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

Aug 31, 2020
SpaceX Reopens Polar Launch Corridor From Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral AFS on Aug. 30, sending an Argentine remote sensing satellite into a polar orbit, a flightpath from Florida that had not been used since 1969. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 31, 2020
Rocket Lab Returns To Flight
Rocket Lab’s Electron small satellite launcher returned to flight on Aug. 30, sending a 220-lb. (100-kg) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite into orbit for Capella Space, a San Francisco-based information services company.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 21, 2020
Report Favors Commerce Office To Lead Space Traffic Management
The report calls on Congress to “enact, without delay, appropriations and any required authorities" for the Office of Space Commerce "to build this critical capability with requisite personnel, office infrastructure and authorities.”
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 20, 2020
Officials Back Establishing Space Mining Rules Of The Road
Resources like the vast quantities of water ice believed to reside within shadowed craters at the Moon’s south and north poles promise to reduce the costs of initial exploration substantially.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 18, 2020
Angara A5 Rocket Modules Transported To Plesetsk Spaceport
Universal rocket modules for the Angara A5 heavy launch vehicle have been sent by train to the Plesetsk military spaceport in preparation for the rocket family's first liftoff since 2014.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 31, 2020
SpaceX Reopens Polar Launch Corridor From Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral AFS on Aug. 30, sending an Argentine remote sensing satellite into a polar orbit, a flightpath from Florida that had not been used since 1969. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 31, 2020
Rocket Lab Returns To Flight
Rocket Lab’s Electron small satellite launcher returned to flight on Aug. 30, sending a 220-lb. (100-kg) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite into orbit for Capella Space, a San Francisco-based information services company.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 21, 2020
Report Favors Commerce Office To Lead Space Traffic Management
The report calls on Congress to “enact, without delay, appropriations and any required authorities" for the Office of Space Commerce "to build this critical capability with requisite personnel, office infrastructure and authorities.”
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 20, 2020
Officials Back Establishing Space Mining Rules Of The Road
Resources like the vast quantities of water ice believed to reside within shadowed craters at the Moon’s south and north poles promise to reduce the costs of initial exploration substantially.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 18, 2020
Angara A5 Rocket Modules Transported To Plesetsk Spaceport
Universal rocket modules for the Angara A5 heavy launch vehicle have been sent by train to the Plesetsk military spaceport in preparation for the rocket family's first liftoff since 2014.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 18, 2020
Record-Setting SpaceX Falcon 9 Boosts Starlink, SkySat Satellites
The mission set a SpaceX record for reuse of a Falcon 9 first stage.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 17, 2020
First SpaceX Operational Space Station Crew Launch Slips
Following their successful Demo-2 test flight, NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Oct. 23 for the first operational commercial launch of astronauts to the International Space Station.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 16, 2020
After Delays, Ariane 5 Launches Three Satellites
An Ariane 5 rocket carrying the second Northrop Grumman Mission Extension Vehicle along with U.S. and Japanese telecommunications satellites successfully lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana, late Aug. 15.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report