Investment

• Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems segment is expected to post a 24.3% year-over-year revenue decline in Q2 2025 due to reduced activity in restricted space programs, Commercial Resupply Services, and satellite work for the Space Development Agency. This underperformance contrasts with growth in other segments and may weigh on the company’s overall results.

• NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab is reportedly attempting to sell off several Earth science satellites (some already launched, others like GLIMR still awaiting deployment) amid deep budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration for FY2026. The move signals broader concerns over the future of NASA’s climate and environmental monitoring efforts, as JPL seeks government or private buyers to salvage programs previously targeted for termination.

• Firefly Aerospace has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) and plans to list on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “FLY.” The Texas-based space and defense tech company has not yet disclosed the number of shares or price range but is moving toward public market entry with top-tier underwriters including Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan.

Partnerships

• Viasat, in collaboration with SSTL and MDA Space, is leading UK efforts on ESA’s Moonlight program to develop a lunar communications satellite system, aiming for initial capability by 2028. The system will serve as a “data highway” between Earth and the Moon, enabling future lunar exploration, space tourism, and industrial activity, while positioning the UK as a key player in the emerging lunar economy.

• Australia’s Defence Department has partnered with Optus and leading universities to co-develop a LEO satellite equipped with experimental communications and research payloads, aiming to strengthen sovereign space capabilities. Backed by $4 million in Defence funding and additional investment through the iLAuNCH Trailblazer program, the mission will advance optical and radio-frequency communications and is set to launch in 2028.

• Astroscale U.S. has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center to test its Refueler spacecraft’s rendezvous and docking capabilities ahead of refueling missions for U.S. DOD satellites in GEO. The partnership leverages GSFC’s advanced in-space servicing facilities to validate Astroscale’s RPOD technology in a high-fidelity environment.

Applications

• Expedition 73 astronauts aboard the ISS conducted a range of health and systems maintenance tasks, including heart scans, blood pressure monitoring, and wearable sensor tests to study microgravity’s effects on cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The crew also maintained critical life support and scientific equipment, while supporting plant biology and international collaboration experiments.

• ESA and UK-based Frazer-Nash have launched INVICTUS, a hypersonic flight research program aiming to develop a reusable, Mach 5-capable aerospace vehicle with horizontal launch capabilities. Backed by ESA and the UK Space Agency, the project will test air-breathing, hydrogen-fueled propulsion systems and advanced cooling tech like SABRE, with the goal of enabling future spaceplanes and dual-use mobility systems.

• Researchers have demonstrated a new in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technology that extracts water from lunar soil and uses it to convert CO₂ into oxygen and fuel precursors. While still in early stages, the integrated photothermal system could reduce the cost and logistical complexity of transporting water and fuel from Earth, making it a high-impact application for future commercial lunar infrastructure and deep space missions.

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• The U.S. Space Force has awarded Phase 2 contracts to CACI, General Atomics, and Viasat to develop laser communication terminal prototypes under its $100 million Enterprise Test Terminal (EST) program.
• The initiative seeks to build standardized, low-cost, low-power optical crosslink terminals for seamless data transmission among Department of Defense satellites, forming a core part of the military’s MILNET space mesh network.
• The EST prototypes will implement a common waveform enabling satellite-to-satellite communications, enhancing speed, resilience, and security across DoD space assets. Blue Origin, a Phase 1 participant, was not selected for Phase 2.

The U.S. Space Force has selected three contractors to move forward and develop prototypes of laser communication terminals in Phase II of its Enterprise Test Terminal Program.

Phase 2 contracts were awarded to CACI, General Atomics, and Viasat, while Blue Origin did not make the cut, according to the Space Systems Command (SSC), headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., awarded. The initiative, with a $100 million total value, aims to create standardized, low-cost optical communication systems that enable crosslink data transfer among Department of Defense (DoD) satellites.

“The EST prototypes are foundational elements to the future space data transport network that we are building,” according to USSF Lt. Col. Jeffrey Fry, MILNET Program Manager for SSC’s Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power Program Executive Office, adding in a statement he was pleased with the program’s progress. “The ESTs will implement a common waveform so all satellites carrying these terminals can talk to each other. This is important as the network of satellites carrying EST compatible terminals will provide diverse communication paths for data that is critical to our national security and our way of life.”

The EST program, managed under the Space Enterprise Consortium’s Other Transaction Authority (OTA), is intended to support development of low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) laser terminals compatible with a newly created enterprise waveform. This waveform, a kind of standardized data signal, will allow disparate satellite systems to communicate across orbits, including beyond low Earth orbit (bLEO).

All three contractors had previously completed Phase 1 of the EST program, which culminated in a Preliminary Design Review (PDR). According to SSC, the final selection was based on an evaluation of cost, timeline, and technical performance, with an emphasis on fostering innovation while controlling government spending.

By awarding multiple contracts in this second phase, the Space Force indicated it aims to preserve competition and support a broader industrial base in space communications. It also reflects a trend toward modular, interoperable systems, where different satellite platforms can share resources across a larger space mesh network.

