Week in Space Data, every Friday.
The definitive collection of space industry data, market figures, and key metrics. Updated regularly with the latest available statistics.
Curated reference data, periodically reviewed | Sources include Space Foundation, SIA, Bryce Tech, Euroconsult, FAA, NASA
Reference data as of 2024–2026, periodically reviewed · Headline figures: Space Foundation (economy, 2025), Space Launch Report (launches, 2025), CelesTrak (satellites, 2026), Euroconsult (government spending, 2024), Space Foundation (workforce, 2024), Space Capital (VC, 2024)
Source: Launch Library 2 via the SpaceNexus launch tracker · as of Sep 27, 2026 00:23 UTC
Source: Space-Track SATCAT snapshot · as of Sep 27, 2026
Total revenue generated by the global space economy including satellite services, ground equipment, launch services, and government budgets.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: Space Foundation
Multiple analysts project the space economy will exceed $1 trillion by the early-to-mid 2030s, driven by satellite broadband, Earth observation, and commercial space stations.
Reference data as of 2034 projection, periodically reviewed · Source: Morgan Stanley / BofA
The most aggressive estimates project $1.8 trillion by 2035, factoring in space tourism, in-space manufacturing, and cislunar economic activity.
Reference data as of 2035 projection, periodically reviewed · Source: Space Foundation
The space economy is growing approximately 9% per year, outpacing global GDP growth. Commercial space is growing even faster at 12-15% CAGR.
Reference data as of 2020-2025, periodically reviewed · Source: Euroconsult
Commercial activities now account for approximately 78% of the global space economy, up from ~60% a decade ago. Government spending represents the remaining 22%.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: Space Foundation
The launch services market reached approximately $14 billion in 2025, with SpaceX commanding over 60% market share by launch count.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: Bryce Tech
324 orbital launch attempts globally in 2025: a 25% jump over 2024 and more than double the pace of five years ago. This represents an all-time annual record; see the separate success-rate stat below for the reliability figure.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: Space Launch Report
2026 orbital launch attempts to date, from the SpaceNexus launch tracker. Success rate = full successes / attempts. A partial failure (Launch Library 2: the vehicle flew but the mission did not fully succeed) counts as an attempt and not as a success; scrubs are not attempts. The 2025 full-year figure was approximately 96% (FAA / AST).
Source: Launch Library 2 via SpaceNexus launch tracker · as of Sep 27, 2026 00:23 UTC
SpaceX alone launched over 165 Falcon 9 missions in 2025, achieving unprecedented reuse cadence with individual boosters flying 20+ times.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: SpaceX
SpaceX's share of 2026 orbital launch attempts by count (112 of 239), from the SpaceNexus launch tracker. Its share of commercial payload mass to orbit is higher still; Bryce Tech put the 2024 share above 60%.
Source: Launch Library 2 via SpaceNexus launch tracker · as of Sep 27, 2026 00:23 UTC
SpaceX Falcon 9 has driven LEO launch costs to approximately $2,720/kg, down from $54,500/kg on the Space Shuttle. Starship targets under $100/kg.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: SpaceX / Industry Est.
Over 15 active orbital launch providers worldwide including SpaceX, ULA, Arianespace, ISRO, CASC, Rocket Lab, Roscosmos, and Mitsubishi.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: Bryce Tech
Over 16,500 active satellites are currently operating in Earth orbit, a number that has grown rapidly since 2019 due to mega-constellation deployments.
Reference data as of 2026, periodically reviewed · Source: CelesTrak
SpaceX Starlink is the largest satellite constellation in history with over 6,000 operational satellites providing broadband internet in 70+ countries.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: SpaceX
Approximately 2,800 satellites were deployed in 2024, with Starlink accounting for the majority. The pace is expected to accelerate with Kuiper and Starship.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: Bryce Tech
Low Earth Orbit constellations now represent approximately 58% of all active satellites, up from less than 10% a decade ago. GEO satellites now represent less than 6%.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: SIA
Satellite broadband revenue is projected to reach $40 billion by 2030, driven by Starlink, Amazon Kuiper, and OneWeb serving underserved and maritime markets.
Reference data as of 2030 projection, periodically reviewed · Source: Euroconsult
Amazon's Project Kuiper plans to deploy 3,236 satellites for broadband internet, with initial launches beginning in 2025-2026 aboard Atlas V, Vulcan, and New Glenn.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: Amazon / FCC Filing
Governments worldwide spent over $95 billion on space programs in 2024, with the United States accounting for roughly half of that total.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: Euroconsult
NASA's annual budget is approximately $25.4 billion (FY2025), funding Artemis lunar exploration, ISS operations, planetary science, and commercial partnerships.
Reference data as of FY2025, periodically reviewed · Source: NASA
Combined U.S. military and intelligence space budgets exceed $29 billion, funding missile warning, GPS, communications, and space domain awareness.
