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

Mar 23, 2022
NASA To Extend SpaceX HLS Contract, Add 2nd Lunar Transportation Provider
NASA plans to extend its Human Landing System contract with SpaceX to cover a second crewed landing on the Moon and launch a parallel procurement leading to a second commercial provider for crewed transportation services to and from lunar orbit and the lunar surface.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 23, 2022
Viasat Still Restoring Internet After Russian Cyberattack, CISA Warns Of More
Viasat is still working to restore internet to some of its users after a suspected Russian cyberattack took thousands of KA-SAT satellite terminals in Europe offline starting Feb. 24.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 22, 2022
Isotropic Completes Multi-Orbit, Multi-Link Tests
Isotropic Systems has completed all tests demonstrating that its GM2000 series military standard satellite terminal can track and link to satellites in multiple orbits from a single, solid-state, software-defined communications platform.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 22, 2022
Vulcan’s BE-4 Flight Engines Now Expected Midyear, ULA Says
A minor production issue will delay the arrival of the first flight engines for United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan rocket to the middle of the year, paving the way for the booster’s debut launch no earlier than late 2022.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 22, 2022
AEI Leads Firefly Aerospace Back To Unicorn Status, U.S. Growth
AE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm active in U.S. aerospace and defense, has led a $75 million Series B funding round in Firefly Aerospace, a space access startup recently caught up in Ukraine-related issues.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 23, 2022
NASA To Extend SpaceX HLS Contract, Add 2nd Lunar Transportation Provider
NASA plans to extend its Human Landing System contract with SpaceX to cover a second crewed landing on the Moon and launch a parallel procurement leading to a second commercial provider for crewed transportation services to and from lunar orbit and the lunar surface.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 23, 2022
Viasat Still Restoring Internet After Russian Cyberattack, CISA Warns Of More
Viasat is still working to restore internet to some of its users after a suspected Russian cyberattack took thousands of KA-SAT satellite terminals in Europe offline starting Feb. 24.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 22, 2022
Isotropic Completes Multi-Orbit, Multi-Link Tests
Isotropic Systems has completed all tests demonstrating that its GM2000 series military standard satellite terminal can track and link to satellites in multiple orbits from a single, solid-state, software-defined communications platform.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 22, 2022
Vulcan’s BE-4 Flight Engines Now Expected Midyear, ULA Says
A minor production issue will delay the arrival of the first flight engines for United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan rocket to the middle of the year, paving the way for the booster’s debut launch no earlier than late 2022.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 22, 2022
AEI Leads Firefly Aerospace Back To Unicorn Status, U.S. Growth
AE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm active in U.S. aerospace and defense, has led a $75 million Series B funding round in Firefly Aerospace, a space access startup recently caught up in Ukraine-related issues.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 22, 2022
SpaceX Cuts Rideshare Broker Spaceflight From Manifests
SpaceX has abruptly severed its long-standing relationship with customer Spaceflight Industries, which purchases rideshares and dedicated missions from launch service companies.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 22, 2022
OneWeb, Eutelsat Partner To Combine LEO-GEO Services
Building on its $550 million investment in startup OneWeb, Paris-based Eutelsat Communications on March 22 announced a partnership agreement to distribute broadband services from OneWeb’s satellite constellation in low Earth orbit to its maritime, aviation, business, government and other customers.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 22, 2022
Germany’s Polaris To Flight Test Scaled Aurora Spaceplane
Germany-based space startup Polaris has been awarded a contract by the country’s defense ministry to build and flight-test a scaled demonstrator of its proposed Aurora reusable space plane. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report