Commercial use of space

Space economy refers to the set of activities, industries, technologies, services, and resources that generate <a href="/facts/Economic_value/76jsyB6X">economic value</a> through the <a href="/facts/Space_exploration/2eKXYVdq">space exploration</a>, understanding, management, and exploitation of <a href="/facts/Outer_space/R3LRKyFs">outer space</a>. 
Commercial satellite use began in 1962 with <a href="/facts/Telstar_1/UwWjVqXB">Telstar 1</a>, transmitting TV signals across the <a href="/facts/Atlantic_Ocean/EI4uChIb">Atlantic Ocean</a>. <a href="/facts/Syncom_3/vj9n5PNX">Syncom 3</a> expanded possibilities in 1964, broadcasting the <a href="/facts/Olympics/TXbdPIVS">Olympics</a>. <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a>'s <a href="/facts/Television_Infrared_Observation_Satellite/JqgnoetN">TIROS satellites</a> advanced <a href="/facts/Meteorology/xblFr28q">meteorological</a> research, while <a href="/facts/Intelsat_I/2Me7x8pt">Intelsat I</a> in 1965 showed commercial viability. Later, France's <a href="/facts/Arianespace/qxMUItMm">Arianespace</a> and USA's <a href="/facts/Iridium_Communications/UVnlrjDM">Iridium Communications</a> furthered satellite services. By 2004, global investment in all space sectors was estimated to be US$50.8 billion. As of 2010, 31% of all space launches were commercial. By the year 2035, the space economy is projected to have grown to $1.8 trillion.
The commercial spaceflight sector primarily generates revenue by launching satellites into Earth's orbit, facilitated by providers deploying satellites into <a href="/facts/Low_Earth_Orbit/rq1TwayJ">Low Earth Orbit</a> and <a href="/facts/Geostationary_Earth_Orbit/VBq1v5Kr">Geostationary Earth Orbit</a>. The <a href="/facts/Federal_Aviation_Administration/PYsXt3YT">Federal Aviation Administration</a> (FAA) licenses six U.S. <a href="/facts/Spaceport/y2SJQ8Wr">spaceports</a> and oversees commercial rocket launches, with global capacity expanding from sites in Russia, France, and China. Investment in <a href="/facts/Reusable_launch_vehicle/j0WC10op">reusable launch vehicles</a> by companies like <a href="/facts/SpaceX/2tKHsVdJ">SpaceX</a> and <a href="/facts/Blue_Origin/CxFvEmDr">Blue Origin</a> is driving innovation in this sector. In 2022, 74 FAA-licensed commercial space operations were conducted, and this number is expected to double in the near future.
Commercial satellite manufacturing encompasses non-military, civilian, governmental, and non-profit satellite production along with ground equipment manufacturing, supporting satellite operations, and transponder leasing providing satellite access. Satellite subscription services offer access to a variety of television channels (such as <a href="/facts/DirecTV/6YdG5f7H">DirecTV</a> and <a href="/facts/Dish_network/vgvu5TDW">Dish network</a>), radio stations (like <a href="/facts/SiriusXM/dHAYI1h6">SiriusXM</a>), and other media content through satellite transmission. Satellite imagery provides detailed views of Earth, sold by imaging companies to governments and businesses like <a href="/facts/Apple_Maps/bhWs8gra">Apple Maps</a>. Satellite telecommunications enable Internet services globally. Satellite navigation systems use signals from satellites for precise positioning and timing. Space tourism ventures (led by <a href="/facts/SpaceX/2tKHsVdJ">SpaceX</a>, <a href="/facts/Virgin_Galactic/BrJavxml">Virgin Galactic</a> and <a href="/facts/Blue_Origin/CxFvEmDr">Blue Origin</a>) envision recreational human space travel. Commercial space resource recovery involves extracting materials from asteroids and other celestial bodies for use in space or on Earth.
Space commerce regulation has historically faced challenges regarding property rights in space, but legislation like the <a href="/facts/U.S._Commercial_Space_Launch_Competitiveness_Act/vKef5XE5">U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act</a> aims to clarify ownership and encourage commercial space exploration.

Commercial use of space open-in-new

Commercial use of space