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Influx of Demand for Aerospace Materials

On December 18, 2025, the Trump Administration published an executive order titled "Ensuring American Space Superiority." This order highlights multiple advances in aerospace and draws attention to ideas that will shape the future of the industry.

This executive order states that the United States will return to the moon by 2028, as well as establish a permanent lunar outpost by 2030. Furthermore, the United States and associating countries will deploy nuclear reactors on the moon by 2030 and in orbit. White House Executive Order. Per the executive order, $50 billion will be invested in American space markets by 2028.

Artemis Accords

The United States is part of the Artemis Accords. The Artemis Accords, created in 2020, is a group of over 60 countries and private companies that, together, create best practices and norms for space exploration and promote principles to govern the use of outer space. NASA Artemis Accords. Essentially, the Artemis Accords are the United States' and other countries' "rules" for space.

The United States and other countries in the Artemis Accords are racing to establish superiority on the moon, specifically the lunar south pole. The lunar south pole has nearly constant levels of solar illumination, meaning power, and high levels of water ice, meaning water. In addition to this, asteroid mining is gaining popularity amongst countries associated with space exploration. Countries who establish dominance on the moon will be able to create trade routes for the material. NASA and The Guardian.

The concept of asteroid mining and other cislunar development has been a hot topic over the last few years. In 2022, Johns Hopkins University published a 76-page overview of the vision of cislunar development, the need for a cislunar security strategy, establishing a cislunar economy, and some of the logistics of implementing such a vision. Artemis Accords seem to align with these values. (Johns Hopkins University)

Orion

One potential hurdle in the fight for U.S. Superiority in this sector is the logistics of the Orion Heat Shield. A heat shield is needed for spacecrafts entering the earth's atmosphere due to high velocity of entering craft, high temperature of the upper atmosphere, and friction. According to NASA, a heat shield helps to mitigate harmful solar energy and use friction to the spacecraft's advantage to slow it. Heat shields are complex to manufacture, and naturally take much time and care. Heat shield development research.

Orion spacecrafts have recently gained popular knowledge after the Artemis II crew used Orion in their historic 10-day journey to the dark side of the moon and back to earth in April 2026. The Orion heat shield performed perfectly and opened the door for further use. However, it's use for deep space exploration and long-term and use for lunar outposts requires further development.

NASA awarded Lockheed Martin a large contract in 2019 for this development of Orion Spacecrafts. The contract cites six spacecrafts to be developed throughout the contract's timeframe of 2030. According to Lockheed Martin, new and evolved knowledge of Orion is being applied to these new technologies, and there is a drive to decrease cost and manufacturing time. However, the evolution of leadership at NASA, and competing companies such as SpaceX have expanded the conversation on Orion.

In 2025, Jared Isaacman was appointed as NASA administrator. Isaacman has robust history in the private sector - a billionaire responsible for privately funding missions largely involving aerospace. As a successful entrepreneur, he came into NASA questioning long timelines and high costs associated with contracts like the one NASA gave to Lockheed Martin (SpaceNews). In a SpaceNews interview, he stresses the importance of U.S. space superiority, stating that the U.S. will "…never settle for second place." Isaacman's confirmation was met with hesitation by the senate because of his close ties and history with SpaceX.

SpaceX Influence

There is much interest in SpaceX's development with establishing a lunar outpost because of Isaacman's ties and the progress SpaceX is making in this sector. Establishing a lunar outpost is feat in amongst itself, however in-space refueling is another challenge. To have a sustainable outpost, resources are needed for it to function - with one of those resources being fuel. At this time, energy sources cannot be harvested from space (another area of interest for the Artemis Accords), so fuel must be launched from earth.

In-space refueling requires multiple in-space launches, with specific timings of these launches while in orbit. According to SpaceNews, "Starships must launch in rapid succession to transfer liquid methane and liquid oxygen to the Depot..8-16 [rockets] required to put fuel into the depot." Then, a staffed rocket retrieves the fuel, detaches from the spacecraft, then launches Orion onto the moon's surface. SpaceX appears to be rising to this challenge.

Aerospace, with SpaceX leading the charge, is big business in Texas. SpaceX is converting to a publicly traded company in 2027. At this point, the progress for in-space fuel transfer is all speculative. And although there is much support from the Texas government for SpaceX, demonstrating this transfer of fuel is crucial for public support. Countries in the Artemis accords are all essentially depending on SpaceX to reach their goal of space superiority.

New Space Race

The Artemis accords are not the only group of countries in this new space race. Countries such as China, Russia, South Africa, Egypt, and more have joined together in a program to build what they are calling the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). Construction is expected to begin on this in 2028 and be completed around 2035. China states that they expect to work with 50 countries on the ILRS according to SpaceNews. With a similar timeframe and similar goals, such as a permanent lunar base, communications, and power, it demonstrates the urgency of global companies to source materials to reach these goals. According to McKinsey & Company, the estimated value of the space economy is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035. This is almost three times the estimated value as of 2023. As companies continue to rely on technology achieved via GPS, satellites, and more, the demand for a cislunar economy is ever increasing. The Artemis accords and the countries involved in the ILRS are fighting for power in this outstanding financial outlook.

M. Vincent and Associates is pleased to offer materials for aerospace applications. As an ISO 9001 and AS9120 certified company, we can provide full traceability, DFARS compliant material, material sourcing, and a strict control policy on counterfeit parts - making us a reliable supplier for the aerospace industry. Get a quote today!

 

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