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

Jun 22, 2020
Congress Pushes SDA To Reinsert Commercial Services In Future Space Layer
The Space Development Agency must submit a detailed plan to use commercial satellites as a service in the future National Defense Space Architecture, a panel of lawmakers say. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 22, 2020
Virgin Galactic To Train Private Astronauts For ISS
Under a Space Act Agreement with NASA, space company Virgin Galactic is to develop a training program for private astronaut missions to the International Space Station.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 22, 2020
Startup Eyes Edge-Of-Space Commercial Balloon Flight
Startup Space Perspective is looking to early 2021 to begin test flights of a high-altitude balloon with a pressurized capsule from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), with an eye toward carrying commercial passengers and research payloads.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 19, 2020
China Achieves Quantum Key Distribution By Satellite
Chinese scientists have taken a large step toward a theoretically secure communication technology, demonstrating quantum key distribution (QKD) between ground stations via a satellite.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 18, 2020
Bridenstine: Lueders Improves Odds Of Astronauts Reaching Moon In ’24
With the support of a newly appointed associate administrator, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has expressed confidence that his agency can achieve an accelerated return to the Moon’s surface with human explorers by 2024.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 22, 2020
Congress Pushes SDA To Reinsert Commercial Services In Future Space Layer
The Space Development Agency must submit a detailed plan to use commercial satellites as a service in the future National Defense Space Architecture, a panel of lawmakers say. 
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 22, 2020
Virgin Galactic To Train Private Astronauts For ISS
Under a Space Act Agreement with NASA, space company Virgin Galactic is to develop a training program for private astronaut missions to the International Space Station.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 22, 2020
Startup Eyes Edge-Of-Space Commercial Balloon Flight
Startup Space Perspective is looking to early 2021 to begin test flights of a high-altitude balloon with a pressurized capsule from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), with an eye toward carrying commercial passengers and research payloads.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 19, 2020
China Achieves Quantum Key Distribution By Satellite
Chinese scientists have taken a large step toward a theoretically secure communication technology, demonstrating quantum key distribution (QKD) between ground stations via a satellite.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 18, 2020
Bridenstine: Lueders Improves Odds Of Astronauts Reaching Moon In ’24
With the support of a newly appointed associate administrator, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has expressed confidence that his agency can achieve an accelerated return to the Moon’s surface with human explorers by 2024.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 17, 2020
Airbus Forms Consortium For Skynet Satellite Network Tender
Airbus is to lead a consortium to secure a tender to run the UK’s military satellite communications network.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 16, 2020
Kratos Bulks Up To Be Second Major Satellite Antenna Provider
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions will acquire CPI ASC Signal Division from Communications & Power Industries for $35 million in cash, in a deal that further guarantees the U.S. government at least two major providers of key satellite communications technology.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Jun 15, 2020
Blue Canyon To Build LEO Buses For DARPA’s Blackjack Demo
DARPA has awarded Blue Canyon Technologies a $14.2 million contract to provide commercial satellite buses for the Blackjack program to demonstrate a military constellation of autonomous satellites in low Earth orbit connected by a high-speed network.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report