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 10, 2020
Launch Service Operators See Diversifying Market
Ride-share schemes for small satellites are here to stay and, along with constellations and geostationary spacecraft, will contribute to solid activity in the near term, senior executives of launch service operators say.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 09, 2020
NASA Teams With 17 Companies For Space Technology Advances
Working through unfunded Space Act Agreements with 17 U.S. companies, NASA has selected 20 space technologies it intends to help advance to enable future activities at destinations spanning from low Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 09, 2020
Arecibo Observatory Dealing With New Cable Damage
The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has experienced another cable break, this one to a main cable which gave way late Nov. 6.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 08, 2020
NASA Chief Plans To Step Aside Under Biden
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tells Aerospace DAILY the new administration will need "somebody they know and trust."
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 06, 2020
Virgin Galactic Targets Late November New Mexico Spaceflight
LOS ANGELES—After a prolonged test preparation campaign, Virgin Galactic aims to conduct the first SpaceShipTwo (SS2) suborbital spaceflight attempt…
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 10, 2020
Launch Service Operators See Diversifying Market
Ride-share schemes for small satellites are here to stay and, along with constellations and geostationary spacecraft, will contribute to solid activity in the near term, senior executives of launch service operators say.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 09, 2020
NASA Teams With 17 Companies For Space Technology Advances
Working through unfunded Space Act Agreements with 17 U.S. companies, NASA has selected 20 space technologies it intends to help advance to enable future activities at destinations spanning from low Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 09, 2020
Arecibo Observatory Dealing With New Cable Damage
The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has experienced another cable break, this one to a main cable which gave way late Nov. 6.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 08, 2020
NASA Chief Plans To Step Aside Under Biden
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tells Aerospace DAILY the new administration will need "somebody they know and trust."
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 06, 2020
Virgin Galactic Targets Late November New Mexico Spaceflight
LOS ANGELES—After a prolonged test preparation campaign, Virgin Galactic aims to conduct the first SpaceShipTwo (SS2) suborbital spaceflight attempt…
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Nov 05, 2020
Rocket Lab To Attempt First-Stage Recovery On Next Mission
Rocket Lab is moving closer to potential reuse of its Electron small satellite launch vehicle, with plans to attempt a parachute recovery of the first stage as part of its next mission, the company said on Nov. 5.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Oct 29, 2020
AE Industrial Adds New-Space Startup Roccor To Portfolio
AE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm with an aerospace and defense focus, is growing its military space business with a new acquisition that serves the Pentagon’s desire to tap into small-form, new-space developments.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Oct 29, 2020
NASA Crowdsource Seeks Proposals For Offloading Payloads At Moon
NASA’s Tournament Lab, working with social media crowdsourcing platform HeroX, is reaching out for proposals to offload a range of payload types at the Moon in support of the bold vision of developing a sustained human lunar presence this decade.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report