# New Space Engineering Design: Characterization of Key Drivers
## 3 Results and Discussion  
Following the proposed methodology, this study provides a structured snapshot of the key engineering design concepts as of the first half of 2025, based on a critical literature review. Given the rapid evolution of the New Space sector, the findings are time-sensitive and reflect the state of the field as of that point. They can serve as a current reference in the literature, identifying the factors that have characterized the New Space paradigm so far and are reasonably expected to continue shaping it in the near future. However, the methodology can be reapplied by future researchers to update or extend the results as new technologies and trends emerge. Moreover, the adopted classification, structured by relevant categories and context, has been designed to remain valid over time, as based on fundamental design logic and sector dynamics. This ensures continued relevance and supports ongoing monitoring of sector evolution. Table 1 summarizes the resulting design drivers that characterize New Space engineering design, which are organized into categories and associated with relevant sources, as outlined in Figure 1. While this characterization is based on a structured review of the available literature, the dynamic and complex nature of the sector might prevent these results from being exhaustive. Nevertheless, the table provides a sufficiently detailed and accessible overview of the prevailing development directions. Table 2 presents the key design enablers, comprising solutions, technologies, and processes, adopted to address the development goals defined by the identified drivers. The resulting tables can support stakeholders, customers, and engineering practitioners in assessing the system requirements for their specific New Space applications. Designers can draw on this set of elements to align system development with current and emerging trends and expectations by using design drivers to guide strategic choices and design enablers to implement suitable and efficient solutions and technologies. This level of abstraction was chosen to ensure clarity while preserving applicability across a broad range of space projects. Drivers and enablers are often interrelated, and this relationship is complex: a single driver may represent an independent objective while also contributing to the fulfillment of another, and often, a single design enabler addresses multiple design drivers. In applying the methodology, particularly in classifying drivers and enablers into defined categories, a one-to-one assignment was deliberately adopted to facilitate the visualization and understanding of the results. While it is acknowledged that some elements could logically fall under multiple categories, this reflects the inherent complexity of system design. However, allowing for overlapping classifications would risk complicating the method's practical usability and reducing its ability to deliver information in a concise and accessible way. Some of the identified drivers have traditionally guided space system development, particularly those related to reliability and performance. However, it is the more open, dynamic, and commercially oriented nature of New Space that defines current and near-future projects, reflecting the diversity of actors shaping today's space ecosystem. The results align with the broader socio-economic and political context in which New Space has emerged. They represent the evolution of societal expectations and policy frameworks, where accessibility, cost-effectiveness, safety, and sustainability have become central concerns. Accordingly, the identified design drivers and enablers do not only derive from technical considerations. Still, they are also shaped by regulatory developments, market dynamics, and public awareness, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of New Space. The following sections highlight the importance of each design driver and enabler and show their key interrelationships.