“To the Moon!” Podcast and insights from Davos 2026

by Ben Haldeman
“To the Moon!” Podcast and insights from Davos 2026

Space was a defining theme at Davos this year—a clear signal that our multiplanetary future isn't just arriving; it's accelerating. During a whirlwind week at Davos during the 2026 World Economic Forum, space occupied a central position on the world stage. Over the last four years at this annual Swiss mountain gathering with world leaders, top CEOs, and big visionaries, I’ve seen the dialogue around space transition from niche side sessions to a central pillar of the global discussion.

I represent LifeShip at Davos to bring a new dimension to this dialogue: moving beyond the mechanics of the space economy toward a community-powered vision for human flourishing beyond Earth as stewards of life in the Universe.

A highlight of the week was this stellar podcast episode recorded live with Monacle Radio at Hub Culture’s Davos Pavilion.

The Conversation

Join me (LifeShip founder Ben Haldeman) and large-scale space artist Samuel Stubblefield in a deep-dive interview with Hub Culture’s Stan Stalnaker.

In this episode, we explore:

  • The Acceleration of the Frontier: With launch costs plummeting and space becoming exponentially more accessible, the path is clearing for thousands and then millions of people to travel to, live, and work in space much sooner than most imagine.

  • Sacred Spaces in Space: We discuss LifeShip’s vision for community-powered space monuments and building toward a Temple on the Moon—a sacred place of reflection, connection, and transformational gathering.

  • Art Beyond Earth: Samuel Stubblefield shares his progress on creating impactful, large-scale art installations that shift how we perceive our place in the cosmos.

  • To Space for Life: We discuss LifeShip’s purpose in creating a community-driven movement to steward the outward expansion of life and human consciousness from Earth.

Key Takeaways from the World Stage

Davos 2026 marked a turning point where space became a central pillar of the global conversation. I had the honor of speaking at the unDavos Summit on a panel regarding Space Technology and Space Economy (moderated by Mike Butcher, founding editor at Tech Crunch). Joining me on the panel were:


Space Technology and Space Economy panel at the unDavos Summit (Photo by Everywow) 

Watch the panel discussion!

 

I also presented an Ignite Talk on LifeShip's vision of building collective monument with a record of Earth and scaling towards larger scale sacred spaces and epic lunar gatherings.


Ben giving an Ignite Talk at the unDavos Summit (photo by Everywow)

Core Themes in Space from Davos 2026

The "Continental" Opportunity: Space is no longer a niche interest; it is woven into the global fabric. From the "Houses" along the main Promenade to the Pavilion stages, giant space projects are ready for scale. The next generation of heavy-lift reusable rockets will drive down costs for large-scale projects and open the Moon faster than the railroads opened the West. The opportunities are truly continental in scale.

Data Centers and Big Infrastructure in Space: One of the most radical shifts is the move toward space-based compute. As launch costs plummet, the 6x efficiency of solar power in orbit and the natural cooling benefits make space the logical home for the world's AI infrastructure. Leading AI companies are already pursuing massive orbital projects, which will serve as the economic engine that paves the way for other large-scale infrastructure and human settlement.

Full Speed to the Moon: The world's biggest space companies and nation states are building towards humans living on the Moon. Hundreds of companies are being founded, funded, and built to provide everything needed for human habitation and utilization of the lunar environment. The technical capacity is being developed to enable thousands of people to work, live, and visit the lunar surface in the coming decades.

Towards Human Flourishing: As AI and robotics begin to handle the routine tasks of our existence, a profound opportunity emerges to refocus on what it truly means to be human—shifting our energy toward flourishing, creativity, and stewardship as we care for life and reach for the stars.

Let's Create the Future of Our Dreams

We live in a time of rapidly increasing global change and profound uncertainty. How we approach space in the coming years will impact the entire future of our species and life in the galaxy.

It is our opportunity to create the future we want—both here on Earth and as we grow into a galactic species. Let’s be the humans we wish to see in the galaxy. Space is opening rapidly, and the opportunity is vast. Dream big and go for it. 

Ad Astra ⭐
Ben Haldeman
Founder of LifeShip

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