- Talented women leading the space sector are paving the way for future generations
- Michael López-Alegría: “The future of New Space will depend on sustainable business models and the combination of technology, market and funding”
- Mariló Torres Soto: “We are facing a new space economy that is more open, inclusive and full of opportunities”
New Space & Solutions highlighted the role of women and female talent in an industry undergoing rapid transformation. The fourth and final day featured Spanish-born astronaut and Axiom Space’s chief astronaut, Michael López-Alegría, who offered a strategic vision of the sector’s present and future.
The second edition of New Space & Solutions held its fourth and final day with an intensive session bringing together international space agencies, strategic clusters and female talent, with a notable contribution from Mariló Torres Soto, a commercial astronaut candidate for Titans Space Industries, consolidating the global nature of the event and its commitment to a more diverse and inclusive space ecosystem.
The day was opened by Michael López-Alegría, who offered a strategic vision of the sector’s present and future. During his speech, he highlighted that “space is already a critical infrastructure”, driven by collaboration between governments and private companies, and emphasised the progress of key projects such as the first commercial space station, whose first module is expected to launch in 2028.
López-Alegría focused on the development of private missions in low Earth orbit and the need to consolidate sustainable business models, stating that the success of New Space depends on the combination of technology, market and funding. He also noted that the major challenge of the coming decade will be to drive emerging sectors such as manufacturing in microgravity or biotechnology, whilst also highlighting the essential role of young talent.
Mariló Torres: a new, more open and inclusive space economy
In the session dedicated to talent, Mariló Torres Soto, a commercial astronaut candidate at Titans Space Industries, highlighted the emergence of “a new space economy” that is more open and inclusive, reflecting the sector’s paradigm shift and the growing accessibility of space to new professional profiles.
Mariló Torres Soto, a commercial astronaut candidate with Titans Space Industries, took part in the in-person sessions of the second edition of New Space & Solutions.
International space agencies: a global view of New Space
The conference highlighted the event’s distinctly international character with the participation of space agencies from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
Anna Hirade, Deputy Director of the Paris Office of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), highlighted Japan’s role as a key player in global space exploration, emphasising a strategy based on continuous improvement, learning and international cooperation.
For his part, Rodrigo Leonardi, Director of Portfolio Management at the Brazilian Space Agency, emphasised the importance of integrating public policy, industry and funding, stating that New Space drives innovation and global competitiveness.
From the Middle East, Muneera J. Al Malki, Senior Engineer at the Bahrain Space Agency, highlighted the agency’s rapid growth and its commitment to talent and equality, noting the use of space as a tool for long-term impact.
The Swedish Space Agency, represented by Ernesto Gutiérrez, Head of Innovation and Societal Benefit, addressed the sector’s structural challenges, highlighting the need to broaden the knowledge base and participation in the ecosystem.
From Latin America, Loreto Moraga, President of the Chilean Space Association, stated that “Chile is on track for New Space”, whilst Marco Antonio Vélez highlighted the sector’s growth in Mexico and the importance of international cooperation.
Marco Antonio Vélez, Director of Science and Technology Outreach at Genius Gifted and Coordinator of International Academic Projects at Space Academy Camp, highlighted the momentum of the space sector in Mexico and Latin America, emphasising scientific outreach and regional cooperation as key drivers of New Space.
Female talent and women in STEM: driving change in the space sector
The final session of the day was dedicated to female talent and women in STEM, highlighting their role in an industry undergoing rapid transformation.
Silvia de los Santos, Senior Consultant at CTA, highlighted the growth of female entrepreneurship, whilst Meriem Trawinski, Head of NASA’s European Office, emphasised the role of non-technical profiles in the success of missions.
Abigail Ganopol, the ShakthiSAT mission’s ambassador in Argentina, highlighted the global impact of this educational initiative, aimed at bringing space closer to thousands of young people around the world.
The panel ‘EUROAVIA Women: From Students to Aerospace Leaders’ highlighted the key role of student associations. Ángeles Fuentes, former International Board President, emphasised the value of international networks, whilst Vania Ramos, Athina Athanasaki, Bárbara Carmelo and Lola del Castillo underlined the impact of these experiences on professional development and global skills.
From the technological sphere, Nieves García, a microwave engineer at Alter Technology, highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary talent, whilst Eva Vega, Director of the Space Programmes Department at INTA, emphasised the shift towards the generation of services from space.
Taken together, this session conveyed a clear message: female talent is redefining the sector, driving a more inclusive, collaborative and future-oriented culture.
Clusters and ecosystems: regional drivers of the sector
The conference also devoted significant attention to the role of regional clusters and ecosystems in the development of New Space.
José Luis García, president of the Canary Islands Aerospace Cluster, highlighted the archipelago’s potential as a strategic platform for testing and technological development, emphasising its position as a European hub.
The round table discussion on the Valencian Community’s aerospace ecosystem highlighted the region’s dynamism as an emerging hub, emphasising its ability to attract talent, foster innovation and advance towards technological sovereignty.
With this fourth day, New Space & Solutions 2026 brought its second edition to a close, establishing itself as a leading international forum, capable of bringing together the key players in the space ecosystem and fostering dialogue on the major challenges facing New Space, from global cooperation to the development of the talent that will shape the sector’s future.
All the conferences from New Space & Solutions will be available to watch on demand via The Observatory, the digital platform of Medina Media Events, where each conferencewill 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.