That network is known as MILNET, a DoD initiative to establish a resilient space-based communications infrastructure. The EST program is seen as a cornerstone of this architecture, enabling flexible routing of data via multiple satellites rather than relying on fixed ground connections. This diversity in information pathways could enhance both the speed and security of defense communications.

The program builds on existing investments made by both the government and the commercial space sector, helping to operationalize prior research and experimental technologies. If successful, the EST program could help usher in a new era of military communications where satellites talk to one another as seamlessly as cellphones on a global network.

SSC, which manages a $15.6 billion annual budget, is responsible for the procurement and development of U.S. military space systems. It works closely with the Pentagon, academic institutions, allied governments, and industry to ensure U.S. strategic superiority in orbit.

• Viasat has introduced Air-IQ, a new connectivity solution that enhances intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance communications for government and military missions worldwide.
• Air-IQ will be available soon and is designed to meet the rigorous demands of crewed and uncrewed ISR missions. It promises faster, smarter, and more reliable ISR connectivity to bolster military situational awareness.
• The solution will support interoperability with sovereign networks. Operators can easily manage multiple aircraft across a fleet and switch networks as mission requirements change.

Viasat has introduced Air-IQ, a new connectivity solution that enhances intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) communications worldwide for government and military missions. Air-IQ promises faster, smarter, and more reliable ISR connectivity to bolster military situational awareness and enable quick, dependable battlefield decisions by offering real-time intelligence, reducing risk, and increasing mission success. This will ensure users have a 360-degree view of the battlefield, providing a critical advantage.

Air-IQ will be available soon and is designed to meet the rigorous demands of crewed and uncrewed ISR missions. It allows users to dynamically switch from low-throughput to high-throughput connectivity based on mission needs. This automated capability aims to optimize bandwidth and cost efficiency while delivering higher uplink speeds, prioritizing data transfer up to and above 10Mbps when required.

Air-IQ offers resilient multi-band connectivity across Ka-band (commercial and military), Ku-band, and L-band satellites, enabling users to access different services and switch frequencies as needed. This flexibility allows operations in congested areas and ensures seamless, reliable connectivity.

Todd McDonell, President of Viasat International Government, noted the goal of simplifying ISR connectivity to enhance situational awareness on the battlefield in the announcement. He emphasized that Air-IQ provides a robust, reliable, and flexible connectivity solution that adapts to mission needs on the fly.

The service will meet a wide range of customer needs and support interoperability with sovereign networks. Operators can easily manage multiple aircraft across a fleet and switch networks as mission requirements change. Viasat will maintain high service reliability with committed information rates and service level agreements.

Leveraging software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) applications, Air-IQ intelligently routes or splits traffic to the most suitable band and network, ensuring mission-critical data transport. This capability enhances warfighter operations and safety.

Viasat’s current and future satellites, including those anticipated to come into service within the next four years, will provide global coverage and greater capacity. This includes polar coverage in the Arctic region and addressing emerging government and ISR mission demands.

• The United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command has awarded contracts to Blue Origin, CACI International Inc., General Atomics, and Viasat to develop space laser communication terminal prototypes.
• These contracts represent the first phase of the $100 million Enterprise Space Terminal (EST) program.
• Space Systems Command continues to lead efforts in advancing space technology, managing a $15.6 billion budget dedicated to acquiring and delivering cutting-edge capabilities.

The United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded contracts to Blue Origin, CACI International Inc., General Atomics, and Viasat to develop space laser communication terminal prototypes. This marks the first phase of the $100 million Enterprise Space Terminal (EST) program, an initiative to enhance space communication infrastructure.

The EST program, part of SSC’s Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power Program, aims to create a standardized long-range space optical communication terminal. These terminals will enable crosslink compatibility among future space systems, supporting a resilient and diverse space mesh network.

The awarded contracts leverage prior investments by both the Department of Defense and commercial entities. The program will develop a new enterprise waveform that supports communication beyond low Earth orbit. John Kirkemo, senior materiel leader at SSC, noted the importance of these terminals, stating that they will enable diverse communication paths crucial for national security.

These contracts were awarded through the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC), an initiative designed to foster collaboration between military and commercial space sectors. Col. Bryon McClain, program executive officer for SSC Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power, highlighted SpEC’s role in driving innovation and reducing costs through competition.

Space Systems Command continues to lead efforts in advancing space technology, managing a $15.6 billion budget dedicated to acquiring and delivering cutting-edge capabilities. SSC hopes to accelerate innovation and ensure the U.S. maintains its strategic advantage in space by partnering with diverse commercial entities.

Image source: General Atomics

Of course there are the usual suspects of top, well known players in the state like SpaceX, Planet Labs, and Varda – though it should be noted that while SpaceX still operates and is headquartered in California, it moved its state of incorporation to Texas earlier this year. But it’s safe to say that there are many more California-based space entities that are making huge waves in the industry. Check out some of the space companies and investors who are propelling both the space tech ecosystem and the state of California forward below.

