- Axiom Space’s chief astronaut will reveal at New Space & Solutions 2026 some of the strategic initiatives the US company is currently working on, such as the development of the first commercial space station and preparations for the upcoming AX-5 mission.
The second edition of New Space & Solutions – “Where we tell you what New Space does for us”, to be held from 14 to 17 April 2026 in Seville, will feature Michael López-Alegría, the first Spanish-born astronaut to travel to space, current chief astronaut at Axiom Space and one of the most influential figures in the global space sector.
His presence represents a significant boost for this international event, consolidating New Space & Solutions as a leading forum where industry leaders, space agencies and key players in the New Space ecosystem come together.
During his presentation, López-Alegría will address some of the major challenges and opportunities that will shape the future of the space sector, from the evolution of low Earth orbit to the growing role of the private sector in the development of new space infrastructure. In this context, he will outline key insights into the transformation of the industry and the need to adapt current models to a new economic reality.
The astronaut will also offer his perspective on the factors that determine the success of projects in the New Space sector, noting that “if these three elements are not aligned, it is difficult for a project to thrive”, referring to the relationship between technology, market and funding.
Furthermore, his talk will provide a first-hand insight into some of the strategic areas Axiom Space is currently working on, such as the development of the first commercial space station and preparations for the upcoming AX-5 mission, which will take private astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). He will also share his perspective on the role of talent and the younger generation in the industry’s evolution. “It is a generation extraordinarily committed to the future of the industry,” he revealed.
López-Alegría’s participation forms part of a programme that will bring together more than 70 organisations from 18 countries in Seville, including space agencies, companies, universities and research centres, reinforcing the event’s international dimension.
A leading figure in space exploration
Born on 7 May 1958 in Madrid, Michael López-Alegría is one of the most experienced astronauts in history, with an outstanding career at both NASA and in the private sector. He has taken part in numerous space missions and has spent over 250 days in orbit, holding the NASA record for the highest number of extravehicular activities (EVAs) or ‘spacewalks’ with a total of ten spacewalks and a cumulative time of 67 hours and 40 minutes, as well as having served as commander of the International Space Station (ISS).
At almost 68 years of age, Michael López-Alegría has an exceptional career, notably having commanded Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), the first private mission to the International Space Station in human history, and subsequently Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3).
López-Alegría has taken part in six space missions, including the two commercial Axiom Space missions mentioned above (Ax-1 and Ax-3), as well as the Space Shuttle missions STS-73, STS-92 and STS-113, and the Soyuz TMA-9 mission – to and from the ISS – where he was commander of Expedition 14. Among his many honours, López-Alegría was inducted into the US Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2020.
Currently, as chief astronaut at Axiom Space, he leads the development of private crewed missions and key projects for the future of space exploration, establishing himself as a key figure in the transition towards the new space economy.
New Space & Solutions will transform Seville into the capital of space at a hybrid event running from 14 to 17 April 2026, featuring two in-person sessions at the Cartuja Auditorium – managed by Yventu – located at Seville TechPark, on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 April, and two further virtual sessions on Thursday 16 and Friday 17.
All the conferences at New Space & Solutions will be available to watch on demand via The Observatory, the digital platform of Medina Media Events, where each conference will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, free of charge.
The second edition of New Space & Solutions is organised by Medina Media Events and is supported by Seville City Council; the Regional Ministry of Universities, Research and Innovation of the Regional Government of Andalusia; the Regional Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment; the Regional Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines, Canary Islands Aerospace Strategy (Government of the Canary Islands), Netmetrix, Sceye, Datatec Instruments, Rohde & Schwarz, PCB Piezotronics, Pablo de Olavide University, CATEC, Isdefe, UARX, HALO Space, Kistler, Eurecat, DEKRA, Open Cosmos, Solar MEMS, B2Space, EM&E Group, Quside, Systratec, Keplerkoord, Augusta Abogados, Bufete Mas y Calvet, LORTEK, Flux, Metadev, NDK, Alfalite, the University of Málaga, EQA, the Polytechnic University of Valencia and Amplify, amongst others.