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 24, 2022
Neuraspace Breaks Into Space Situational Awareness Market
Neuraspace, a Portuguese startup looking to use artificial intelligence for space debris and satellite collision avoidance services, has landed more than $2.7 million from Armilar Venture Partners to accelerate the commercialization of its platform.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 24, 2022
SpaceX Vets Mueller, Matsumori Reunite At Impulse Space Propulsion
Barry Matsumori, a SpaceX veteran and until recently the CEO of space optical communications startup BridgeComm, was named the chief operating officer of Impulse Space Propulsion, the new in-orbit transfer services company founded by Tom Mueller, a SpaceX co-founder and its longtime chief technology officer.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 24, 2022
Dark Fission Space Plans Nuclear Thermal Rocket Engine Demonstrator
Startup Dark Fission Space Systems announced plans on March 22 to build and demonstrate a nuclear thermal rocket engine in orbit within five years.
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 24, 2022
Neuraspace Breaks Into Space Situational Awareness Market
Neuraspace, a Portuguese startup looking to use artificial intelligence for space debris and satellite collision avoidance services, has landed more than $2.7 million from Armilar Venture Partners to accelerate the commercialization of its platform.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 24, 2022
SpaceX Vets Mueller, Matsumori Reunite At Impulse Space Propulsion
Barry Matsumori, a SpaceX veteran and until recently the CEO of space optical communications startup BridgeComm, was named the chief operating officer of Impulse Space Propulsion, the new in-orbit transfer services company founded by Tom Mueller, a SpaceX co-founder and its longtime chief technology officer.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 24, 2022
Dark Fission Space Plans Nuclear Thermal Rocket Engine Demonstrator
Startup Dark Fission Space Systems announced plans on March 22 to build and demonstrate a nuclear thermal rocket engine in orbit within five years.
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