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 07, 2020
SpaceX Resumes Starlink Deployments
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Aug. 7 carrying 57 new Starlink broadband satellites—all outfitted with visors to cut Sun glint that interferes with astronomical observations—and two BlackSky Global imaging satellites.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 05, 2020
Parties Announce Agreement For Vandenberg AFB Spaceport
The U.S. Space Force’s 30th Space Wing and entities in California have entered into an agreement to develop a spaceport and boost commercial launch activity at Vandenberg AFB on the state’s Pacific coast.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 05, 2020
SES Signs Launch Contracts With SpaceX, ULA
SpaceX will fly a pair of SES’s new satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket in 2022, with an option for a second flight for an undisclosed third satellite. ULA will launch another two SES spacecraft on an Atlas V, also in 2022, SES announced.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 05, 2020
SpaceX Prototype Starship Survives Low-Altitude Hop
A prototype Mars-class reusable spaceship developed by SpaceX took a nearly 500-ft (150 m) hop off a launch stand near Brownsville, Texas, on Aug. 4, marking the company’s first successful Starship test flight in a year. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 04, 2020
Demo-2 Crew Cheers Public/Private Spaceflight Achievement
Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken praised the NASA/SpaceX team behind their test flight and expressed hope the public/private partnership continues to thrive.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 07, 2020
SpaceX Resumes Starlink Deployments
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Aug. 7 carrying 57 new Starlink broadband satellites—all outfitted with visors to cut Sun glint that interferes with astronomical observations—and two BlackSky Global imaging satellites.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 05, 2020
Parties Announce Agreement For Vandenberg AFB Spaceport
The U.S. Space Force’s 30th Space Wing and entities in California have entered into an agreement to develop a spaceport and boost commercial launch activity at Vandenberg AFB on the state’s Pacific coast.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 05, 2020
SES Signs Launch Contracts With SpaceX, ULA
SpaceX will fly a pair of SES’s new satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket in 2022, with an option for a second flight for an undisclosed third satellite. ULA will launch another two SES spacecraft on an Atlas V, also in 2022, SES announced.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 05, 2020
SpaceX Prototype Starship Survives Low-Altitude Hop
A prototype Mars-class reusable spaceship developed by SpaceX took a nearly 500-ft (150 m) hop off a launch stand near Brownsville, Texas, on Aug. 4, marking the company’s first successful Starship test flight in a year. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 04, 2020
Demo-2 Crew Cheers Public/Private Spaceflight Achievement
Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken praised the NASA/SpaceX team behind their test flight and expressed hope the public/private partnership continues to thrive.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 04, 2020
Next Virgin Orbit Flight Test To Carry NASA CubeSats
As it incorporates lessons learned from the abbreviated debut flight of its LauncherOne small satellite rocket, Virgin Orbit said Aug. 3 it is planning for a second demonstration mission before year’s end, with NASA agreeing to use the launch to put 11 experimental cubesats into orbit.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 03, 2020
Small Satellite Launch Startup ABL Eyes Demos
Small satellite launcher ABL Space Systems has disclosed around $90 million in new defense contracts plus investments from Lockheed Martin and venture capitalists, powering the startup through a three-launch demonstration of the RS1 launch vehicle and GS0 deployable launch system early next year, the company said Aug. 3.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Aug 01, 2020
Three-Satellite Ariane 5 Launch Scrubbed
Liftoff was scrubbed due to an out-of-limit sensor indication associated with the Ariane 5's first-stage liquid hydrogen propellant tank.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report