On Thursday, June 12th, SSC participated at the Executive Forum, SACC-USA (Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce) through a panel discussion about “Transatlantic Collaboration in the Fast-Growing Space Industry – Space technology’s essential role in safeguarding the future” together with partners Firefly Aerospace and Blue Origin.
A recent report by the World Economic Forum states the growth of the space sector will be exponential reaching 1.8 trillion USD in 2035. While much attention is given to ambitious plans like settling on Mars, an immediate focus is on solving the global challenges we face today. For both these domains, transatlantic collaboration is instrumental for both Europe and the U.S.
”Transatlantic collaboration is no longer optional – It is essential to staying competitive in Space. When US innovation meets European infrastructure, we can build competitive systems that scale for future needs. Working with US partners, SSC – Swedish Space Corporation helps bridge vision and execution from launch to lunar landing,” said Linda Lyckman, SvP and Head of US Growth at SSC.
In the panel discussion, SSC, Firefly Aerospace and Blue Origin discussed recent mission successes and future endeavors – including collaboratively executed high-profile missions like the Firefly’s BlueGhost Mission-1 which was supported by SSC’s ground stations for connectivity.
Michael Creech, Vice President, Strategy & Business Development at Firefly Aerospace, highlighted the increasing competition on access to satellite launches, with the growing demand now already exceeding capacity worldwide. With a reduced barrier to space, what opportunities lie ahead for new companies and concepts?
Vikram Ivatury, Director of In-Space Systems at Blue Origin, focused on lessons learned from recent lunar and commercial space initiatives – including geostationary orbit, resources, data relay, inner operability, optical, and AI, as examples.
Linda Lyckman, SvP and Head of US Growth at SSC:
What Trends Are Shaping the Space Industry?
“Space is no longer just about exploration — it’s a strategic domain shaping national security, economic growth, and global infrastructure. Recognized by NATO and the U.S. Department of Defense as the fifth operational domain alongside land, sea, air, and cyber, space now supports critical systems on Earth: from rural internet and global communications to navigation, climate monitoring, and emergency response. Governments are investing to protect and expand their capabilities — but the biggest shift is that commercial investment is now leading the charge. Private companies are building systems, launching missions, and driving innovation, making space a shared frontier of public purpose and private leadership.”
What Makes This Growth Possible?
“The rapid growth of the space industry is powered by three essentials: trust, interoperability, and scalable infrastructure. Trust ensures secure, compliant, and reliable delivery — especially for sensitive missions. Interoperability keeps satellites connected across borders and time zones, just like your phone works globally. And with the space economy expected to nearly triple by 2035, scalable infrastructure is critical to support more satellites, more data, and more users. Together, these pillars are enabling a new era of global collaboration and commercial momentum in space.”
