Economic delegation of the Slovenian space industry at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs

The SPIRIT Agency and the Slovenian Space Office have organized an economic delegation for the fourth consecutive year, which included ten Slovenian companies from the space and defense industries. The delegation also included representatives from the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, as well as the economic advisor at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washington, D.C. Slovenian companies met with several major players in the U.S. space industry, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, SpaceX, Vast, and Northrop Grumman. The Slovenian stand was traditionally visited by former astronaut of Slovenian descent, Ronald Šega.

This year’s Space Symposium was marked by the recently successful completion of NASA’s Artemis II mission, which carried out the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years, marking the beginning of an intensified U.S. engagement in space under the motto: Going back to the Moon, this time to stay. The Artemis program aims to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon. As emphasized during the opening ceremony by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, Artemis II represents the opening act of accelerated U.S. activity in space.

Artemis II was a high-profile international mission led by NASA, involving numerous international partners, including Slovenia. Instruments for decoding data from the rocket to the ground launch control center were developed by the Slovenian company Dewesoft. Their instruments were also installed in the vehicle that transported Artemis to the launch pad, as well as on the launch platforms.

At the symposium, the United States repeatedly expressed interest in broad inclusion of international partners. Increased investment in dual-use industries was also highlighted, opening up numerous market opportunities. A significant rise in the commercial space sector was emphasized, along with the crucial importance of international partnerships, although an increase in national sovereignty considerations has also been observed. This was further underscored during the panel discussion titled Global Economics of Space, which included the head of the Slovenian Space Office. She outlined Slovenia’s space ecosystem, activities, and strategic directions, and highlighted Dewesoft as a strong example of how small countries can successfully participate in large-scale projects.