The growing significance of space activities demands clear, adaptive, and harmonised regulations to safeguard sustainability, safety, and security in this domain. This panel will bring together senior representatives from civil aviation authorities and regulatory bodies to explore how policy frameworks can support the long-term sustainability of space. Topics will include balancing national interests with international obligations, managing satellite constellations, ensuring liability and safety, and encouraging competitiveness while protecting the orbital environment. Panellists will share their experiences in creating regulatory innovations that foster industry confidence and build effective governance models to support a thriving, secure, and resilient space economy.

Even as we anticipate the retirement of the International Space Station in the 2030s, the prospects for human access to space have never been brighter. As NASA turns its focus and dollars to Moon and Mars human exploration, it is supporting the development of commercial space stations to meet their microgravity research needs in low Earth orbit. This panel will discuss the new era of human habitation in space, including LEO space stations and lunar habitats under NASAs Artemis Basecamp program. These private endeavours will open space access to government and private citizens globally. The panel includes leading manufacturers and operators of space habitats, who will discuss the technical hurdles, market opportunities, and legal challenges they face as private actors in space. They will also share their near-term plans, long-term goals, as well as their vision for humanity one day living and working permanently throughout the solar system.

This panel will explore the cascading risks posed by space weather and debris to our critical infrastructure in the New Space Economy. Using Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems as a key example. While PNT vulnerabilities highlight the immediate technical impacts of solar flares, geomagnetic storms, ionospheric disturbances and consequences from space debris, the discussion will broaden to address the systemic issue of coordination failurerisks from fragmented collaboration between space agencies, governments, service providers, infrastructure operators, and private stakeholders across the data to decision-making supply chain.Panellists will examine how fragmented risk assessments, inconsistent monitoring systems, and siloed decision-making can amplify the societal impacts of space weather and space debris events. The session will highlight knowledge and capability gaps as well as best practices for cross-sector coordination, risk mitigation strategies, and policy frameworks needed to safeguard not just space assets, but the terrestrial infrastructure that relies on them. By moving beyond the signal, this panel aims to foster a holistic dialogue on building resilience across technological, economic, and governance ecosystems.

With the International Space Station (ISS) nearing the end of its operational life, the space community is looking towards orbital platforms for the future of microgravity research. This panel will explore the potential of orbital space for scientific discovery, technological innovation, and commercial development. Experts from space agencies, private companies, and academia will discuss the challenges that come with transitioning research activities from the ISS to suborbital space, including regulatory frameworks, infrastructure requirements, and the potential for new collaborations. The session will also explore the opportunities for sustaining and advancing critical research initiatives, driving technological breakthroughs, and improving our understanding of the universe while creating direct benefits for life on Earth.

As space exploration and activities continue to expand, ensuring their sustainability requires robust financial backing and innovative insurance solutions. This panel will explore how the financial and insurance industries are addressing the unique challenges of funding and insuring space activities. Experts will discuss the role of public-private partnerships, new investment models, and insurance mechanisms that support both economic growth and operational sustainability. The session will feature real-world examples of successful commercial initiatives and explore how financing and risk management strategies are evolving to support the long-term viability of space exploration and commercial ventures.

Engagement strategies to support NATO defence capability targets focus on fostering political commitment, enhancing multinational collaboration, investing in modernisation and innovation, and addressing the geopolitical environment. By maintaining unity, adaptability, and technological superiority, NATO ensures its member states are prepared to effectively tackle current and future security challenges. Hear from our panel of experts on future security challenges and solutions.

Skynet 6 – Ensuring secure, resilient, and advanced communication services for the UK’s armed forces and allied operations.

We will explore the critical actions and innovations necessary to bolster the space economy supply chain, focusing on enhancing its resilience, efficiency, and adaptability to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry. This includes leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies, such as additive manufacturing and automation, to streamline production, reduce costs, and enable in-situ resource utilisation for off-Earth operations