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Image credit: Space Impulse Market Intelligence Platform Map View

Space Companies in California

Anduril

Anduril is a defense technology company that specializes in developing cutting-edge products for national security applications. Headquartered in Irvine, the company has gained recognition for its innovative approach to solving complex challenges by developing advanced products and solutions that help detect, track, and intercept unmanned aircraft and drones. Anduril’s offerings include advanced surveillance systems, autonomous drones, and AI-powered software for data analysis and decision-making.

Space Impulse Market Intelligence Platform Quick Stats:

• Founded: 2017
• Total disclosed funding: $2,171,000,000 USD
• Latest funding date: February 20, 2024
• Primary classification: Space services
• Secondary classification: Space software
• Unique patents: Maritime vehicle systems and methods

Relativity Space

Relativity Space is a Long Beach-based pioneering aerospace manufacturer that is revolutionizing the way rockets are built. The company utilizes cutting-edge 3D printing technologies to produce entire rocket components, enabling faster and more cost-effective manufacturing processes. Relativity Space’s flagship product, the Terran R rocket, is designed for medium-to-heavy lift missions, catering to the growing demand for space infrastructure.

Space Impulse Market Intelligence Platform Quick Stats:

• Founded: 2016
• Total disclosed funding: $1,335,720,000 USD
• Latest funding date: February 03, 2022
• Primary classification: Launch Infrastructure
• Secondary classification: Launcher
• Unique patents: Smart node devices that provide an interface for multiple sensors and/or actuators

Viasat

Viasat, headquartered in Carlsbad, is a global communications company that provides high-speed satellite broadband services and secure networking systems. With a focus on delivering reliable connectivity solutions, Viasat has played a pivotal role in enabling internet access in remote and underserved areas by designing, developing, and manufacturing satellite systems, including spacecraft, ground stations, and antennas. The company’s satellite network and ground infrastructure support a wide range of applications, including residential, commercial, government, and military communications.

Space Impulse Market Intelligence Platform Quick Stats:

• Founded: 1986
• Market capitalization: $2.15 Billion USD
• Latest funding date: September 13, 2023
• Primary classification: Constellations
• Secondary classification: Space Communication
• Unique patents: Viasat has hundreds of patents including methods, systems, and devices for mobile satellite beam deconfliction. Explore the company’s many other patents on the SIMI Platform.

Influential Space Investors in California

Airbus Ventures

Airbus Ventures is the venture capital arm of Airbus, a leading global aerospace company. Based in Menlo Park, Airbus Ventures invests in startups and emerging technologies across a range of developmental stages, including seed-stage, early-stage, later-stage, and growth-stage companies. The firm’s investment interests span several sectors, encompassing autonomy, connectivity, electrification, industrial efficiency, materials, new space, and security.

Space Impulse Market Intelligence Platform Quick Stats:

• Managing partner: Thomas d’Halluin
• Founded: 2016
• Type: Corporate VC
• Portfolio companies include: Solestial, LeoLabs, Hawkeye 360

Founders Fund

Founders Fund is a leading venture capital firm based in San Francisco, known for its investments in disruptive technologies and ambitious startups. The firm has backed several space tech companies, recognizing the potential for innovation and growth in the space sector. Founders Fund’s portfolio includes companies working on reusable rocket systems, satellite constellations, and space exploration technologies.

Space Impulse Market Intelligence Platform Quick Stats:

• Managing partner: Delian Asparouhov
• Founded: 2005
• Type: Venture Capital
• Portfolio companies include: Northwood Space, Nominal, Varda Space

Khosla Ventures

Khosla Ventures, headquartered in Menlo Park, is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies across various sectors, including space tech and aerospace. The firm has a strong focus on supporting innovative technologies that have the potential to create significant societal impact. Khosla Ventures’ portfolio includes companies working on sustainable aviation, satellite communications, and space exploration technologies.

Space Impulse Market Intelligence Platform Quick Stats:

• Managing director: Samir Kaul
• Founded: 2004
• Type: Venture Capital
• Portfolio companies include: Hermeus, Rocket Lab, SES AI

California’s space tech and aerospace ecosystem continues to thrive, driven by the collective efforts of pioneering companies and visionary investors. Want access to more details on space tech industry data in California and around the globe? Check out the Space Impulse Market Intelligence Platform, the world’s largest, curated dataset on the Space industry from all the way back to 1987. Get in touch at hello@spaceimpulse.com to learn more.

• SES is set to acquire Intelsat for $3.1 billion, pending regulatory approvals.
• The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2025.
• The new company will have a gross backlog of €9 billion, revenue of €3.8 billion, and adjusted EBITDA of €1.8 billion.

SES, a leading satellite operator, has announced an agreement to acquire Intelsat, another major player in the satellite communications industry, for $3.1 billion (€2.8 billion).  This acquisition will create a stronger multi-orbit operator with greater coverage, improved network resilience, and a more comprehensive suite of solutions.

