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

Mar 04, 2021
Starship Flies, Soft Lands, Then Explodes
SpaceX’s March 3 high-altitude test of a full-scale Starship prototype managed a soft landing—unlike two previous test vehicles—but then exploded 3 min. after touching down at the company’s facility in Boca Chica Beach, Texas.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 03, 2021
TAS, ESA Sign Second-Generation Galileo Satellite Contract
Thales Alenia Space (TAS) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed the expected contract for six satellites in the second generation of the EU’s Galileo navigation constellation, after the Court of Justice of the European Union lifted a suspension.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 03, 2021
Venus Aerospace To Pursue Hypersonic Air Passenger Travel
Startup Venus Aerospace plans to proceed with the development, testing and production of a small hypersonic aircraft capable of  transporting a dozen passengers or time-critical payloads between major continental destinations in an hour.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 01, 2021
NavSight SPAC Chooses To Buy Spire Global Sat-based Analysis Provider
Spire Global, a Luxembourg-registered nanosatellite operator for cloud-enabled data analytics, will become a publicly traded company after a reverse-merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that has been hunting for aerospace and defense targets, NavSight Holdings.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 01, 2021
Rocket Lab To Go Public In SPAC Deal, Reveals Larger Launcher
Rocket Lab will become a publicly traded company with $750 million in cash to develop a new medium-lift launcher, grow its end-to-end space business including through acquisitions, and continue to target U.S. government customers.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 04, 2021
Starship Flies, Soft Lands, Then Explodes
SpaceX’s March 3 high-altitude test of a full-scale Starship prototype managed a soft landing—unlike two previous test vehicles—but then exploded 3 min. after touching down at the company’s facility in Boca Chica Beach, Texas.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 03, 2021
TAS, ESA Sign Second-Generation Galileo Satellite Contract
Thales Alenia Space (TAS) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed the expected contract for six satellites in the second generation of the EU’s Galileo navigation constellation, after the Court of Justice of the European Union lifted a suspension.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 03, 2021
Venus Aerospace To Pursue Hypersonic Air Passenger Travel
Startup Venus Aerospace plans to proceed with the development, testing and production of a small hypersonic aircraft capable of  transporting a dozen passengers or time-critical payloads between major continental destinations in an hour.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 01, 2021
NavSight SPAC Chooses To Buy Spire Global Sat-based Analysis Provider
Spire Global, a Luxembourg-registered nanosatellite operator for cloud-enabled data analytics, will become a publicly traded company after a reverse-merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that has been hunting for aerospace and defense targets, NavSight Holdings.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Mar 01, 2021
Rocket Lab To Go Public In SPAC Deal, Reveals Larger Launcher
Rocket Lab will become a publicly traded company with $750 million in cash to develop a new medium-lift launcher, grow its end-to-end space business including through acquisitions, and continue to target U.S. government customers.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 26, 2021
SpaceShipTwo Flight Tests On Hold To Fix EMI Issue
Virgin Galactic does not expect to resume flight tests of its suborbital passenger vehicle until May due to potential electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues from a new flight control computer, CEO Michael Colglazier said during a Feb. 25 call with investors.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 25, 2021
Japanese Team Demonstrates GPS Navigation In GEO
With growing activity in cislunar space and lunar orbit, there is growing interest in using the weak and intermittent signals that are available from existing GNSS constellations for positioning and timing. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Feb 25, 2021
Blue Origin Eyes Q4 ’22 Debut For New Glenn
Blue Origin is targeting the fourth quarter of 2022 for the first flight of its reusable orbital New Glenn launch system, a delay of about one year, the company said on Feb. 25.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report