Marta Oliveira, co-founder of Atmos Space Cargo, said the impact of reusable rocket technology was discussed during the VivaTech 2026 [1] festival.
This shift toward reusable technology is critical because it lowers the cost of entry for private companies. By reducing the financial barriers to orbit, the industry is moving away from a model exclusively funded and controlled by national government agencies.
Speaking with France 24 Business Editor Kate Moody, Oliveira said the emerging space economy is being reshaped by private-sector funding. The transition allows startups to compete with established technology giants in a race to establish sustainable transport, and logistics in space.
Reusable rockets enable more frequent launches by eliminating the need to build a new vehicle for every mission. This capability is central to the 21st-century space race, where the goal has shifted from mere exploration to the creation of a viable commercial infrastructure.
Oliveira said the integration of these technologies allows for a more dynamic market. The ability to recover and relaunch hardware transforms space from a destination for rare scientific missions into a hub for commercial cargo, and industrial activity.
At the VivaTech 2026 [1] event, the conversation highlighted the intersection of venture capital and aerospace engineering. As private funding flows into the sector, the pace of innovation in reusable systems is expected to accelerate, further distancing the current era from the government-dominated space programs of the previous century.
“The industry is moving away from a model exclusively funded and controlled by national government agencies.”
The transition to reusable launch vehicles represents a fundamental change in the economics of space. By converting rockets from disposable assets into reusable infrastructure, the private sector is effectively commoditizing access to orbit, which likely will lead to a surge in satellite deployments and the feasibility of long-term lunar or Martian commercial operations.