The combination of the two companies is expected to deliver significant synergies, with a net present value of €2.4 billion, representing 85% of the total equity value of the transaction. These synergies will come from cost savings and optimizing the combined satellite fleets and ground infrastructure.

The new company will have a stronger financial profile, with a gross backlog of €9 billion, revenue of €3.8 billion, and adjusted EBITDA of €1.8 billion. This will support future investment in network infrastructure, customer solutions, and new business opportunities.

The acquisition is expected to be free cash flow accretive to SES from the first year and deliver an internal rate of return of more than 10%.  The net leverage remains below 3x, allowing the company to keep its credit rating. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2025.

Trending: Consolidation in the satellite industry

The deal is part of a broader trend of consolidation in the satellite industry, as many companies look to gain scale to better compete with the likes of Elon Musk’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

Some analysts have raised concerns the combined company may still struggle to close the gap with its U.S. rivals, while also being saddled with high debt as reported by Reuters. These concerns resulted in SES’s Paris-listed shares dropping 12% to its lowest price ever – 4.36 euros.

The new company will be headquartered in Luxembourg and maintain a presence in the United States. It will have a fleet of more than 100 geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) and 26 medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites.

Other recent and notable acquisitions in the high-level satellite communications market contributing to this trend include:

2023: Bayanat, an AI and geospatial solutions provider, and Yahsat, a UAE-based satellite operator, merged to establish a new entity named Space42. The combined company boasts an implied market capitalization of approximately $4 billion, based on the share prices of the two entities. This merger was geared towards creating a vertically integrated, AI-powered space technology firm capable of seizing opportunities across satellite communications, geospatial solutions, mobility, and IoT.

2022: Eutelsat Communications, a prominent French satellite operator, finalized its acquisition of UK-based satellite company OneWeb in an all-share deal valued at $3.4 billion. This merger resulted in the first integrated Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite operator. The combined company leverages Eutelsat’s 36-strong fleet of GEO satellites and OneWeb’s expanding LEO constellation of 428 satellites which was in orbit prior to the acquisition.

2021: Viasat’s acquisition of Inmarsat for $7.3 billion combined both companies’ complementary satellite, spectrum, and terrestrial assets. This enabled them to deliver high-speed and reliable connectivity across various markets, including maritime, aviation, government, and consumer. The transaction involved Inmarsat’s shareholders receiving $551 million in cash and approximately 46.36 million shares of Viasat common stock, representing around 37.6% of the total shares on a fully diluted basis.

Overall, SES’ acquisition of Intelsat is expected to create a stronger player in the satellite communications industry, but the challenges of competing with the scale and resources of U.S. rivals remain.

Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES shared his optimistic outlook, commenting, “Going forward, customers will benefit from a more competitive portfolio of solutions with end-to-end offerings in valuable Government and Mobility segments, combined with value-added, efficient, and reliable offerings for Fixed Data and Media customers. This combination is also positive for our supply chain partners and the industry in creating new opportunities as satellite-based solutions become an increasingly integral part of the wider communications ecosystem.

Our expanded business will deliver sustained EBITDA growth and strong cash generation, in turn supporting incremental profitable investment in capabilities and solutions to fulfil rapidly expanding and evolving customer demand while also delivering sustained returns to shareholders.”

Image credit: SES

Types of Space Companies and What They Do

This commercialization might be particularly obvious these days, but parts of it have been around since before humans landed on the moon (the Telstar 1 satellite, launched in 1962, constituted the first commercial use of space). Today, companies have saturated every aspect of the industry, and when we talk about the best space companies, we often refer to those that excel in each of these five main categories: launching, satellite manufacturing, satellite ground operations, orbital services, and technology relating to research and space exploration/colonization. 

A large chunk of the manufacturing of satellites and some rockets is taken over by heavyweight contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Airbus – but these are not solely space companies, often focusing on general aerospace and defense technologies. Also, some governmental agencies might function as contractors themselves and can feature a commercial arm. The list below will focus on non-state companies whose primary specialism is space.

16+ Best Space Companies

Space Exploration 

ispace 

The sobering moment when it became clear that ispace’s lunar lander’s touchdown on the moon had not gone smoothly was captured on livestream for all to see on April 25th, 2023. The lander’s failure (which also carried several customer payloads) was particularly painful as ispace was about to make history by becoming the first company to land on the moon – but the company has bigger plans, anyway. Based in Japan, ispace’s single focus is the moon: how to land on it, explore it, and, finally, live on it. On its website, a quick video goes over the company’s vision, which is to establish a populous city on the moon – called Moon Valley – within the century. 

On January 15th, 2025, ispace launched its RESILIENCE lander for the second time. The lander is expected to land on the moon on June 6th, 2025, marking the company’s second attempt at landing on the moon after its first mission failure. According to ispace, the mission is running smoother than the first, with the lander looking to achieve its upcoming mission success milestones.  

If RESILIENCE successfully lands, ispace’s TENACIOUS micro rover will be deployed on the moon for regolith extraction of resources. Looking to the future, ispace is looking to launch its third mission in 2026 and fourth in 2027 using a new series of landers. 

