Asteroid Mining Market Report 2026

The asteroid mining market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $2.05 billion in 2025 to $2.49 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to advancements in space exploration programs, availability of remote sensing technologies, development of robotic space systems, increasing interest in extraterrestrial resources, growth of private space enterprises.

The asteroid mining market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.42 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for rare space-based materials, rising investments in commercial space missions, expansion of in-orbit manufacturing concepts, growing focus on space sustainability, advancements in autonomous space operations. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing development of autonomous space mining systems, rising investment in space resource exploration, growing use of robotic extraction technologies, expansion of in-space resource processing concepts, enhanced focus on mission cost optimization.

The increasing number of space missions conducted by government agencies and private space companies is expected to boost the growth of the asteroid mining market in the future. A space mission involves launching manned or unmanned vehicles into space to collect scientific data. These missions will facilitate the exploration of potential asteroid mining candidates that contain platinum group metals and will gather crucial data regarding their location, environment, and travel time, aiding in the selection of appropriate asteroids for mining. Consequently, the rise in space missions is likely to elevate the demand for asteroid mining. For instance, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) reported that the global community launched 3,143 objects into space in 2023, marking a 24% increase from the 2,533 objects launched the previous year. Additionally, in March 2024, Our World in Data (OWID), a UK-based scientific publication, noted that 2,664 objects were launched in 2023, exceeding the previous year's record. U.S. agencies and companies were responsible for 2,166 of these launches, accounting for 81% of the global total. Therefore, the increase in space missions by government bodies is driving the growth of the asteroid mining market.

Technological advancements and innovations are emerging as key trends in the asteroid mining market. Leading companies are focusing on developing innovative products to cater to industry demands and enhance their market presence. For example, in October 2023, Asteroid Mining Corporation (AMC), a UK-based privately funded company dedicated to asteroid resource mining, unveiled the SCAR-E (Space Capable Asteroid Robotic Explorer) robot at the Space Economy Summit in Los Angeles. Weighing 20 kilograms and featuring six legs, SCAR-E is engineered for both terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications, showcasing its ability to navigate challenging terrains that conventional wheeled robots cannot. This robot is equipped with cutting-edge technology for material detection and processing, potentially revolutionizing resource acquisition while minimizing the environmental impacts associated with traditional mining methods. SCAR-E is set to aid in asteroid prospecting and lunar exploration, with plans for deployment in the early 2030s.

In October 2024, ispace, Inc., a Japan-based lunar exploration and space resource development company, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Asteroid Mining Corporation Limited to collaborate on a future mission in which an ispace lunar lander will transport Asteroid Mining Corporation Limited’s Space Capable Asteroid Robotic-Explorer (SCAR-E) to the Moon’s surface as a technology demonstration for future asteroid mining initiatives. Through this partnership, ispace aims to strengthen its space resource exploration capabilities by incorporating Asteroid Mining Corporation Limited’s advanced robotic systems into mission payloads and advancing the technological groundwork for asteroid and lunar resource utilization. Asteroid Mining Corporation Limited is a UK-based space robotics company focused on developing robotic platforms for asteroid and lunar exploration.

Major companies operating in the asteroid mining market are Planetary Resources Inc., Deep Space Industries Inc., Asteroid Mining Corporation Limited, AstroForge Inc., TransAstra Corporation, Origin Space Inc., Karman+ Inc., Shackleton Energy Company, Kepler Energy and Space Engineering, Celestial Mining, Space Resources Inc., Asteroid Initiatives LLC, Asteroid Mining Group, Planetary Space Resources, Interstellar Mining Corporation, Helios Asteroid Mining, Nova Space Mining, ExoAsteroid Resources, Cosmic Mining Corporation, Deep Space Resources Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the asteroid mining market in 2025. The regions covered in the asteroid mining market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the asteroid mining market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The asteroid mining market includes revenues earned by entities by providing mining services used in mineral extraction, transportation, ore refining, and other services such as solar-powered generators and industrial robots. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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