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

Sep 17, 2020
Rocket Lab Conducts Wet Dress Rehearsal Ahead Of U.S. Debut
After 14 launches from New Zealand, Rocket Lab is close to staging its first Electron mission from U.S. soil, with the completion of a wet dress rehearsal at its new Wallops Island launch site, one of the final preflight milestones. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 16, 2020
NASA Mini-Probes Lose Ride To Mars
NASA is removing a planned secondary payload from the August 2022 launch of its Psyche asteroid probe, leaving a pair of small satellites without a piggyback ride to Mars. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 16, 2020
FAA Moves To ‘Covariance’ To Assess Launch Collision Risk
The FAA’s plan to amend the collision-avoidance methodology it uses in licensing commercial space launches will support safer operations with more flexible launch windows as space at low Earth orbit becomes increasingly congested, the agency says.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 16, 2020
Nanoracks Preps For ISS Commercial Landmark
Working with Nanoracks, LLC, NASA is about to mark a milestone in its push to transition oversight of human scientific research and tech development in low Earth orbit to the private sector as it sets its sights on the Moon and Mars.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 14, 2020
FAA’s Commercial Space Office Experiences Busiest Year
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FAA is busier than it has ever been licensing commercial space launches, officials said Sept. 14.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 17, 2020
Rocket Lab Conducts Wet Dress Rehearsal Ahead Of U.S. Debut
After 14 launches from New Zealand, Rocket Lab is close to staging its first Electron mission from U.S. soil, with the completion of a wet dress rehearsal at its new Wallops Island launch site, one of the final preflight milestones. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 16, 2020
NASA Mini-Probes Lose Ride To Mars
NASA is removing a planned secondary payload from the August 2022 launch of its Psyche asteroid probe, leaving a pair of small satellites without a piggyback ride to Mars. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 16, 2020
FAA Moves To ‘Covariance’ To Assess Launch Collision Risk
The FAA’s plan to amend the collision-avoidance methodology it uses in licensing commercial space launches will support safer operations with more flexible launch windows as space at low Earth orbit becomes increasingly congested, the agency says.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 16, 2020
Nanoracks Preps For ISS Commercial Landmark
Working with Nanoracks, LLC, NASA is about to mark a milestone in its push to transition oversight of human scientific research and tech development in low Earth orbit to the private sector as it sets its sights on the Moon and Mars.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 14, 2020
FAA’s Commercial Space Office Experiences Busiest Year
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FAA is busier than it has ever been licensing commercial space launches, officials said Sept. 14.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 10, 2020
Northrop Cancels Omega Rocket
After repeated attempts to sell a solid-propellant, heavy-lift space launcher to the U.S. national security community, Northrop Grumman is discontinuing work on its Omega rocket, the company said Sept. 10.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 09, 2020
Hong Kong To Implement Space-Based ADS-B
The air navigation service provider of Hong Kong will introduce satellite-based surveillance of aircraft in its flight information region beginning early next year, data provider Aireon announced Sept. 9.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Sep 09, 2020
NASA Preps For More Commercial Lunar Missions
NASA is turning to its Commercial Lunar Payload Services providers to bid on the delivery of 10 science investigations and technology demonstrations to a nonpolar region of the Moon in 2022.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report