As satellites become more autonomous, deploying AI and machine learning directly in orbit could transform space missions. But ensuring those systems are secure, resilient, and quantum-ready will require new testing frameworks before they ever launch.

As space becomes more congested and contested, hidden environmental and electronic threats are emerging as major risks for satellites and national security assets. Bianca Cefalo of Space DOTS argues that better “orbital environmental intelligence” will be essential for resilience in the new space economy.

In a provocative keynote at spaceNEXT, Marco Rubin (Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation) argues that the greatest risk in the new space economy isn’t chaos—it’s unchecked certainty. True progress, he says, comes from disciplined institutions that can read uncertainty, encourage dissent, and adapt under pressure.

Policy experts from CSIS, the Progressive Policy Institute, Muon Space, and the National Security Institute examine what to watch in 2026—from Artemis and commercial space stations to regulatory reform, acquisition speed, and growing competition with China.