Insights from Pietro Guerrieri, CEO of Impulso.Space
As we close another transformative year for the global space sector, I have taken time to reflect on the trends, data points, and conversations that defined 2025 and are already shaping the trajectory for 2026. The picture is clear. Space is entering a new phase of scale, complexity, and responsibility, driven by commercial momentum, geopolitical priority, and the need for smarter, more sustainable operations.
Here are the signals that stand out most strongly to me.
The Commercial Market Has Become the Main Engine
The global space economy reached 613 billion dollars in 2024, with commercial players driving the majority of activity. Launch cadence continues to surge. There were 300+ orbital launches this year, with the commercial share growing steadily. What was once considered a niche segment is now core global infrastructure.
The demand for launch is diversifying across rideshare, dedicated micro-launch, and tailored mission integration.
Satellite manufacturing revenues grew 17 percent in 2024, growing steadily onwards, underscoring the continuous cycle of deployment and replenishment.
Mega-Constellations Are Redefining Global Connectivity
Satellite broadband capacity is scaling at a speed the industry has never seen. Forecasts project more than 150 Tbps of switched capacity by 2025 and potentially 800 Tbps by 2027. Orbit is no longer only about coverage. It is becoming utility-grade infrastructure for aviation, maritime, mobility, and IoT.
With more than 11,500 operational satellites in 2024, the landscape looks very different from 2020, when the count was 3,371. The industry has tripled its on-orbit assets in four years, amplifying both opportunity and responsibility.
Sustainability Is Moving From Discussion to Expectation
Environmental impacts from launches are receiving new attention. Research is calling for clearer standards on emissions, soot production, and upper-atmosphere effects. The mega-constellation scale is also accelerating concerns about production emissions, orbital crowding, and end-of-life responsibility.
At the same time, the “orbital economy” is gaining traction. Earth-observation data, space-monitoring services, and environmental intelligence show how space can support resilience on Earth while remaining economically viable.
Geopolitics Is Reshaping Priorities
Government investment in sovereign space capabilities continues to rise. Dual-use satellite infrastructure and defense-driven programs remain a dominant theme in national strategies. For Europe in particular, competitiveness and autonomy are becoming inseparable goals.
Within Europe, strategic autonomy remains a core topic. The first commercial mission of Ariane 6, which launched a military satellite, reflects the dual-use and geopolitical dimensions of today’s launch landscape.
Implications for Impulso.Space
These signals guide how we position our work and our roadmap for the coming year.
Scaling launch services to meet rising cadence
Frequent, flexible, cost-competitive access to orbit will be essential as satellite deployment cycles accelerate. This is where integrated logistics and mission preparation will matter more than ever.
Embedding sustainability thinking across our operations
We see environmental responsibility as an operational requirement. From propulsion considerations to logistics optimization, sustainability will be integrated into our design and delivery of services.
Supporting the data economy
More satellites mean more data, but value comes from what can be done with it. Launch is only one step. The future depends on strengthening the entire chain that enables data-driven applications.
Contributing to policy and regulatory discussions
Topics such as orbital sustainability, emissions, and responsible operations are becoming increasingly important. We intend to stay actively informed and, when useful, contribute perspectives from our operational experience.
Looking Ahead
This year demonstrated that the space sector is evolving into a high-volume, high-impact part of the global economy. Satellites are no longer isolated assets. They are becoming an integrated layer of digital and physical infrastructure that supports communication, security, navigation, and environmental resilience.
For us at Impulso.Space, the conversations of the past year reinforced our mission: to build the logistical, operational, and organizational foundations that make access to orbit more efficient, more secure, and more predictable.
I look forward to the partnerships we will deepen, the missions we will support, and the progress we will contribute to in the year ahead. In 2026, I hope to see smarter constellations deployed faster, greater interoperability across the ecosystem, and a new level of efficiency that brings space services closer to becoming a true commodity.
Pietro Guerrieri, CEO, Impulso.Space
