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

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 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
Nov 12, 2020
FAA, Aireon Sign Space-Based Surveillance Agreement
Aireon on Nov. 12 announced an agreement with the FAA allowing the agency access to its satellite-routed aircraft surveillance data to evaluate different air traffic control applications.
Aviation Daily
Nov 11, 2020
Raytheon Buys Cubesat Pioneer Blue Canyon For $350M
Raytheon Technologies has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Blue Canyon Technologies, a pioneering provider of small satellites and spacecraft systems components, for about $350 million.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report