Blue Origin 

Blue Origin is better known for sending tourists to the edge of space and publicly squabbling with both SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, but its quiet strength lies in bolstering exploration efforts. With its lunar lander proposal already having been contracted by NASA (alongside SpaceX’s modified rocket design), the company was recently awarded another healthy sum by the agency to develop and demonstrate its Blue Alchemist technology: solar panels made from lunar regolith. This breakthrough, which Blue first unveiled in February 2023, could make significant strides toward colonization by providing future lunar cities with heaps of energy. Its method of in-situ resource utilization – using only locally available materials for a given process – could also be used for other purposes, including oxygen extraction and construction (as reported by Ars Technica). Blue Origin, known for its cutting-edge innovations, is also recognized as one of the best companies to work for, fostering a culture of excellence and exploration in the aerospace industry.

To date, Blue Origin has launched 12 passenger flights and 64 passengers to space, including celebrities such as Katy Perry, NFL legend Michael Strahan, and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos. While tickets on board cost a pretty penny, Blue Origin is becoming a leader in sending tourists to space, commercializing space flight. 

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See also: Blue Origin’S HLS

SpaceX

Today, SpaceX rules the launch industry, but tomorrow, its plans have more to do with space exploration and colonization. The company was born from a desire to reach Mars (and to build a vehicle capable of this), and the dawn of its colossal Starship rocket might symbolize the beginnings of this venture. Founder and CEO Elon Musk has mentioned a fleet of a thousand of these rockets (each of which can carry around 100 people, or about 100 tons, to the red planet while remaining reusable) leaving for Mars at once to establish a self-sustaining city there. Other than the prototypical Starship, no other rocket capable of such a feat exists. In addition to the company’s own plans, NASA awarded SpaceX two contracts for a modified Starship to land humans on the moon. In general, if the rocket’s advertised reusable payload capacity of 150 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and cheap prices become a reality, it will pave the way for more entities – commercial or governmental – to launch bigger payloads, which could be a boon for exploration.

Musk aims to launch Starship to Mars in 2026 as the first step in realizing the company’s colonization mission. Despite failures in recent test flights, version 3 of the rocket is set to launch in 2026, which, according to Musk, is intended to reach the red planet. After which, if the rocket launch is successful, the billionaire will send humans as the next step in Space X’s mission to establish infrastructure on Mars. 

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Space Tech

Astroscale

Astroscale is all about the orbit. It hopes to provide life extension as well as end-of-life solutions for satellites already circling the Earth while also cleaning up space debris. Headquartered in Tokyo but with subsidiaries scattered around the globe, the company has several projects in the works. Its ELSA-d mission, which launched in 2021 to test the end-of-life service, successfully demonstrated the necessary technology. ELSA-M, planned for 2026, will build on this technology with the hopes of eventually yanking defunct satellites out of orbit lest they become space junk. The launch of ADRAS-J, another of the company’s spacecraft, successfully approached large space debris in 2024 at 15 meters, a world first for a commercial company. Additionally, Astroscale’s US subsidiary hopes to launch its LEXI mission by 2026. This spacecraft will fly to Geostationary Orbit (GEO) – the home of many old and expensive communications or spy satellites – and grab hold of them to extend their life.

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AstroForge

US company AstroForge has one goal, and one goal only: mining asteroids. The company is well aware of the dangers and difficulties of their chosen task, having witnessed previous space mining startups falter after offering investors overly optimistic timelines. Space mining, after all, is territory uncharted by earthlings. Therefore, AstroForge is taking the time to ensure its methods work. In 2023, AstroForge launched its first mission, launching Brokkr-1, completing initial mission objectives but falling short of refinery demonstration. Fast forward to 2025, Astroforge launched its Odin satellite into space to capture asteroid images – a crucial step in making asteroid mining a reality. In March 2025, the company announced mission 3 – Vestri, which seeks to dock on an asteroid and analyze its properties for future extraction.

Though it may be a while before large-scale space mining comes to fruition, it would be vital for life beyond Earth, not to mention the astronomical profits coming to those involved. Plus, according to AstroForge CEO Matt Gialich, off-world mining helps decrease reliance on its Earthly counterpart, which is not exactly good for the climate (as reported by Meridian).

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Orbit Fab

Zooming around in space collecting debris and mining asteroids is all good and well, but what if you run out of juice? This is a problem that Orbit Fab, a US startup, looks to address. Advertising their services as ‘gas stations in space’, the company already completed a successful water transfer test aboard the ISS – the first of its kind – and launched the ‘first orbital fuel depot’ in 2021 (though this was still a test vehicle rather than a commercially available station). To ensure customers will be able to use its services, Orbit Fab developed RAFTI, an open-license fueling port that the company hopes will become the industry standard. By 2025, Orbit Fab aims to introduce the first orbital fuel delivery service for hydrazine, a chemical many satellites run on. While fuel prices on Earth are already steep, they are nothing compared to orbital rates: the company will charge ‘$20 million for up to 100-kilogram delivery’ of hydrazine. Orbit Fab also has contracts and agreements with a host of actors, including Astroscale and the US Space Force. 

