As the International Space Station moves toward its eventual deorbitation, the European Space Agency and Houston-based Axiom Space have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Paris, signaling Europe's intention to preserve its presence in low Earth orbit through commercial partnership. The agreement is not yet a commitment of funds or timelines, but rather a deliberate act of preparation — a recognition that the platforms and partnerships that define an era do not last forever, and that the wise begin building what comes next before the old world ends.