Reference data as of FY2025, periodically reviewed · Source: DoD / ODNI
Over 70 countries now have national space agencies or space programs, though only about 15 have indigenous launch capability.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: OECD Space Forum
The European Space Agency budget exceeds $12 billion for 2025, funding Earth observation (Copernicus), Ariane 6, and human spaceflight via ISS.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: ESA
China's estimated space spending exceeds $15 billion annually, funding the Tiangong space station, Chang'e lunar missions, and an expanding launch cadence.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: Euroconsult Est.
The U.S. space industry directly employs over 360,000 people across government, commercial, and defense sectors. This excludes indirect and induced jobs.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: Space Foundation
The space workforce is growing at approximately 5% annually, outpacing overall aerospace employment growth. Software and data roles are growing even faster.
Reference data as of 2023-2024, periodically reviewed · Source: BLS / Space Foundation
The median salary in the U.S. space industry is approximately $115,000, significantly above the national median. Specialized roles in mission operations and systems engineering command $150K+.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: Glassdoor / SpaceNexus Data
The global space workforce exceeds 1 million people when including all government agencies, commercial companies, and academic research institutions.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: OECD
Approximately 42% of space industry workers hold STEM graduate degrees (MS or PhD), making it one of the most highly educated workforces in any industry.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: AIAA Survey
Women represent approximately 24% of the space workforce globally, up from 20% five years ago. Leadership representation remains lower at approximately 15%.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: Space Foundation
Venture capital and private equity investment in space companies exceeds $10 billion annually, with 2021 peaking at $15 billion before moderating.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: Space Capital
Over 500 venture-backed space startups are active globally, spanning launch, satellites, analytics, in-space manufacturing, debris removal, and more.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: Bryce Tech / Space Capital
Market capitalization at the last SPCX quote SpaceNexus fetched. SpaceX listed on Nasdaq (SPCX) on June 12, 2026, raising $85.7B. Priced $135/share on June 11 at about $1.77T; closed its first day near $161 (about $2.1T), the largest IPO in history. $75B base deal plus the underwriters' option.
Source: SPCX quote via SpaceNexus stock cache · as of Sep 26, 2026 21:52 UTC
Over 15 space companies went public via SPAC mergers during 2020-2022, including Rocket Lab, Planet, Spire, and Astra. Most have seen significant post-SPAC stock declines.
Reference data as of 2020-2022, periodically reviewed · Source: CNBC
Sierra Space ($1.5B) and Vast ($1B) completed billion-dollar funding rounds in 2025, signaling strong investor appetite for commercial space stations.
Reference data as of 2025, periodically reviewed · Source: TechCrunch / SpaceNews
Launch services attract approximately 35% of space VC investment, followed by satellite communications (25%), Earth observation (15%), and in-space services (10%).
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: Space Capital
Satellite services including TV distribution, broadband, mobile, and managed network services generate approximately $130 billion annually.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: SIA
Ground equipment including satellite dishes, GNSS receivers, chipsets, and network equipment generates approximately $140 billion in annual revenue.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: SIA
Revenue from manufacturing satellites (commercial and government) totals approximately $20 billion annually, driven by mega-constellation production.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: SIA
The Earth observation data and services market generates approximately $7 billion in revenue, growing at 15% CAGR driven by climate, agriculture, and defense.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: Euroconsult
GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, and GLONASS underpin over $300 billion in downstream economic activity across transportation, agriculture, logistics, and financial services.
Reference data as of 2024, periodically reviewed · Source: European GNSS Agency
The space tourism market is projected to reach $2.6 billion by 2030, including suborbital (Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic) and orbital (SpaceX) experiences.
Reference data as of 2030 projection, periodically reviewed · Source: UBS
SpaceX has demonstrated over 300 booster landings. Falcon 9 individual boosters have flown 20+ times. Starship, if successful, could drop heavy-lift costs below $100/kg to LEO.
Starlink has over 6,000 satellites and serves 4M+ subscribers. Amazon Kuiper, Telesat Lightspeed, and SDA Transport Layer are deploying thousands more by 2028.
With ISS retirement planned for 2030, NASA is funding commercial replacements from Axiom Space, Vast, and Orbital Reef (Blue Origin/Sierra Space). The LEO economy is transitioning.
NASA's Artemis program is building a sustained lunar presence with the Gateway station. Commercial lunar landers (Intuitive Machines, Astrobotic) are creating a cislunar services market.
SpaceNexus aggregates real-time data from 26 named data sources. Track launches, markets, satellites, and more with our intelligence platform.
Statistics on this page are compiled from publicly available reports by the Space Foundation, Satellite Industry Association (SIA), Bryce Tech, Euroconsult, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation, NASA, ESA, OECD Space Forum, Space Capital, UCS Satellite Database, and company disclosures. Projections are consensus estimates from multiple analysts. All figures are approximate and represent the most recent data available at the time of publication. SpaceNexus updates this page regularly as new data becomes available.