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

Jan 19, 2022
Radian Aerospace Unveils Reusable Spaceplane Idea, Seed Funding
Radian Aerospace has unveiled plans for “the world’s first fully reusable horizontal takeoff and landing, single-stage to orbit spaceplane” for sending passengers and cargo to low Earth orbit.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 19, 2022
HySpecIQ Looks To First Satellite Launch In 2023
Satellite-powered hyperspectral imagery and analytics startup HySpecIQ is aiming to raise more funds and grow its small staff ahead of an expected September 2023 launch of its first of 12 orbital assets.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 18, 2022
Airbus Studies HAPS Internet Applications With Japanese Telcos
Airbus has begun partnering with Japanese communication providers to study the feasibility of deploying wireless communication networks on high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) such as the company’s Zephyr. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 17, 2022
Stratolaunch’s Roc Completes Third Flight Test
The six-engine behemoth now faces an intense flight campaign through the rest of this year as the focus begins to switch from envelope expansion to preparations for payload tests.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 14, 2022
Small Houston Firm Prepping For Lunar O2, Metal Extraction Demo
As its name suggests, Lunar Resources, Inc. is all about pioneering off-Earth manufacturing through lunar resource extraction and in-situ utilization.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 19, 2022
Radian Aerospace Unveils Reusable Spaceplane Idea, Seed Funding
Radian Aerospace has unveiled plans for “the world’s first fully reusable horizontal takeoff and landing, single-stage to orbit spaceplane” for sending passengers and cargo to low Earth orbit.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 19, 2022
HySpecIQ Looks To First Satellite Launch In 2023
Satellite-powered hyperspectral imagery and analytics startup HySpecIQ is aiming to raise more funds and grow its small staff ahead of an expected September 2023 launch of its first of 12 orbital assets.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 18, 2022
Airbus Studies HAPS Internet Applications With Japanese Telcos
Airbus has begun partnering with Japanese communication providers to study the feasibility of deploying wireless communication networks on high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) such as the company’s Zephyr. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 17, 2022
Stratolaunch’s Roc Completes Third Flight Test
The six-engine behemoth now faces an intense flight campaign through the rest of this year as the focus begins to switch from envelope expansion to preparations for payload tests.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 14, 2022
Small Houston Firm Prepping For Lunar O2, Metal Extraction Demo
As its name suggests, Lunar Resources, Inc. is all about pioneering off-Earth manufacturing through lunar resource extraction and in-situ utilization.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 14, 2022
Virgin Orbit Kicks Off 2022 Launch Manifest
Hours after SpaceX delivered a batch of satellites into polar orbits from Florida—previously an exclusive West Coast route—Virgin Orbit pulled off the reverse feat: deploying its customers’ spacecraft into 45-deg. inclination orbits from the California-launched LauncherOne rocket.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 13, 2022
SpaceX Delivers 105 Satellites On Falcon 9 Rideshare
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Jan. 13 to deliver 105 satellites into a near-polar Sun-synchronous orbits, successfully completing its third discounted rideshare flight.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jan 13, 2022
​​​​​​​Virgin Galactic Issues Debt To Raise Up To $500M, Stock Plummets
Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company that helped sweep in the current era of startup space companies quickly going public, shocked investors Jan. 13 with news it will raise as much as $500 million by issuing new debt.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report