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

May 25, 2023
Virgin Galactic Returns To Suborbital Space
After a nearly two-year hiatus, Virgin Galactic returned its SpaceShipTwo passenger vehicle into suborbital space on May 25.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 24, 2023
Space Robotics Startup Gitai Raises $29 Million With Eye Toward Moon
Tokyo-based Gitai, a startup developing several space robots, has raised about ¥4 billion ($29 million) in funding as part of a Series B extension round.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 24, 2023
Virgin Orbit To Close After Assets Divided Among Four Bankruptcy Bidders
Virgin Orbit will close after its assets were bought by four bankruptcy bidders including Rocket Lab and Stratolaunch.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 23, 2023
Ispace Lunar Lander Debris Spotted On Moon’s Surface
NASA’s LROC has captured what appears to be images of debris scattered on the Moon at the planned landing site of ispace’s lunar lander, which crashed in April.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 22, 2023
ULA Vulcan Rocket Heads Back To Launchpad
ULA returned its first Vulcan rocket to the launchpad on May 22 in preparation for a static test firing of the booster’s dual BE-4 main engines.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 25, 2023
Virgin Galactic Returns To Suborbital Space
After a nearly two-year hiatus, Virgin Galactic returned its SpaceShipTwo passenger vehicle into suborbital space on May 25.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 24, 2023
Space Robotics Startup Gitai Raises $29 Million With Eye Toward Moon
Tokyo-based Gitai, a startup developing several space robots, has raised about ¥4 billion ($29 million) in funding as part of a Series B extension round.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 24, 2023
Virgin Orbit To Close After Assets Divided Among Four Bankruptcy Bidders
Virgin Orbit will close after its assets were bought by four bankruptcy bidders including Rocket Lab and Stratolaunch.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 23, 2023
Ispace Lunar Lander Debris Spotted On Moon’s Surface
NASA’s LROC has captured what appears to be images of debris scattered on the Moon at the planned landing site of ispace’s lunar lander, which crashed in April.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 22, 2023
ULA Vulcan Rocket Heads Back To Launchpad
ULA returned its first Vulcan rocket to the launchpad on May 22 in preparation for a static test firing of the booster’s dual BE-4 main engines.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 19, 2023
SWISSto12 To Build 3 Geostationary Comm Satellites For Inmarsat
SWISSto12 has received a contract to build three small geostationary communications satellites for Inmarsat.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 18, 2023
ULA Rules Out Test Rig As Source Of Centaur V Leak
A hydrogen leak during qualification testing of a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket upper stage was not due to a problem with the test stand.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
May 17, 2023
Cybersecurity SPAC Arqit To Sell Satellite Business
Cybersecurity startup Arqit Quantum said May 17 it will sell its satellite business once touted as a new-space partnership with now-bankrupt Virgin Orbit.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report