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Space Research 

SpacePharma 

‘Bring your research idea and we make it happen’.

The slogan adorns the website of Israeli startup SpacePharma, which provides platforms for researchers hoping to try out their experiments in space. The company offers several different ‘labs’: smallish boxes containing mechanisms honed for cosmic experimentation. These can be used for a wide variety of disciplines, which the company lists on its site. Biology, for example, benefits from stem cell, aging, cancer, and microbial testing in space, as well as pharmaceutical research and production and fluid physics. While not all of its labs are designed for the ISS, many have flown aboard the station since 2017. The company has contributed to experiments including studying effects of microgravity on motor neuron cells, crystallization of an Asthma drug, and even how cow cells form muscles, or ‘steaks’, in microgravity for cellular agriculture company Aleph Farms.

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Space Forge

Research in space is already invaluable, but Space Forge hopes to take things one step further by providing a platform for entire product lines to be manufactured in space. The Welsh company bases its concept around the fact that elements such as microgravity and a vacuum greatly improve the quality of pharmaceuticals, certain alloys, and semiconductors. The latter, so the company, would experience a tenfold increase in quality if produced in space. Space Forge’s mini-factory – the ForgeStar satellite – is designed to be customizable according to client needs, and its time in orbit ranges from ten days to six months. Upon completion, the satellite reenters the atmosphere, its contents are collected, and it is then reused for another mission. Space Forge is not the only ones eyeing manufacturing, however; SpacePharma and Axiom, for example, offer preliminary production mechanisms, too. 

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Origin Space

One could describe Origin Space as a simple space mining company, but its work is much more varied. In 2021, the Nanjing-based company launched NEO-1, a small satellite tasked with ‘small celestial body observation and prototype technology verification for space resource acquisition’. If that were not enough, the satellite would also test space debris cleanup methods. In addition to the busy NEO-1, the company has several other satellites in orbit, including two telescopes. The latest addition is YangWang 1 (‘Look Up 1’), which the company claims is the world’s first commercial ultraviolet/optical telescope. It recently completed an optical survey of the night sky, also keeping an eye out for pesky asteroids and meteors. The company ultimately hopes to build a constellation of telescopes to look out for juicy asteroids ripe for mining. Next, Origin Space is planning to send its M2 rover to the moon, which would carry imaging, mining, and sample return equipment. 

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Space Satellite 

SES 

Commercial communications and telecommunications satellites have been around for decades, and remain one of the prime commercial exploitations of orbit. A giant among giants of this industry is SES, headquartered in Luxembourg; this company has 70-odd satellites in two different orbits and claims to broadcast to around a billion people worldwide. It also provides network services to 58 government organizations. SES markets this connectivity to a variety of industries, including energy (providing connections to remote mining sites or offshore oil rigs), cruise ships, aviation, and military ventures. 

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Maxar

If you watch the news, use Google Maps, or listen to the radio, you might have used Maxar’s products, as the company claims on its site. With over 80 satellites in orbit, Maxar provides some television and radio services but really shines at Earth imaging. The company is a darling of the US government, providing 90% of commercial imagery for geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), and recently upgraded its image definition from 30cm to 15 (for context, while the details of US spy satellites remain nebulous, they are thought to have a definition of around 10cm). Such high definition is important as it allows for more insight into risky areas without the need for drones; while the latter comes with the benefit of continuous observation, Maxar’s less eagle-eyed satellites can send back imagery of a given area 15 times a day. Maxar’s other services include the monitoring of factories and mining sites as well as methane emissions.

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Starlink

Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, has taken LEO by storm. As of July 2023, going on 4,900 of its satellites have been launched (with 4,487 still functioning): over half the current amount of working satellites, with thousands more in the works. The reason behind the mind-boggling numbers is simple: in order to achieve fast internet speeds, the satellites must be closer to Earth. As a result, a single satellite can only cover a small fraction of the Earth’s surface and stay over this area for a short amount of time. Starlink’s aim is therefore to build up a web of them to cover every angle of the globe. All those launch and manufacturing costs add up, and the company is just beginning to make money. Still, it has proven itself a valuable partner in defensive matters, providing drone support in the Ukraine war and frequently working with the US Air Force. Not everyone is happy with the concept, though. Astronomers, for one, are not amused by how the satellites can interfere with optical and radio astronomy. Plus, while the machines are maneuverable and are designed to deorbit themselves at the end of their lives, such a huge buildup of objects in orbit might exacerbate the growing problem of space debris.

