Space Minds The trends that will dominate headlines this year
9 snips
Feb 13, 2026 
David Ariosto, author and reporter who wrote Open Space based on years covering the space industry. He teases why the Moon matters now and who might profit. He contrasts commercial momentum with state roles and explains China’s long game in space. He also revisits safety lessons from Shuttle accidents and how geopolitics is shaping commercial growth.
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Why The Lunar South Matters
- The lunar south is a far more challenging and strategic target than Apollo-era sites due to temperature swings and comms gaps.
- Water there matters for drinking, cooling, electrolysis and rocket fuel, shaping long-term exploration.
Early Commercial Landers Under Pressure
- David visited Intuitive Machines and reported on their early commercial lunar lander work that laid groundwork for Artemis.
- He observed small teams facing budget pressure where a failed launch could threaten the company's existence.
Government Role In Building Lunar Markets
- A commercially driven lunar economy isn't yet a settled business case and likely needs government tentpoles to attract private activity.
- Without sustained public funding, lunar ventures risk collapsing when political priorities shift.
