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 15, 2022
OneWeb, Stellar Blu Claim LEO Broadband Test Flight Success
Two companies aiming to improve inflight connectivity have carried out what they describe as the successful delivery of high-speed, low-latency inflight connectivity from a low-Earth-orbit satellite to a commercial airliner.
Aviation Daily
Jun 15, 2022
NRO EOCL Award To Planet Worth An Initial $146M
The contract from the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office practically doubles the remote-sensing upstart’s backlog.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 14, 2022
Space Flight Laboratory Uses ‘Drag Sail’ Tech To Deorbit Nanosat
The Space Flight Laboratory deorbited its CanX-7 demonstration nanosatellite using four drag sails in April, five years after the sails were deployed and significantly sooner than it would have deorbited naturally.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 13, 2022
SpaceX Spared New Environmental Assessment For Boca Chica Ops
SpaceX has some more work to do before it will receive U.S. clearance to launch Starship on an orbital flight test from Boca Chica Beach, Texas, the FAA has determined in its long-awaited study assessing the program’s environmental impacts.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 13, 2022
NASA Hurricane-Tracking Cubesats Lost In Launch Accident
NASA’s gamble on a startup launch company to deliver a pair of novel hurricane-probing cubesats into orbit got off to a rough start on June 12 after the upper stage of an Astra 3.3 rocket shut down early, dooming the first two members of the agency’s Tropics constellation.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 15, 2022
OneWeb, Stellar Blu Claim LEO Broadband Test Flight Success
Two companies aiming to improve inflight connectivity have carried out what they describe as the successful delivery of high-speed, low-latency inflight connectivity from a low-Earth-orbit satellite to a commercial airliner.
Aviation Daily
Jun 15, 2022
NRO EOCL Award To Planet Worth An Initial $146M
The contract from the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office practically doubles the remote-sensing upstart’s backlog.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 14, 2022
Space Flight Laboratory Uses ‘Drag Sail’ Tech To Deorbit Nanosat
The Space Flight Laboratory deorbited its CanX-7 demonstration nanosatellite using four drag sails in April, five years after the sails were deployed and significantly sooner than it would have deorbited naturally.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 13, 2022
SpaceX Spared New Environmental Assessment For Boca Chica Ops
SpaceX has some more work to do before it will receive U.S. clearance to launch Starship on an orbital flight test from Boca Chica Beach, Texas, the FAA has determined in its long-awaited study assessing the program’s environmental impacts.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 13, 2022
NASA Hurricane-Tracking Cubesats Lost In Launch Accident
NASA’s gamble on a startup launch company to deliver a pair of novel hurricane-probing cubesats into orbit got off to a rough start on June 12 after the upper stage of an Astra 3.3 rocket shut down early, dooming the first two members of the agency’s Tropics constellation.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 13, 2022
Lockheed Adds Inovor For JP9102 Australian Military Satellite Bid
Lockheed Martin has added Australian small satellite-maker Inovor Technologies under the so-called Hosted Missions Program for the JP9102 military satellite project.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 12, 2022
Russia Agrees To Station Crew Seat Exchange
The Russian government has cleared state-owned Roscosmos to sign a long-delayed agreement with NASA for cosmonauts to fly on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsules in exchange for astronauts joining Russian Soyuz crews. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 02, 2022
Ursa Major Offering New Arroway Rocket Engine
Startup propulsion company Ursa Major announced June 2 that it is offering a 200,000 lb. thrust liquid oxygen and methane staged-combustion rocket engine called Arroway.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report