2023
Commercial space revenues climb to $445 billion in 2023


Commercial space activity has grown rapidly in recent years, although definitions for this activity vary. For the purposes of this analysis, commercial space activity is defined to include products sold to private customers and efforts undertaken by private industry in which private actors take on a significant portion of the financial risk.
NASA cancels VIPER Moon rover amid budget concerns


After $450 million and six years of work, NASA will not be exploring lunar ice with its new rover. The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) is already built, and the rocket is still scheduled to launch next year, but the rover will remain on Earth.
Ariane 6, Europe’s long-awaited launch vehicle, makes maiden flight


Ariane 6, the launch vehicle designed to ensure the European Space Agency’s access to orbit, flew from French Guiana on Tuesday, ending four years of delays with triumph.
Global space activity by category, 2007-2027


The global space economy totaled $546 billion in 2022, 8% higher than 2021 — and it could reach $772 billion by 2027, according to Space Foundation analysis. Commercial space continues to make up the majority (78%) of this total, but preliminary data shows that 81% of governments with space programs increased spending in 2023.
As launch failures grow, satellite operators are more resilient to risk


Increasing annual launches and new players in the launch market have led to several notable payload delivery failures over the past few years.
U.S. private sector space employment shows steady growth


Monitoring trends in this workforce across private, civil, and national security sectors and examining changes in wages and location of employment provides insight into broader space industry dynamics.
2 U.S. spaceports gain funds amid huge upswing in launch pace


In the last decade, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (the Cape) in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California have supported more launches than other U.S. launch facilities.
SNAPSHOT: Global space economy


The global space economy totaled $546 billion in 2022, 8% higher than 2021 — and it could reach $772 billion by 2027, according to Space Foundation analysis.
Launch failures by number of satellites lost, 2003-2023


In 2023, launch failures resulted in the loss of 31 satellites, an increase of 48% from 2022.
Cumulative spacecraft on orbit, 1957-2023


Federal agencies in 2014 estimated by 2022 as many as 43 commercial satellites a year would head to orbit. Instead, more than 50 times . . .