- The president of Hispasat and Spanish astronaut will address these issues during his participation in New Space & Solutions 2026, to be held from 14 to 17 April in Seville.
The second edition of New Space & Solutions, to be held from 14 to 17 April 2026 in Seville, will feature Pedro Duque, president of Hispasat and Spanish astronaut, in a presentation that will focus on the major challenges and transformations facing the space sector, with particular attention to Europe’s position in the new space economy within an international context marked by the acceleration of space activity and the drive of powers such as the United States and China.
New Space & Solutions – “Where we tell you what New Space does for us” will combine two in-person sessions at the Cartuja Auditorium – managed by Yventu – at Sevilla TechPark, with two further sessions in a virtual format, bringing together key industry players to analyse the present and future of the space economy.
The presence of Pedro Duque is one of the main highlights of this edition, during which he will offer a comprehensive overview of the sector based on a unique career path that bridges space exploration, public administration and the satellite industry. His presentation will address how space has evolved from a highly specialised field into an activity increasingly integrated into the economy and the provision of services to society, in line with the development of what is known as New Space.
One of the central themes will be the role of satellites as critical infrastructure, in a context where communications, navigation and Earth observation have become essential elements for the functioning of society, from connectivity to logistics, security and emergency management. In this context, the role of satellite operators as a key element in delivering efficient services and responding to market needs will also be analysed.
It will also address the sector’s evolution towards increasingly service-oriented models, driven by falling technology costs and the consolidation of new applications with economic impact. This paradigm shift is helping to reinforce the role of space as a driver of innovation and growth.
Another key area of focus will be Europe’s positioning within the new space economy, in an international environment marked by the acceleration of space activity and growing global competition. The session will provide an in-depth look at the strategic challenges facing the European continent, as well as the opportunities to strengthen its technological and industrial capabilities relative to other major powers in the sector, such as the United States or China.
The conference will also include a look at the future of space exploration, with particular focus on the return to the Moon as the next major step in human presence in space and as a platform for further developments. In this context, the long-term prospects for exploration will be addressed, including the challenges associated with potential crewed missions to Mars and the role that technological advances and international cooperation will play.
From a more personal perspective, Pedro Duque’s experience as an astronaut will give the audience an insight into the reality of living and working in space, as well as the transformation in one’s perception of the planet that comes from observing Earth from orbit, sharing his reflections on sustainability and the finite nature of resources.
His participation will also include an educational element, with references to his recent book, ‘Space Travel’, aimed at children aged 6 to 9, in which he describes, through questions posed by the characters ‘Dog’ and ‘Cat’, what daily life in space is like, how spacecraft operate and the curiosities of exploration, with an educational focus aimed at inspiring vocations in the younger generation, at a time when the demand for talent in the space sector continues to grow.
With this conference, New Space & Solutions 2026 reinforces its role as a forum for analysis and strategic reflection, bringing together leading figures in Seville who can provide a global perspective on an industry that is key to technological, economic and social development.
All the conferences from New Space & Solutions will be available to watch on demand via The Observatory, Medina Media Events’ digital platform, 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, Dassault Systèmes, PCB Piezotronics, Pablo de Olavide University, CATEC, Isdefe, UARX, HALO Space, Kistler, Eurecat, DEKRA, Open Cosmos, Solar MEMS, B2Space, DAS Photonics, 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.