Commercial Satellite Launch Service Market Report 2025

The commercial satellite launch service market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $7.6 billion in 2024 to $8.16 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increased demand for satellite constellations, rise in communication satellite deployments, expanding remote sensing and earth observation activities, the emergence of a small satellite market, global growth in space economy and commercialization.

The commercial satellite launch service market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $10.61 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the continued expansion of satellite broadband services, the surge in demand for on-demand launch services, growth in the space tourism industry, rapid deployment of next-generation satellites, rise of small launch service providers. Major trends in the forecast period include collaboration and partnerships, commercialization of heavy-lift launch vehicles, flexible launch options for ride-share missions, technological advancements in launch vehicles, and focus on environmental sustainability.

The rising demand for commercial satellites is anticipated to drive the growth of the commercial satellite launch service market in the future. Commercial satellites are owned, operated, and utilized by private companies or commercial organizations. The commercial satellite launch service enhances the capabilities of satellites launched into Earth orbit, enabling successful space missions through pre-launch and post-launch services, including management, integration and logistics, cargo support, telemetry, and more. For example, in September 2022, the Government Accountability Office, a US-based government agency, reported that there were nearly 5,500 active satellites in orbit as of spring 2022, with estimates suggesting the launch of an additional 58,000 by 2030. Thus, the increasing demand for commercial satellites is driving the commercial satellite launch service market.

Government initiatives for satellite projects are expected to further stimulate the growth of the commercial satellite launch service market in the future. These initiatives encompass programs and actions taken by government agencies to develop, launch, and manage satellites for various applications. Government initiatives in satellite projects enhance the commercial satellite launch services sector by boosting demand, fostering technological innovation, providing necessary infrastructure, establishing regulatory frameworks, and encouraging international collaboration. For instance, according to the Planetary Society, a US-based non-profit organization focused on space research and public outreach, the budget for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a US government agency responsible for space exploration, was $24.04 billion in 2022, marking a 3.3% increase from the 2021 budget of $23.271 billion. Therefore, government initiatives for satellite projects are driving the growth of the commercial satellite launch service market.

Major players in the commercial satellite launch service market are concentrating on Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) and enhanced payload capabilities to boost efficiency and lower costs, thereby facilitating more frequent and affordable access to space for a variety of applications, including telecommunications and Earth observation. Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) encompass a range of techniques and abilities used in spaceflight that enable spacecraft to approach, rendezvous with, and operate close to another spacecraft or space object. This capability is essential for various missions, such as satellite servicing, debris inspection, and orbital assembly. For instance, in February 2024, Astroscale Japan Inc., a Japanese company specializing in on-orbit servicing, launched the world's first debris inspection spacecraft, ADRAS-J. The ADRAS-J mission represents the initial effort to safely approach and survey large space debris through RPO. It aims to rendezvous with a Japanese H2A upper-stage rocket body, showcasing RPO capabilities while capturing images to evaluate the debris's movement and structural condition. This mission is vital for future on-orbit servicing endeavors.

Key companies in the commercial satellite launch service sector are concentrating on the development of reusable rockets to enhance their profitability. In this context, reusable rockets refer to launch vehicles designed and constructed to be recovered and reused for multiple spaceflights. For example, in December 2023, LandSpace Technology, a Chinese rocket startup, developed the Zhuque-2 Y-3. This rocket successfully launched three satellites into orbit using its methane-powered engine, increasing confidence in methane as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly rocket fuel. The successful launch of Zhuque-2 Y-3, which reached a 460-km sun-synchronous orbit, indicates growing competition among private Chinese rocket startups seeking a stake in the satellite constellation market.

In June 2023, Firefly Aerospace, a US-based private aerospace company, acquired Spaceflight Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to enhance Firefly Aerospace's on-orbit solutions and expand its capabilities across the entire lifecycle of customers' satellites and spacecraft, thus strengthening its portfolio of low-cost space transportation services. Spaceflight Inc. is a US aerospace company specializing in organizing rideshare space launches for secondary payloads.

Major companies operating in the commercial satellite launch service market include The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Northrop Grumman Space Systems Group, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Orbital ATK, Antrix Corporation Limited, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United Launch Alliance, Relativity Space Inc., Firefly Aerospace, Sea Launch, ABL Space Systems, Rocket Factory Augsburg AG, Exodus Space Corp., Virgin Orbit, OneSpace Solutions Inc., Ariane Group, HyImpulse Technologies GmbH, International Launch Services (ILS), GK Launch Services, LinkSpace, Eurockot Launch Service GmbH, Commercial Space Technologies Ltd.(CST), Virgin Galactic,Stofiel Aerospace, Payload Aerospace S.L., CAS Space, COSMOS International, Indian Space Research Organisation.

North America was the largest region in the commercial satellite launch service market in 2024. The regions covered in the commercial satellite launch service market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the commercial satellite launch service market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The commercial satellite launch service encompasses the specialized offerings provided by entities dedicated to launching satellites into space for commercial purposes. These service providers possess the requisite expertise, infrastructure, and resources essential for effectively transporting satellites from Earth to their designated orbits in space, thereby ensuring successful space missions.

These services cater to various orbits crucial for satellite deployment, such as low-earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), geosynchronous orbit (GEO), and highly elliptical orbit (HEO). Low earth orbit is the closest to the Earth's surface, spanning altitudes from 160km to 1000km, enabling commercial space operations that facilitate navigation improvements, weather tracking, telecommunications, and other related functions. Satellites come in different sizes - large, medium, small, and micro - serving diverse purposes such as navigation, communication, reconnaissance, weather forecasting, and remote sensing.

The commercial satellite launch service market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides commercial satellite launch service market statistics, including commercial satellite launch service industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a commercial satellite launch service market share, detailed commercial satellite launch service market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the commercial satellite launch service industry. This commercial satellite launch service market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The commercial satellite launch service market includes revenues earned by entities providing mission management, pre- and post-launching services, environmental testing, in-space logistics services, payload integration, and launch vehicle assembly. 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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