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

Jul 19, 2021
Blue Origin Clears New Shepard For First Crewed Flight
Jeff Bezos and three other passengers are set to launch on the company’s first human mission on July 20.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jul 15, 2021
Teenager Joins Bezos Flight Crew
An 18-year-old student on a gap year before college will join Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos and aviation pioneer Wally Funk on Blue Origin’s first human spaceflight, slated to launch on July 20, the company said on July 15.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jul 11, 2021
Virgin Galactic Flies Branson, Crew To Suborbital Space
SpaceShipTwo Unity glided to a landing at 9:32 am on July 11 after successfully providing a six-member crew, including Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, a few minutes of weightlessness in space.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jul 06, 2021
NASA Explores Future Commercial Lunar Transportation
NASA is moving ahead with efforts to engage the U.S. private sector in a competition to develop and provide sustained commercial Lunar Exploration Transportation Services.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 30, 2021
Virgin Orbit Debuts LauncherOne Commercial Service
Virgin Orbit delivered seven satellites into orbit on June 30, including cubesats for the U.S. Defense Department’s Rapid Agile Launch Initiative (RALI), a Polish-based startup planning to sell optical imagery to agricultural and energy customers and the first military satellite for the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jul 19, 2021
Blue Origin Clears New Shepard For First Crewed Flight
Jeff Bezos and three other passengers are set to launch on the company’s first human mission on July 20.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jul 15, 2021
Teenager Joins Bezos Flight Crew
An 18-year-old student on a gap year before college will join Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos and aviation pioneer Wally Funk on Blue Origin’s first human spaceflight, slated to launch on July 20, the company said on July 15.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jul 11, 2021
Virgin Galactic Flies Branson, Crew To Suborbital Space
SpaceShipTwo Unity glided to a landing at 9:32 am on July 11 after successfully providing a six-member crew, including Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, a few minutes of weightlessness in space.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jul 06, 2021
NASA Explores Future Commercial Lunar Transportation
NASA is moving ahead with efforts to engage the U.S. private sector in a competition to develop and provide sustained commercial Lunar Exploration Transportation Services.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 30, 2021
Virgin Orbit Debuts LauncherOne Commercial Service
Virgin Orbit delivered seven satellites into orbit on June 30, including cubesats for the U.S. Defense Department’s Rapid Agile Launch Initiative (RALI), a Polish-based startup planning to sell optical imagery to agricultural and energy customers and the first military satellite for the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 25, 2021
SpaceX Sets New Date For Transporter-2 Launch
SpaceX has delayed its Transporter-2 mission to allow for more prelaunch checkouts, the company announced on Twitter.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 24, 2021
Estes Industries Launches Into Large Rocket Sector With Spinoff
Estes Industries, famous among model rocket enthusiasts for the company’s solid propellant motors, has spun off a new company sporting lineage to Aurora Flight Sciences that aims to provide engineering support for larger launchers.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 21, 2021
U.S. ExIm Bank Backs SpaceX Launch In First Satellite Deal In Six Years
The U.S. Export-Import Bank on June 21 reported its first satellite-related export financing deal since 2015, backing SpaceX’s expected launch of Hispasat’s planned Amazonas Nexus satellite so that rival Arianespace did not win the business with European export credit agency support.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report