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

Feb 17, 2022
Firefly Aerospace Co-founder Exits Company Under Pressure
Max Polyakov, a Ukrainian co-founder of launch company Firefly Aerospace, said he handed off his majority stake in the startup to co-founder and CEO Tom Markusik under pressure from U.S. officials.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 17, 2022
SpaceLink, Axiom Space To Demo Optical Communications Relay
SpaceLink, of McLean, Virginia, has selected Houston-based commercial space station developer Axiom Space to demonstrate an end-to-end optical communications relay service for the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, which manages the U.S. National Laboratory elements of the International Space Station.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 17, 2022
Orbital Sidekick Validates Hyperspectral Upgrades On Aurora
Orbital Sidekick has validated an upgrade to its existing hyperspectral satellite sensors and is announcing an investment by national security startup seed funder In-Q-Tel.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 17, 2022
SpaceX, Isaacman Sign Deal For Up To Three More Private Charters
The kickoff mission, slated for late 2022, includes first-ever civilian spacewalk.
Aviation Week & Space Technology
Feb 17, 2022
SpaceX Loses 80% Of Newest Starlink Satellites
After a successful launch and deployment came a satellite-killing solar storm.
Aviation Week & Space Technology
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
Nov 16, 2020
SpaceX Falcon 9 Lifts Off On First ISS Crew Ferry Flight
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 15, sending a Crew Dragon spacecraft with four astronauts on its way to the International Space Station, the first U.S. government-certified flight of a commercially developed crewed orbital transportation system.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 13, 2020
Crew-1 Launch Slips To Nov. 15
NASA and SpaceX are delaying the launch of the resident crew ferry flight to the International Space Station by one day due to expected high winds at the launch site and poor weather for booster recovery at sea.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 13, 2020
Elon Musk Receives Conflicting COVID-19 Test Results
SpaceX Founder, CEO and Chief Engineer Elon Musk has received two positive and two negative test results for COVID-19, he said on Twitter Nov. 13.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report