It is not hard to imagine a near future in which our urban landscapes are crisscrossed with flying taxis and swarms of drones delivering everything from parcels to critical medical supplies. This is not science fiction but a reality fast approaching us. At the heart of this transformation lies one essential, yet rarely mentioned, requirement: the need for ubiquitous connectivity.

China is pouring money into the technology that will define the winner of the next space race. One such technology is advanced materials: the metals, coatings, and composites that make spaceflight possible. Lightweight alloys, radiation-proof shields, heat-resistant ceramics – without these, we can forget going to the Moon, forget going to Mars, forget even getting a rocket to leave the ground.

Success in space is definitely hard, but it doesn’t have to be as difficult as a lot of us make it. It’s all in the prep and the mindset. Underestimating the complexities of mission planning and sticking to the status quo – stubbornly relying on a patchwork of legacy tools, outdated analysis software, and manual workflows – is having a stifling effect on emerging capabilities in LEO and their positive impact on life on Earth. Today, though, there are solutions to ensure a mission launched returns as a mission accomplished.

In contemporary conflicts, where tactical advances are often geographically small, even small gains can lend themselves to larger strategic outcomes. The electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is no different, and as a domain of warfare is equally, if not more, contested than land, sea, and air.

Human machine collaboration is top of the defence agenda in 2025, whether it’s using artificial intelligence (AI) to address pressing MRO challenges, or the power of Industry 5.0 to humanize the manufacturing process. The defense industry is poised for change in 2025—new technologies, assets, and ways of working, will alter how the sector operates across land, sea, and air throughout the year.

Although universal interoperable satellite communications (SATCOM) would provide enormous benefits in terms of collaboration, resiliency, and security, the industry has yet to achieve it. Not all SATCOM providers are ready to abandon their proprietary technologies in favor of a standardized approach. We spoke with Jacob Blanc, iDirect Government’s Director of Strategic Solutions, to find out how technology and IP constraints can be overcome to provide greater resiliency for the Department of Defense (DOD) and government agencies.

The modern world runs on invisible infrastructure. Beneath the ocean’s surface, a vast network of undersea cables forms the backbone of global communication, carrying nearly 99 percent of all internet traffic. These cables, stretching over 300,000 kilometres, connect continents, enable financial transactions, and support everything from streaming services to military operations. Yet despite their crucial role, they remain an overlooked vulnerability – one that is increasingly exposed to geopolitical conflict and sabotage.

Military satellite communications (SATCOM) have transformed dramatically over the decades, evolving from rudimentary capabilities to highly advanced, secure systems that underpin modern defense and intelligence operations. These advancements reflect the intersection of technological innovation and the shifting landscape of global security threats. From enabling basic voice and data transfer to supporting intricate, multi-domain operations, the role of military satcom has since expanded to become indispensable to modern military strategy. This evolution has not only bolstered the military’s capacity to operate in complex and contested environments but has also ensured forces remain connected, informed, and protected.

The satellite industry has long been standing very much on its own and viewed as a niche technology. The future, however, will be built on collaboration and the establishment of new standards that will enable it to integrate smoothly with other technologies.

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell secured his place in history by inventing the telephone. But you know that already. What you might not know is that four years later, he pioneered an idea far ahead of its time: free-space optical communication. Bell’s ‘photophone’ transmitted sound using light. It was ingenious but impractical, hampered by a lack of technology to shield light from environmental interference. Fast forward nearly 150 years, and free space optical communication is no longer an idea confined to the laboratory. It has become one of the most exciting forms of technology in our era and is poised to reshape how we connect in a world that grows more interconnected by the day.

Brad Bergan began work on SpaceX: Elon Musk and the Final Frontier during the dark days of the pandemic. The book, which is richly illustrated with images of rocket launches and landings, is an eloquent overview of the ongoing history of space exploration and commercialization from the early days of the space race to Elon Musk’s phenomenal success with SpaceX. We sat down with Bergan to find out how and why he put this must-read chronicle together.

The satellite industry is undergoing a huge transformation as demand for reliable, highspeed connectivity continues to grow across the globe. A critical component of this transformation is the industry’s ability to carry out rigorous and cost-effective testing of antennas. Consequently, the approach taken to testing is having to evolve in-line with the new satcom landscape. While some antenna tests happen in dedicated test ranges, it’s becoming increasingly important to be able to test in-situ because this provides operators with a more accurate picture of how the antenna will perform, or is performing, in its operational environment.