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

Sep 07, 2021
Inspiration4 Crew To Advance Space Health Research
Inspiration4, the first all-civilian astronaut crew to orbit the Earth, will be doing a lot more than gazing out the windows of their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 07, 2021
European Rocket Companies Sign Up For German Offshore Launch
German plans for offshore satellite launch have been boosted by the support of four launch providers. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 03, 2021
Firefly Flight Test Ends In High-Altitude Explosion
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket exploded less than 2 min. after liftoff on Sept. 2, ending a debut flight test some 10 years in the making. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 02, 2021
Firefly Poised For First Launch Attempt
Firefly Aerospace is on track for the first flight test of its Alpha launch vehicle, a two-stage, liquid-oxygen-and-kerosene-fueled booster designed to carry 2,205 lb. to low Earth orbit.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 02, 2021
FAA Investigates Unity 22 Descent Flightpath Deviation
The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating a deviation in the flightpath cleared for the descent of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity to Spaceport America in New Mexico, following its suborbital flight with Richard Branson and five employees aboard on July 11.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 07, 2021
Inspiration4 Crew To Advance Space Health Research
Inspiration4, the first all-civilian astronaut crew to orbit the Earth, will be doing a lot more than gazing out the windows of their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 07, 2021
European Rocket Companies Sign Up For German Offshore Launch
German plans for offshore satellite launch have been boosted by the support of four launch providers. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 03, 2021
Firefly Flight Test Ends In High-Altitude Explosion
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket exploded less than 2 min. after liftoff on Sept. 2, ending a debut flight test some 10 years in the making. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 02, 2021
Firefly Poised For First Launch Attempt
Firefly Aerospace is on track for the first flight test of its Alpha launch vehicle, a two-stage, liquid-oxygen-and-kerosene-fueled booster designed to carry 2,205 lb. to low Earth orbit.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 02, 2021
FAA Investigates Unity 22 Descent Flightpath Deviation
The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating a deviation in the flightpath cleared for the descent of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity to Spaceport America in New Mexico, following its suborbital flight with Richard Branson and five employees aboard on July 11.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 02, 2021
SoftBank Advances Communications Technology For HAPS
Japan’s SoftBank and its subsidiary HAPSMobile are developing new high-capacity communications systems as they prepare to launch commercial services providing connectivity from the stratosphere using long-endurance unmanned aircraft.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 31, 2021
ULA Vulcan Rocket Begins Fueling Tests At Pad
The tests should validate launchpad infrastructure, evaluate countdown procedures and train the launch team in advance of the inaugural Vulcan mission in 2022. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 31, 2021
Raytheon Buying FlightAware For Digital Aviation Push Under Collins
Collins Aerospace, already one of the largest commercial aerospace suppliers—let alone as part of Raytheon Technologies—is buying high-profile flight tracking data provider FlightAware.
Aviation Daily