Space – the cold, airless frontier – is the playground for several satellite manufacturers. With stalwarts like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos already focusing on new space technology for the transport of cargo and humans, space economy has turned into a power-packed competitive space. To put things into perspective, our industry analysts expect the space industry to exceed $1 trillion by 2040.
Read: Be A Pioneer in The Space Tourism Industry. Here’s What You’ll Need
Here are the top companies that h have turned the unfathomable world of space into a profitable business outlet.
1. SpaceX
The commercial spaceflight company, SpaceX, recently launched Tintin A and Tintin B – the satellite prototypes of its “Starlink” initiative. The launch is supposed to bring high-speed internet to the entire world by placing thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit. Founded in 2002, the private space company has proved its technological mettle through the launch of muscular versions of Falcon 9 and Grasshopper rocket.
CEO: Elon Musk
HQ: California
2. Boeing
One of the oldest names in space technology, Boeing has managed to give tough competition to commercial upstarts with its Apollo-style CST-100. The American multinational has made headlines since the launch of its first Mercury capsule to the current International Space Station. Leading the digital transformation of the satellite industry, Boeing is known for its flexible designs that can support payload power ranges from 3 kilowatts up to more than 25 kilowatts.
CEO: Dennis Muilenburg
HQ: Chicago
3. Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser – a seven seat vehicle – resurrected the defunct spaceplane industry. NASA has chosen the multi-mission space utility vehicle to provide cargo delivery, return and disposal service for the space station under the Commercial Resupply Service 2 (CRS2) contract. Sierra Nevada recently launched hybrid rockets for Virgin Galactic suborbital spaceplane as well.
CEO: Fatih Ozmen, Eren Ozmen
HQ: Nevada
4. Orbital Sciences
One of the world’s preeminent satellite builders and advanced space systems providers, Orbital Sciences has a broad portfolio of small- to medium-class satellites for communications, imaging, science, and national security space applications. The publicly traded company has over 500 missions and a total of 1,000 years of in-orbit operations, to its credit.
Founders: Scott L. Webster, Bruce Walker Ferguson, David W. Thompson
HQ: Virginia
5. Airbus Defence & Space
The international pioneer in the aerospace industry, Airbus made headlines with its Gaia telescope. The billion-pixel camera of this telescope attempts to trace a detailed 3D map of the Milky Way. Europe’s No.1 exporter of Earth-observation satellite systems, Airbus Defence & Space supplies reliable systems ranging from electronic components to full telecommunications relay platforms, scientific satellites, and manned spacecraft.
Its latest product, CIMON – a mobile, autonomous assistance system – uses Watson AI technology to support astronauts in performing routine work.
CEO: Dirk Hoke
HQ: Germany
6. Made In Space
The prime specialty of Made In Space is its three dimensional printer that can be used in microgravity. Its Zero-G printer is the first manufacturing device in space and can create complex structures as well as minute replacement parts and tools. Founded in 2010, the company earned a Guinness World Record for the “World’s Longest 3D Printed Non-Assembled Piece” this February.
CEO: Andrew Rush
HQ: California
7. Ad Astra Rocket Company
The spaceflight engineering company is a frontrunner in the development of advanced plasma rocket propulsion technology. Ad Astra has also reenergized research in the sphere of electric propulsion.
Electric engines over chemical rockets facilitate fuel efficiency. But until recently, the technology wasn’t used due to the lack of explosive acceleration. Ad Astra recently designed a plasma thruster that uses concentrated radio waves to generate a quick thrust and provide the much-needed acceleration to electric engines.
Founder: Franklin Chang Díaz
HQ: Texas
