By Kathryn B. Creedy
The New Space Economy is changing everything we do from education to training and even regulating, providing a new frontier in both exploration and space business, according to John Wensveen, president International Space University, who spoke before the Space Coast Symposium recently on what such disruption means. He also made the case of a wholesale change in how we think about space.
“The New Space Economy is reshaping markets, governance models, and the very concept of access to space,” he told the 600 attendees assembled by the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce at Cape Canaveral. “It’s global, inclusive, and fiercely entrepreneurial. Disruption is no longer the side effect. It’s the fuel. Our education systems, regulatory structures, and funding mechanisms were designed for a slower era. They now lag behind the velocity of disruption happening both in orbit and here on the ground.”
Wensveen said the global space economy is projected to exceed $1 trillion driven by expanded infrastructure, satellite data services, and deep-space commercial ventures.
“This isn’t just about rockets – it’s about entire economic sectors forming to support life and work beyond Earth,” he said.
His comments provided an entirely new perspective on the space race of the future. “Lift-off symbolizes the explosive moment when momentum overcomes gravity – when vision meets execution,” he said. “That’s precisely where the New Space Economy is today. Disruption isn’t chaos it’s what’s driving unprecedented innovation – from reusable rockets and private space stations to data-driven satellite services and space-based manufacturing. It generates opportunity – but also disrupts norms. Sovereignty, labor, economics – space is forcing us to reimagine them all.”
Regulatory and Business Infrastructure Needs to be Created
Wensveen then posed the questions requiring answers as the competition increases for a place in space. “Who governs lunar outposts and low earth orbit? What defines a Martian economy? How do we recruit and train a multiplanetary workforce? How do we address workforce displacement or resource ownership beyond Earth? How do we develop the skillsets and systems thinking across the space workforce. It also implies convergence in technologies including biotechnology, robotics, AI and quantum technologies and the agility to respond to challenges not yet in view.”
His comments echoed educators and industry who have all suggested we need a “super-employee,” one able to communicate across disciplines and collaborate on solving the multidisciplinary engineering challenges. Wensveen predicted the silos remaining in the aerospace industry would fall.
“Space is no longer siloed,” he said. “Major developments in artificial intelligence, climate science, biotech, and materials engineering are colliding with space exploration and shaping entirely new markets and capabilities. This cross-disciplinary approach is the future and is now.”
He noted the mission driving the Strasbourg, France-based International Space University reflects what is needed in the space economy. Fortunately, with the buildout of space capabilities around the world and the partnerships between major space agencies such as NASA and ESA, the foundations for an international, intercultural, interdisciplinary approach has already been laid.
“Disruption doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” he said. “It’s fueled by cross-disciplinary breakthroughs. In engineering, we see this through propulsion innovation, modular satellite designs, robotics, and growing AI integration in mission architecture and control. As we move further into space, the human body becomes a central engineering challenge. Biotech advancements, radiation protection, and adaptive health monitoring are crucial to sustaining life beyond Earth. It will also mean new disciplines. We are now at Space as a Service, but the future includes private stations and orbital logistics. These new ventures are reshaping investment strategies, intellectual property rights, and global competition.”
Wensveen also noted the collaboration between industry, government, startups and academia has already changed to an appreciation of complete systems thinking needed to navigate complexity and build resilience into the entire ecosystem.
Working in Space
“Current programs such as Artemis, human Mars missions and commercial space tourism blend public ambition with private execution,” he said. “The road ahead includes lunar bases, Martian settlements, and a thriving orbital economy – where space becomes a platform for research, production, and trade, not just exploration.”
Wensveen noted technologies surrounding human systems and intelligent machines are already colliding. “By 2030, the lines between biological and artificial intelligence will increasingly be blurred, especially in space as these technologies converge. Think AI + robotics + genomics + advanced materials – all working together across space missions, orbital infrastructure, and planetary exploration. While the U.S. continues to lead, global investment is expanding rapidly. Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa are emerging as new innovation nodes and funding ecosystems. Quantum communication, next-gen propulsion, in-space manufacturing, and synthetic biology are not sci-fi concepts – they’re real technologies actively being tested and deployed.”
As humans move out into space bases, new human engineering is required, he said. “Space is not just an engineering frontier – it’s a biological one. Breakthroughs in biotech are essential for long-duration human missions, supporting radiation protection, synthetic biology, and organ-on-a-chip systems for health monitoring. The unique challenges of lunar, Martian, and deep-space environments will push us to invent tools and technologies that simply don’t apply on Earth.”
In addition, new engineering challenges will rise. “This includes ultra-resilient materials, autonomous systems with zero-latency decision-making, and bio-integrated machines. “In-space manufacturing is one of the most disruptive transformations reshaping how we think about space logistics, infrastructure, and operational autonomy. By 2030, we anticipate seeing advanced on-orbit fabrication capabilities tested and scaled – potentially aboard the International Space Station or its commercial successors.”
From Exploration to Stewardship
Wensveen also called for a change in our space mindset from one of exploration of a frontier to stewardship which requires systems to manage orbital traffic, preserve scientific environments, and ensuring that space resources aren’t exploited without oversight or responsibility.”
Perhaps the most significant change is the shift from the state-led business model to a hybrid space ecosystem powered by public-private partnerships.
“Private sector leadership is expanding fast, from launch services and satellite mega constellations to in-orbit servicing and space-based manufacturing,” he said. “Space tourism, once a novelty, is on track to become normalized – spurring parallel innovation in areas like space hospitality, health technologies, and insurance products tailored to off-world risk.”
Future Challenges
The Space economy also requires a new legal and regulatory landscape to replace what is now fragmented, outdated, and reactive.
“Issues like orbital debris management, national sovereignty in space, and commercial usage rights lack clear international standards,” he said. “As global demand for orbital access surges, infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. Launch pads are backlogged, ground systems are under strain, and manufacturing is unevenly scaled.”
He addressed workforce challenges in which companies already face talent gaps and requires a change in aviation/aerospace education.
“I’m not just talking about engineers,” he explained, “Engineering must involve AI specialists, cybersecurity experts, sustainability strategists, and interdisciplinary leaders. Disruption is no longer just technological – it’s geopolitical, environmental, and systemic. The space economy must be built for resilience: with redundancy, agility, and antifragility designed from the start.”
International Space University
Wensveen expects ISU to play a pivotal role in driving the transformation he envisions. ISU is developing a satellite campus model that will host students across multiple facilities in different countries, designed to serve as strategic economic engines for both emerging and established space hubs worldwide. The university, established in 1987 and known to have the largest space network in the world, already offers a Master’s in Space Studies, the flagship Space Studies Program (SSP), the Southern Hemisphere Space Program (SHSSP), and a portfolio of Executive Space Courses (ESCs). ISU has more than 6,000 space professionals in the global workforce representing more than 110 countries.
“Each campus is co-developed in partnership with local governments, universities, and industry leaders,” he explained. “This ensures credibility, customization, and long-term viability. We’re building integrated ecosystems, not isolated outposts. Each campus will double as a launchpad for innovation – hosting interdisciplinary R&D, entrepreneurial incubation, and real-world experimentation with government and private sector partners linking space agencies, private aerospace, startups, regulators, media, academia, investors, and beyond.”
Wensveen is eyeing Florida for ISU’s North American headquarters since it is already a hub for aerospace leadership, commercial launch agendas and space innovation.
As he described both the disruption underway and opportunities for the future, he was actually asking those same constituencies to change the way they think; a shift from the immediate task at hand to the realm of the possible. What is needed, he said, is a wholistic approach to space.
futureaviationaerospaceworkforce.com 