Patent & IP Tracker
Monitor space technology patent filings, company portfolios, technology trends, and NASA licensing opportunities
62,100
Patents Filed (2026)
+5.4%
Annual Growth
15
Major Holders Tracked
10
Technology Domains
Global Space Patent Filings by Year
Annual patent applications across all space technology domains
28.4k
2015
30.1k
2016
32.5k
2017
35.2k
2018
38.4k
2019
41.1k
2020
44.8k
2021
48.2k
2022
52.1k
2023
56.3k
2024
58.9k
2025
62.1k
2026
Cumulative: ~528,100 filings tracked since 2015Source: WIPO, USPTO, CNIPA, EPO estimates
Patent Filings by Country/Region (2026)
Market share of space technology patent applications
United States
29.6% (18,400)
China
42.2% (26,200)
Europe (EPO)
11.4% (7,100)
Japan
5.2% (3,200)
India
3.3% (2,050)
South Korea
2.2% (1,350)
Russia
1.7% (1,050)
Other
4.4% (2,750)
China has overtaken the US in raw filing volume since 2020, driven by state-sponsored programs (BeiDou, Tiangong, Chang'e). The US leads in citation impact and international PCT filings.
Technology Category Breakdown
Patent distribution across space technology domains
Satellite CommunicationsAccelerating
14,200
+9.8% YoY3,200 recent
Propulsion SystemsAccelerating
12,400
+7.2% YoY2,100 recent
Earth ObservationAccelerating
9,800
+8.4% YoY1,900 recent
Navigation & PNTSteady
5,800
+5.1% YoY680 recent
Reusable Launch VehiclesGrowing
4,200
+11.6% YoY1,100 recent
Life Support & HabitationGrowing
3,400
+6.8% YoY520 recent
Optical CommunicationsAccelerating
3,100
+24.7% YoY980 recent
Debris Removal & SSAAccelerating
2,800
+18.5% YoY820 recent
In-Space ManufacturingAccelerating
1,900
+22.3% YoY650 recent
ISRU & Resource UtilizationAccelerating
1,600
+19.8% YoY480 recent
Top Patent Holders
Ranked by total portfolio size
| Rank | Organization | Portfolio Size | Recent (2yr) | Citations | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | CASC / CAST China | 5,100 | 1,840 | 15,200 | +28.4% |
| #2 | Boeing USA | 4,420 | 650 | 39,800 | +2.1% |
| #3 | Lockheed Martin USA | 3,950 | 580 | 34,200 | +5.4% |
| #4 | NASA USA | 3,600 | 280 | 52,000 | +1.5% |
| #5 | Northrop Grumman USA | 3,420 | 490 | 28,900 | +6.8% |
| #6 | Airbus Defence & Space Europe | 3,180 | 440 | 26,400 | +3.2% |
| #7 | RTX (Raytheon) USA | 2,870 | 380 | 22,100 | +2.8% |
| #8 | Thales Alenia Space Europe | 2,240 | 320 | 18,600 | +3.5% |
| #9 | L3Harris Technologies USA | 2,150 | 310 | 17,400 | +7.2% |
| #10 | JAXA / MHI Japan | 1,680 | 210 | 14,800 | +3.1% |
Notable IP Litigation
Recent and ongoing space technology patent disputes
Blue Origin v. SpaceX (Lunar Lander Patent)
Blue Origin LLC v. Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
2022Dismissed
Blue Origin challenged SpaceX patents related to vertical landing on floating platforms. The case was ultimately dismissed, with the court finding sufficient differentiation in the approaches.
Propulsion / Landing
Boeing v. Launch Vehicles Inc.
Boeing Company v. Launch Vehicles Inc.
2021Settled
Patent infringement dispute over rocket fairing separation mechanisms. Settled out of court with cross-licensing agreement.
Launch Systems
Viasat v. SpaceX (Starlink Interference)
Viasat Inc. v. FCC / Space Exploration Technologies
2023Ongoing
Viasat challenged FCC approval of SpaceX Starlink modifications, citing patent and spectrum interference concerns with its own satellite broadband systems.
Satellite Communications
Maxar v. Planet Labs (Imaging Technology)
Maxar Technologies v. Planet Labs PBC
2023Settled
Dispute over satellite imaging data processing algorithms and super-resolution techniques. Resolved through mutual licensing agreement.
Earth Observation
Iridium v. AST SpaceMobile
Iridium Communications v. AST SpaceMobile
2024Ongoing
Iridium filed patent claims against AST SpaceMobile regarding direct-to-cellphone satellite communication technology and large phased array antenna deployment methods.
Direct-to-Device
About Patent & IP Tracker
Patent data is compiled from USPTO, WIPO, EPO, CNIPA, and other patent office databases. Portfolio sizes are approximate and include granted patents, pending applications, and utility models. Growth rates and trend indicators are based on filing date analysis over the past 3-5 years. This tracker is for informational and research purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Data sources include WIPO Global Brand Database, USPTO PatentsView, Google Patents, and Orbit Intelligence.