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Commercialization and technologization of space research

Published: November 2025

The commercialization of space exploration, driven by companies like SpaceX and Boeing, is fundamentally changing the space industry. Innovations such as autonomous robots, advanced spacesuits, and VR applications are expanding the possibilities of future missions. Countries worldwide are intensifying their research, often in cooperation with one another. But topics such as interplanetary sustainability—including the search for water, organic materials, and atmospheres on other planets and moons—the growing interest in the sustainable use of extraterrestrial resources and the search for life, and the expansion and utilization of space infrastructure, such as the development of communication networks and launch platforms, as well as the revival of older technologies, also play a crucial role in future space strategy.

Guiding questions

  • How can a balanced relationship between public and private space research be achieved?
  • What legal framework is required for the commercial use of space?
  • How can the benefits of space exploration be distributed fairly and made available to all of humanity?
  • What role do international collaborations play in an increasingly commercialized space industry?
  • How can we ensure that the exploration and use of space is sustainable and environmentally friendly?

challenges

The growing activity in Earth's orbit leads to problems such as space debris, which requires sustainable solutions. The commercialization of space raises questions about the equitable distribution of resources and access to space. At the same time, the balance between international cooperation and competition must be recalibrated. Developing reliable systems for long-duration missions and exploiting extraterrestrial resources remain challenges. Furthermore, the increasing commercial space activities raise the demands on safety and regulation.

Concrete examples

  • SpaceX's reusable Falcon rockets drastically reduce the cost of space missions
  • Autonomous lunar robots (e.g. the DFKI project CoRob-X)
  • VR astronaut training and psychological support during long missions
  • New spacesuit designs that improve mobility and safety
  • Space-based communication networks such as Starlink

Foresight Report

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Reference

Your contact persons

Reference

Michel Reichardt

Michel Reichardt Project Manager Strategic Foresight

Christoph Grollman

Christoph Grollman Project Manager Strategic Foresight

Dr. Sophia Gänßle

Dr. Sophia Gänßle Project Manager Data Science Strategic Foresight

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