growth segment in the space economy.

The space economy will transition from a projection to a tangible reality.

Asteroid mining will see more ambitious precursor prospecting missions despite being a distant goal.

The congestion in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and proliferation of space debris will force the industry to prioritize sustainability.

The design of modular and reusable satellites will gain traction, driven by the space circular economy.

Catalan company Sateliot is leading the European race to launch the first 3GPP standard nanosatellite constellation for IoT connectivity without terrestrial infrastructure.

Starlink (SpaceX), Kuiper (Amazon), and OneWeb (Eutelsat) will compete to dominate the global broadband internet market.

2026 will be crucial for demonstrating the profitability of extraterrestrial supply chains.

The first orbital launch of the Miura 5 from the Kourou Spaceport is planned for this year, which would make Spain the tenth country with autonomous satellite launch capability.

Expanded launch vehicle tracking, telemetry, and communications facilities at the Wenchang Space Launch Site are in the design finalization phase and will be built in the near future.

The extreme environment psychological training is aimed at mentally preparing taikonauts for missions to the lunar surface.

Two vertical vehicle assembly buildings at the Wenchang Space Launch Site had external work completed in December 2025.

The Mengzhou crew capsule will perform an in-flight abort test for its final milestone ahead of an uncrewed demonstration mission to the Tiangong Space Station.

The Lanyue lunar lander is designed to send people, cargo, and rovers to and from the lunar surface, and will serve as a mission hub for crews and robots.

The Long March 102 Moon rocket and Long March 10A3 have completed verification of required technologies through static fires at a test facility.

Takeoff and landing tests for the Lanyue lander were conducted in August 2025 during the preliminary development phase.

Yang Liwei is the first Chinese person to be sent into space and serves as the Deputy Chief Designer at the China Manned Space Agency.

Launch vehicle support facilities at the Wenchang Space Launch Site include Launch Complex 301 and two mobile launch platforms.

The Tansuo lunar rover will interface with the Wangyu spacesuit during lunar exploration, although it was not mentioned during Yang's update.

China's crew lunar exploration program is set to land its first duo around 2028 or 2029.

A launch pad escape test for the Mengzhou crew capsule was successfully conducted in mid-2025.

The taikonauts are providing feedback to improve the operational aspects of the Mengzhou, Lanyue, Wangyu, and Tansuo systems.

By the end of 2026, the Wangyu spacesuit is expected to be in its final prototype phase of development.

Taikonauts participated in a six-day extreme environment psychological training exercise in a cave before Yang shared hardware progress updates.

Flight data for the Long March 10 series launch vehicles' engines has been gathered using the YF-100K on the Long March 12 and the YF-75DA on the Long March 8A.

The Long March 10 series of launch vehicles includes the Long March 102 Moon rocket and Long March 10A3.

The Wangyu spacesuit will be tested for its structural integrity, thermal control systems, electrical systems, and performance under simulated lunar conditions.

The Wangyu lunar spacesuit was unveiled in September 2024 and will undergo comprehensive testing in 2026.

Global Konet has focused on strengthening quality systems for its Electronic Beam Steering (ESA) satellite communication devices.

The ESA satellite communication devices are designed to operate under harsh conditions typical of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones, and mobile defense platforms.

The AS 9100D certification covers Global Konet's full-cycle processes from design and manufacturing to verification of wireless communication devices and electronic phased array satellite terminals.

Global Konet is targeting the next-generation SATCOM, drone, and defense sectors in regions including the United States, Singapore, and the Middle East.

Global Konet demonstrated compliance with over 100 requirements beyond standard ISO 9001 to achieve AS 9100D status.

Global Konet has an agreement in October 2025 for the development of overseas ESA Ku/Ka-band antennas.

Global Konet plans to accelerate its international market expansion following QMS verification.

KS Q 9100 and AS 9100D certifications are international standards for quality management systems in aerospace, space, and defense sectors.

Global Konet Co., Ltd. has obtained KS Q 9100 and AS 9100D certifications.

Global Konet secured a contract in February 2025 to upgrade South Korean Marine Navy tactical trucks with flat-panel OTM ESA antennas.

The company's strategy, referred to as the 'Golden Dome,' focuses on controlling essential data links required for a sustained human presence on the Moon.

Intuitive Machines' long-term business model is centered on the Near Space Network Services (NSNS) and the establishment of a persistent lunar satellite constellation.

The IM-3 mission will carry a diverse manifest of science and technology payloads to the Reiner Gamma region.

The IM-3 mission will also act as a deployment platform for further nodes of Intuitive Machines' orbital communication network.

The acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems intends to integrate advanced deep-space navigation and propulsion technologies into Intuitive Machines' orbital transfer vehicles.

Intuitive Machines is moving to close its $800 million acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems, expected to finalize in Q1 2026.

Intuitive Machines is transitioning toward becoming a primary satellite and communications infrastructure provider for the lunar domain.

Intuitive Machines aims to capture recurring revenue from the growing lunar economy through a strategic pivot from a pure-play landing service to a multi-layered infrastructure provider.

The company is recognized for its Odysseus lander mission.