The 5 next big things in space and telecom for 2025

The space and telecom industries can look increasingly intertwined as satellite roaming—today for messages, tomorrow for data—becomes a standard feature. But while wireless services have the luxury of iterating as often as they want once they start signing up customers, space startups have to take things one launch at a time.

Eascra Biotech
For making the International Space Station a pharmaceutical research lab
Eascra has one of the most interesting worksites of any of this year’s honorees: the International Space Station, where astronauts conduct research on developing nanoparticles to treat cancer and other maladies. Growing these materials in microgravity yields more uniform particles that can store mRNA drugs at room temperature—not the subzero conditions mRNA medication usually requires. 

Impulse Space
For bringing the space tug concept closer to commercial reality
Founded by SpaceX veteran Tom Mueller, Impulse Space helps launch providers take their payloads farther with its Helios kick stage—which can send a satellite from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit in a day—and its smaller Mira space tug. The company has raised $300 million and has won contracts from NASA and the Space Force to develop its platforms further.

MobileX
For leveraging AI to resell wireless service as cheaply as possible
Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) can look alike, especially when so many of them are now properties of the big three wireless carriers. But MobileX, which resells Verizon’s network, stands out for extremely low rates, starting at $3.48 a month and maxing out at $24.88. Its secret weapon? The company applies AI to analyze patterns of use to match customers with the most affordable plan that fits.

US Mobile
For bringing choice and flexibility to the wireless resale market
US Mobile has experienced a rocket-launch trajectory since its 2016 debut—in 2025, it made its first appearance on Consumer Reports’ survey of subscribers at the top of that list. Unlike most MVNOs, it resells each of the big three wireless carriers—under cutesy names (“Dark Star” means AT&T, “Light Speed” T-Mobile, “Warp” Verizon). It lets subscribers choose among the three on the fly with its Teleport feature, tapping the best coverage for their everyday whereabouts.

Varda
For making pharmaceutical materials in space
Manufacturing in microgravity has been a part of humanity’s imagined off-world future for decades, but Varda has finally done it by building its own uncrewed satellite and reentry capsule. That allows life-sciences customers to generate crystals for pharmaceutical uses that are more uniform than what gravity would allow. Following successful landings by Varda’s capsule, in June the company launched its first mission built on an in-house satellite bus; a month later, it announced a $187 million fundraising round. 

The companies and individuals behind these technologies are among the honorees in Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech awards for 2025. Read more about the winners across all categories and the methodology behind the selection process.

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