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 03, 2022
Iceye SAR Constellation Startup Raises $136M
Iceye, a Finnish Earth observation services provider with a blossoming constellation of synthetic aperture radar satellites, has landed a Series D round of venture capital worth at least $136 million, the company said Feb. 3.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 02, 2022
ISS Partners OK Axiom-1 Crew For Flight
The International Space Station (ISS) partnership gave its formal blessing for the four-member Axiom-1 (Ax-1) crew to visit the orbital outpost, with launch aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule now slated for March 30, a day earlier than previously planned. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 02, 2022
Astroscale Secures Funding For Rocket Deorbit Mission
Funds will be used to accelerate the first phase of the ADRAS-J active debris removal project with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 01, 2022
SpaceX Launches Fourth Of 52 Missions Planned In 2022
After waiting out poor weather and a wayward cruise ship in Florida, SpaceX on Jan. 31 launched the newest member of Italy’s synthetic aperture radar Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation network, completing the fourth of 52 missions SpaceX plans this year.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 31, 2022
JAXA, Sony Show Optical Internet Can Connect Satellites, UAVs
Under a joint project to create an optical internet service connecting low-orbiting satellites with high-flying unmanned aircraft, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Sony researchers have demonstrated high-speed, large-capacity communications in a low-quality, error-prone environment.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 03, 2022
Iceye SAR Constellation Startup Raises $136M
Iceye, a Finnish Earth observation services provider with a blossoming constellation of synthetic aperture radar satellites, has landed a Series D round of venture capital worth at least $136 million, the company said Feb. 3.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 02, 2022
ISS Partners OK Axiom-1 Crew For Flight
The International Space Station (ISS) partnership gave its formal blessing for the four-member Axiom-1 (Ax-1) crew to visit the orbital outpost, with launch aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule now slated for March 30, a day earlier than previously planned. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 02, 2022
Astroscale Secures Funding For Rocket Deorbit Mission
Funds will be used to accelerate the first phase of the ADRAS-J active debris removal project with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 01, 2022
SpaceX Launches Fourth Of 52 Missions Planned In 2022
After waiting out poor weather and a wayward cruise ship in Florida, SpaceX on Jan. 31 launched the newest member of Italy’s synthetic aperture radar Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation network, completing the fourth of 52 missions SpaceX plans this year.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 31, 2022
JAXA, Sony Show Optical Internet Can Connect Satellites, UAVs
Under a joint project to create an optical internet service connecting low-orbiting satellites with high-flying unmanned aircraft, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Sony researchers have demonstrated high-speed, large-capacity communications in a low-quality, error-prone environment.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 31, 2022
Masten Advances Power System For Lunar Night Survival
Masten Space Systems is touting progress with its Nighttime Integrated Thermal and Electricity system, designed as a low-cost/low-mass method for keeping electronics and payloads on commercial lunar landers alive during nights on the Moon.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 28, 2022
Mnuchin Stake Still Leaves Tough Start For Satellogic SPAC
Twelve-year-old Satellogic, an Earth observation satellite systems and analytics company, became publicly traded in late January after the reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), as well as an 11th-hour investment boost via former Trump administration Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 28, 2022
Roscosmos To Test New Rockets, Spaceship In 2023
Roscosmos plans to start testing the new Angara A5M and Soyuz-5 rockets as well as the Oryol spaceship, all of which are intended to replace legacy Soviet hardware still in operation.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report