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Rocket Launch Companies 

SpaceX

SpaceX may harbor grand Martian dreams, but for now, the company’s daily bread is sending up one of its Falcon 9 (or sometimes Heavy) rockets at least once a week, on average. Payloads range from commercial payloads (including Starlink) to US national security satellites to science missions to humans. SpaceX is able to offer these launches at staggeringly low prices thanks to their reuse of the booster and fairing halves, which account for roughly 70% of manufacturing costs. The company charges around $67 million a launch, with the true cost much lower. The feat upended the industry, with other companies now fighting to catch up and integrate some aspect of reusability into their designs. With the potential for reusable rockets obvious, SpaceX is now developing the Starship, which it hopes will sink prices even more (if it is successful). 

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See also: Top 6 SpaceX’s Goals

Rocket Lab

Founded in New Zealand by Peter Beck, Rocket Lab has become one of the world’s most successful rocket launch companies, seconding SpaceX regarding the number of rockets launched annually. Since the first orbital launch of its rocket ‘electron’ in 2018, Rocket Lab has facilitated over 1700 international missions across 63 launches and 224 satellites deployed. Rocket has partnered with NASA, the United States Space Force, and others for orbital deployment as one of the leading launch service providers. In the years to come, Rocket Lab is expected to remain a leader in commercial rocket deployment, particularly with the first launch of its Neutron rocket for cargo transportation at the end of 2025.

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ULA

One of the companies threatened by SpaceX was United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between longtime government contractors Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Created in 2006, the company operates rockets previously under the control of the two companies, which included the Atlas V (Lockheed), Delta IV, and Delta IV Heavy (Boeing). As SpaceX’s impact was beginning to make itself felt, the company underwent restructuring in 2014 and vowed to slash launch costs. Now, with the veteran rockets facing retirement, that has not yet happened. Its new rocket, Vulcan, is slated to launch in late 2023 after facing delays to its upper stage and Blue Origin-made engines. Though the vehicle is not reusable, it can carry more than Falcon 9 with a projected launch cost of $110 million: not bad compared to the roughly $350 million for a Delta IV Heavy (which lifts about the same as Vulcan).

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Space Pioneer

The need for reusable rockets was also felt in China, where the young company Space Pioneer – with its Tianlong-2 rocket – recently became the first of the country’s privately funded endeavors to successfully reach orbit with a liquid-fueled rocket; Space Pioneer also became the first company in history to achieve this on its first attempt. With the first launch out of the way, the company can now focus on reusability, which it hopes to implement with its Tianlong-3 rocket. The vehicle has a striking similarity to the Falcon 9, with the first stage ‘returning autonomously’ before being reused.  

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Best Space Companies by Countries and Regions

European Companies

Europe is home to some of the biggest communications and telecommunications companies around, including SES, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intelsat (though this is partially based in the US). It has also produced Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, who have contracted for a wide variety of space projects including the ISS and a slew of satellite systems. When it comes to launching, though, things are a little less peachy. Arianespace, a company created by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the French agency CNES in 1980, has ruled that particular landscape since its conception. Until SpaceX came around, it controlled up to 50% of the global launch market, and its Ariane rocket series had been a reliable workhorse of the industry.

However, CNES’s shares in the company were bought up by now-majority shareholders ArianeGroup (previously Airbus Safran Launchers) in the mid-2010s, who made bold changes to the company’s newest vehicle in order to offer competitive costs. The rocket has faced significant delays and has still not flown, resulting in a launch gap in the European landscape. Still, a few young companies such as Skyrora, Orbex, Rocket Factory Augsburg, and Isar Aerospace, specialize in small rockets tailored to launching satellites and are looking to fill this gap. 

See also: Top 6 Space Companies in Europe

US Space Companies

The US commercial space landscape… where to begin? The country has the most developed commercial space industry in the world, featuring both longtime government contractors like ULA (a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing) as well as newer players like SpaceX. The latter now controls a sizeable chunk of the modern launch market; in 2022, SpaceX alone accounted for about 33% of global launches and 70% of US launches. The country also hosts several up-and-coming launch companies such as Rocket Lab (founded in New Zealand but now registered in the US) and Firefly. Satellites are another vast area of focus impossible to wholly summarize here. A few examples are communications systems like those of Viasat, Echostar, and Starlink, and intelligence providers like Maxar, Planet, and Blacksky.

With such an industry (and infrastructure) in place, US governmental entities can pursue technological and geopolitical dominance in the space domain (at cheaper prices) while still fueling the economy and opening the door to even newer ventures. Some of these might include space tourism by the likes of Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and Axiom; the latter two, as well as newcomer Vast, boast plans for space stations that would host tourists, professional astronauts, and researchers alike. Many companies developing technology primed for space exploration that has little use on Earth – such as Astrobotic, AstroForge, and (partially) Blue Origin – are also based in the US thanks to the industry’s importance and advancements.

