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

Jun 08, 2020
NASA Finalizes Initial Gateway Habitation Contract
The design concept for the habitation and logistics elements of the lunar-orbiting Gateway that  NASA is pursuing under a $187 million contract with Northrop Grumman has a significant heritage in the evolving Cygnus resupply mission spacecraft that have so far launched and berthed successfully to the International Space Station 13 times since September 2013.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 03, 2020
Astroscale U.S. Plans Docked Life-Extension Services For GEO Satellites
The U.S. arm of Japanese satellite servicing startup Astroscale is expanding into geostationary orbit by acquiring the assets of Israeli company Effective Space Solutions.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 02, 2020
Space Station Crew Rings Bell to Open NASDAQ
“It’s truly a critical moment in the development of the space economy and a new era of private human spaceflight,” NASDAQ’s president and CEO said just before the astronauts rang the bell in the station’s U.S. segment.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 01, 2020
Hurley, Behnken Praise Demo-2 Launch Experience
“Things worked exactly the way we expected them to work," Demo-2 astronaut Doug Hurley said. " It’s a pretty awe-inspiring trip so far, pretty humbling,”
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 01, 2020
Lawmakers: Demo-2 Success Could Fuel NASA’s Lunar Initiative
“I’m very confident that we’ll continue to fund NASA and fund NASA aggressively,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said shortly after SpaceX's Demo-2 mission successfully docked with the International Space Station.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 08, 2020
NASA Finalizes Initial Gateway Habitation Contract
The design concept for the habitation and logistics elements of the lunar-orbiting Gateway that  NASA is pursuing under a $187 million contract with Northrop Grumman has a significant heritage in the evolving Cygnus resupply mission spacecraft that have so far launched and berthed successfully to the International Space Station 13 times since September 2013.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 03, 2020
Astroscale U.S. Plans Docked Life-Extension Services For GEO Satellites
The U.S. arm of Japanese satellite servicing startup Astroscale is expanding into geostationary orbit by acquiring the assets of Israeli company Effective Space Solutions.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 02, 2020
Space Station Crew Rings Bell to Open NASDAQ
“It’s truly a critical moment in the development of the space economy and a new era of private human spaceflight,” NASDAQ’s president and CEO said just before the astronauts rang the bell in the station’s U.S. segment.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 01, 2020
Hurley, Behnken Praise Demo-2 Launch Experience
“Things worked exactly the way we expected them to work," Demo-2 astronaut Doug Hurley said. " It’s a pretty awe-inspiring trip so far, pretty humbling,”
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 01, 2020
Lawmakers: Demo-2 Success Could Fuel NASA’s Lunar Initiative
“I’m very confident that we’ll continue to fund NASA and fund NASA aggressively,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said shortly after SpaceX's Demo-2 mission successfully docked with the International Space Station.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 31, 2020
Astronauts Reach ISS In Another SpaceX First
SpaceX's first Dragon capsule to carry astronauts will remain docked for up to four months at the space station.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 30, 2020
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Astronauts, Kicking Off Key Flight Test
The 3:22 p.m. liftoff marked SpaceX’s first launch with people aboard and the first U.S. human orbital launch since the final STS-135 shuttle mission in July 2011.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 29, 2020
Space Tourism: The Final (MRO) Frontier
As this new decade begins, 2020 is shaping up to be a groundbreaking year for the burgeoning space tourism industry. A report issued by UBS, the…
Aviation Week MRO