Commercial Space

The commercial space market, also known as the private space industry or NewSpace, is experiencing strong growth. This burgeoning sector encompasses activities such as satellite manufacturing, space tourism, rocket launches, satellite services and space exploration initiatives driven by private companies. Players like SpaceX and Blue Origin on the launch side, or Planet and Maxar with their in-orbit satellite constellations are revolutionizing the industry, making space more accessible and cost-effective. The demand for satellite internet, Earth observation, and space-based services has fueled investments and technological advancements. With the rise of reusable rockets, commercial crew missions, and ambitious plans for space mining and Mars colonization, the commercial space market is poised for exponential growth, promising exciting developments and opportunities into the future. 

News & Analysis

Apr 04, 2022
Space Report: Decade High In Employment, But Still Not Enough
Employment in the core U.S. space industry workforce is at a 10-year high, climbing past 2011’s last peak of 149,818 to reach 151,797, according to preliminary 2021 U.S. data cited by the Space Foundation on April 4.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 04, 2022
Lockheed Releases Open-Source Satellite Docking Interface Standard
Lockheed Martin on April 4 released online an open-source interface standard for on-orbit satellite docking.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 04, 2022
Astra Eyes Bigger Rocket, Satellite Offering, But Rapid Cash Burn
Astra Space, a small rocket startup that became a publicly traded company last year via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) but which has struggled with successful missions, plans to add turnkey satellite busses to its offering in 2023.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 04, 2022
Reports: Attacks On Space Capabilities Rising As Predicted
Predictions about an increase in attacks on space capabilities made over the last five years are proving true, say a pair of new reports issued by Washington, D.C.-based think tanks April 4.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 04, 2022
Axiom Flight To ISS Slips To April 8
Launch of the privately funded Axiom Space-1 mission to the International Space Station was delayed to no earlier than April 8, leaving little margin for Axiom’s planned 10-day excursion before NASA puts priority on launching the next resident station crew.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 04, 2022
Space Report: Decade High In Employment, But Still Not Enough
Employment in the core U.S. space industry workforce is at a 10-year high, climbing past 2011’s last peak of 149,818 to reach 151,797, according to preliminary 2021 U.S. data cited by the Space Foundation on April 4.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 04, 2022
Lockheed Releases Open-Source Satellite Docking Interface Standard
Lockheed Martin on April 4 released online an open-source interface standard for on-orbit satellite docking.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 04, 2022
Astra Eyes Bigger Rocket, Satellite Offering, But Rapid Cash Burn
Astra Space, a small rocket startup that became a publicly traded company last year via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) but which has struggled with successful missions, plans to add turnkey satellite busses to its offering in 2023.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 04, 2022
Reports: Attacks On Space Capabilities Rising As Predicted
Predictions about an increase in attacks on space capabilities made over the last five years are proving true, say a pair of new reports issued by Washington, D.C.-based think tanks April 4.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 04, 2022
Axiom Flight To ISS Slips To April 8
Launch of the privately funded Axiom Space-1 mission to the International Space Station was delayed to no earlier than April 8, leaving little margin for Axiom’s planned 10-day excursion before NASA puts priority on launching the next resident station crew.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 04, 2022
HawkEye 360, Kleos Space Launch Radio Frequency Monitoring Sats
HawkEye 360 and Kleos Space, operators of space-based radio frequency monitoring services, launched on April 1 two new batches of satellites into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that took off from Cape Canaveral.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 01, 2022
SpaceX Rideshare Delivers 40 Spacecraft Into LEO
Just ahead of a high-profile, privately funded crewed mission for Axiom Space, SpaceX on April 1 launched its fourth rideshare mission, delivering 40 spacecraft into orbit, including a 1-ton hyperspectral imaging satellite for Germany’s space agency, DLR.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Apr 01, 2022
Planet Labs Sees Business Bump From Ukraine-based Demand
Daily space-based imagery and services provider Planet Labs expects full-year revenue this fiscal year to be $170-190 million, practically 30% above last fiscal year, which was 16% above the year before.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report