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Chinese Space Companies 

With just 23 launches behind, China came hot on the heels of the US’s space dominance in 2022. The country’s launches consisted almost entirely of the Long March rocket series, which is operated by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). More recently, however, the first private launch companies have been claiming their stake in the Chinese launch market after the government opened the door to such ventures in 2014. Space Pioneer is one, as well as LandSpace, LinkSpace, OneSpace, Galactic Energy, and i-Space (not to be confused with the Japanese ispace, which focuses on lunar missions). Clearly paying attention to industry trends, many of these companies’ designs feature elements vital to the most efficient rockets of the day, such as the Falcon 9. Most of the companies mentioned are aiming for some kind of reusability (some even hope to land boosters), while LandSpace recently beat SpaceX with the first-ever orbital methalox rocket. Non-launching startups such as satellite manufacturers Spacety and Origin Space have also made significant strides in recent years. 

Indian Space Companies

India is also a relative newcomer when it comes to commercial space companies, as most of its cosmic activities have been instigated by the government. While the rockets operated by India’s agency ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), are relatively cheap and have often been used for commercial purposes, a reshuffling of the sector in 2020 allowed private players to join the race. With such a young industry, most of India’s space startups are still finding their feet – but that is not to say the field is stagnant. Rocket startup Skyroot successfully launched its first test vehicle – India’s first private spaceflight – in November 2022, aiming to eventually offer regular flights of its Vikram series of cheap, nonreusable micro launchers designed for rapid deployment. Competitor AgniKul’s vehicle is primed for customization, promising different configurations of the rocket depending on the payload and access to a plethora of launch sites. Outside the launch scenes, several satellite startups are also making headway. Hyperspectral satellite imagery provider Pixxel, for example, is living the startup dream, receiving investment from Google and garnering a contract from the US’s NRO (National Reconnaissance Office).

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Impact of Space Companies on Society and Industry

Privatization of areas previously handled almost exclusively by governments is nothing new, and its effects can be seen in the US’s various applications of the scheme. On one hand, it allows the government to spend less on its own programs, which (space-wise) are often politically sluggish and technologically low-risk as they cannot afford to fail. As seen with various military examples of outsourcing, the technique results in less government accountability, one way or another.

While this conundrum is prevalent in the space field, it also means that some of the best space companies can pursue riskier projects without facing the full brunt of political backlash. The service can then be bought by the government, which often pays far less than the cost of state-run development (a good example of this is SpaceX’s Falcon 9: a risky design that would have been near impossible for officials to sanction initially but is now the US government’s go-to). Conversely, as seen with programs such as NASA’s Artemis, outsourcing work to contractors creates jobs and economic growth even if the program itself moves relatively slowly. This highlights the fact that impressive industry numbers do not necessarily point to cosmic prowess. Still, other interests in space – geopolitical, scientific, and commercial – demand much innovation and enable new, even riskier ideas to join the party.

Future Space Industry Landscape

With the US’s surging commercialization of space transforming the landscape, other countries and regions are following suit. As a result, it is unlikely for the pattern to stop anytime soon. It is also hard to see how SpaceX’s hold on the industry could lessen – especially if its moonshot rocket Starship delivers on its promises – although it might face some competition from the likes of Rocket Lab (other startups like those from India and Europe might eventually join the club, but these are still in their relative infancy). Russia, a waning space heavyweight, sports a few space companies but ultimately missed the boat on large-scale commercialization and has now been sanctioned and isolated by much of the Western world. This means that many former customers of its cheap, reliable Soyuz rockets flock elsewhere (mostly the US), further lessening its role in the industry. China and its meteoric rise in both spaceflight and its commercialization is also likely to continue, even though the US’s extensive bans and restrictions on collaborations somewhat hold back goals of becoming an international space tech provider in the West. 

The competition between the US and China is part of the reason for the so-called modern space race, with one constantly set on one-upping the other in orbit and beyond. This is leading to increased militarization of space, which – predominantly in the US – commercial companies are helping to bring about. The prospect is harrowing, especially considering previous implications of outsourcing in international conflicts. However, it is clear to see how these ambitions reflect on the industry, with a variety of launch and satellite providers tailoring their services towards government and military use. 

In addition to orbit, though, both superpowers are gunning for their next prize: the moon. When (or if) this comes about, it could shape the future industry in the same way orbit’s geopolitical importance is molding the sector of today. Commercial sources of technologies such as mining, in-situ resource utilization, and deep space transportation are already being tapped by the US government, and a continuation of this pattern is likely if the space race evolves in this way. In turn, increased industry focus on (for example) lunar technology can incentivize other businesses to develop even more advanced technology and boost commercial opportunities. 

Picturing what exactly this will look like is further complicated by international space laws, which are currently vague and outdated. They hold so little sway that the US created its own set of (albeit nonbinding) rules known as the Artemis Accords, which have now been signed by 28 countries. These make elegant use of the gaps in the aged UN treaties, laying the groundwork for space mining and claims of sovereignty that stretch existing laws. In addition, collecting signatories to the Accords in exchange for participation in NASA’s Artemis program helps the US establish a bloc-like alliance that nations will be reluctant to leave, helping it establish new norms for space exploration and countering rival powers. Once large-scale exploration, colonization, and mining kick-off, such blatant legal discrepancies could lead to further conflicts not just between nations, but between companies, too. 

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Featured image: Credit: ispace