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

Nov 20, 2020
Rocket Lab Takes Big Step Toward Reusable Booster
A Rocket Lab Electron booster has lifted off from New Zealand, sending 30 small satellites on their way to orbit. It then turned around and parachuted into the Pacific Ocean for the first time.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 20, 2020
Voyager Space Holdings To Add Launch Co. For Lofting Services
New-space investment group Voyager Space Holdings is buying the Launch Co., a launch support startup based near Anchorage, Alaska, that has been partnering with other marquee space startups and increasingly the U.S. military.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 18, 2020
FAA Will Use Launch Vehicle Tracking System In 2021
The FAA next year will begin using live telemetry data from commercial space vehicles to determine the extent of airspace it needs to protect during launch and re-entry operations.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 17, 2020
Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser Debut Slips To 2022
NASA’s third cargo resupply line to the International Space Station, operated by privately owned Sierra Nevada Corp., is delaying the debut launch of its reusable winged Dream Chaser spaceplane until 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic-related work issues, the company said on Nov. 17.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 17, 2020
Arianespace Finds Cause Of Vega Failure
Launch service operator Arianespace has traced the cause of the Nov. 16 failure of a Vega rocket to an improperly connected electrical harness on the launcher’s Avum engine.
Nov 20, 2020
Rocket Lab Takes Big Step Toward Reusable Booster
A Rocket Lab Electron booster has lifted off from New Zealand, sending 30 small satellites on their way to orbit. It then turned around and parachuted into the Pacific Ocean for the first time.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 20, 2020
Voyager Space Holdings To Add Launch Co. For Lofting Services
New-space investment group Voyager Space Holdings is buying the Launch Co., a launch support startup based near Anchorage, Alaska, that has been partnering with other marquee space startups and increasingly the U.S. military.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 18, 2020
FAA Will Use Launch Vehicle Tracking System In 2021
The FAA next year will begin using live telemetry data from commercial space vehicles to determine the extent of airspace it needs to protect during launch and re-entry operations.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 17, 2020
Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser Debut Slips To 2022
NASA’s third cargo resupply line to the International Space Station, operated by privately owned Sierra Nevada Corp., is delaying the debut launch of its reusable winged Dream Chaser spaceplane until 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic-related work issues, the company said on Nov. 17.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 17, 2020
Arianespace Finds Cause Of Vega Failure
Launch service operator Arianespace has traced the cause of the Nov. 16 failure of a Vega rocket to an improperly connected electrical harness on the launcher’s Avum engine.
Nov 17, 2020
Crew-1 Dragon Docks With Space Station
SpaceX’s NASA-contracted Crew-1 Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station late Nov. 16.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 16, 2020
Arianespace’s Vega To Launch Earth Survey, Science Sats
The Vega light launcher, operated by Arianespace, is to place two satellites into orbit on Nov. 16–Taranis, to study electromagnetic phenomena taking place above storms, and Seosat-Ingenio, focused on the observation of Spain’s territory.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 16, 2020
Historian: U.S. Unlikely To Turn Its Back On Human Space Exploration
Speculation is mounting over what’s next for U.S. human deep-space exploration following the Nov. 3 presidential election, but one noted space historian believes the U.S. will still land on the Moon within 10 years.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report