(BPT) - Building on long-standing cooperation and strong partnership with the United States, Poland is working to become a major player in the global space market.

That ambition is shining through in policy choices, joint missions and concrete investments that tie Polish industry to U.S. programs.

The two countries have been formal allies through NATO since 1999, cooperating closely on defense and security. Leaders on both sides of the Atlantic are extending this trust and collaboration into space.

In the newest development in this partnership, Polish media mogul and self-made billionaire Zygmunt Solorz has been in discussions regarding a major investment in Houston-based Axiom Space, led by billionaire Kam Ghaffarian and backed by U.S. investors including Donald Trump, Jr.

"A partnership with Axiom Space and Kam Ghaffarian would be a significant step for Poland in the U.S. commercial space market, giving Poland the chance to contribute directly to the future of commercial spaceflight and strengthen its position in the global space economy," said Solorz.

Solorz and Ghaffarian met with high-level U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., and at the White House on Dec. 3-4 earlier this month, underscoring the visibility of prospective Polish investment in the American commercial space sector.

Ghaffarian, Axiom Space's co-founder and former NASA scientist, echoed this sentiment, noting, "Poland's increasing involvement in the global space economy is an important development for transatlantic cooperation, and we value Mr. Solorz's active engagement as these discussions progress."

This is the most recent example of U.S.-Polish collaboration in the final frontier. In 2021, Poland joined the U.S.-led Artemis Accords, which established a set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation, particularly within NASA's lunar exploration plans. Then-NASA Administrator and astronaut Bill Nelson recognized Poland's commitment to establishing peaceful norms in space, which he said cannot be accomplished alone.

Earlier this year, Poland launched its first astronaut in more than 40 years to the International Space Station (ISS). Aboard a private flight - a SpaceX rocket mission arranged by Axiom Space - Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewsk became the second Pole to travel to space. "Let this mission be the beginning of an era in which our courage and perseverance will shape a modern Poland for us and for future generations," said Uznanski-Wisniewsk after the successful launch.

Co-financed by the Polish government and supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), Poland's experiments during Uznanski-Wisniewsk's two-week stay spanned from research on human sciences, engineering, physics and testing technologies in orbit. The work provided results that inform both academic research and commercial use cases. The mission's success signaled that Poland is continuing to move from consumer to contributor within this ecosystem. That shift is also evident in the Polish Space Agency's collaboration with several Polish companies to build and launch the country's largest ever satellite last year.

By integrating into the U.S. space economy, Poland is positioning itself as Central Europe's hub for research, dual-use technologies and space diplomacy. This progress has been on display as Polish manufacturer Scanway Space secured its first order from an American company, Intuitive Machines, for a multispectral telescope to map the Moon's surface this year. Poland is also preparing to launch its first military satellites into orbit from the United States, with launch planned from California aboard a SpaceX rocket.

Poland's international profile will further rise when it hosts the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in 2027, expected to host nearly 10,000 guests from around the world. Among the world's largest gatherings of agencies, companies and researchers, the decision to select Poland to host signals the country's expanding convening power and industrial ambition in space.

Together, these policy and commercial elements illustrate how Poland is helping the United States build next-generation space infrastructure. For the United States, allied engagement supports resilience in critical space services, while broadening the research base and supply chain. For Poland, it unlocks access to orbital platforms, technology transfer opportunities and new investment channels.

Together, the United States and Poland are expanding on their transatlantic allyship and charting a bold new trajectory - one that could redefine their roles in the space economy and expand the horizons of exploration for years to come.

Photo caption: Billionaires Kam Ghaffarian and Zygmunt Solorz before heading into a meeting with high-level U.S. officials at the White House on Dec. 3.