Space was once a byword for fantasy and wonder, but it has been firmly bought down to earth. The space industry today is rapidly expanding and diversifying into fields from mining to gaming, real estate and tourism. Over 600 new companies have entered the field since 2011, with private investment rocketing past $1 billion -- a new record. But as opportunities multiply, the competition is growing fiercer. Many of the new players will inevitably fail to launch. But some will push through the final frontier.
SpaceX
By a distance the largest and best known name in the private space industry, Elon Musk's $10 billion behemoth is gunning for Nasa's crown. SpaceX already provides cargo runs for the agency with its signature Falcon 9 and Dragon capsules, and it will deliver astronauts from 2017. Musk is hoping to bring humans to Mars in the coming decades. On December 22, 2015, the Falcon 9 rocket successfully landing upright at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
By a distance the largest and best known name in the private space industry, Elon Musk's $10 billion behemoth is gunning for Nasa's crown. SpaceX already provides cargo runs for the agency with its signature Falcon 9 and Dragon capsules, and it will deliver astronauts from 2017. Musk is hoping to bring humans to Mars in the coming decades. On December 22, 2015, the Falcon 9 rocket successfully landing upright at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
Blue Origin
Jeff Bezos, billionaire founder of Amazon.com, has had a long fascination with space. He founded a private aerospace company in 2000 aimed more at the suborbital tourist market. The New Shepard capsule, which successfully landed on November 24, 2015, is designed to travel about 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) above the surface of the Earth and land safely.
Jeff Bezos, billionaire founder of Amazon.com, has had a long fascination with space. He founded a private aerospace company in 2000 aimed more at the suborbital tourist market. The New Shepard capsule, which successfully landed on November 24, 2015, is designed to travel about 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) above the surface of the Earth and land safely.
Made in Space
Founded in 2010, the California start-up has refined 3D printers that work in zero gravity. Having already succeeded in delivering the first object printed in space -- a wrench - they will soon install a permanent unit in the International Space Station. The printer could be potentially life-saving, using plastics and other materials to produce vital tools, parts and components. Astronauts will also be spared long waits for re-supply missions, as files for the printer can be digitally shared from Earth.
Founded in 2010, the California start-up has refined 3D printers that work in zero gravity. Having already succeeded in delivering the first object printed in space -- a wrench - they will soon install a permanent unit in the International Space Station. The printer could be potentially life-saving, using plastics and other materials to produce vital tools, parts and components. Astronauts will also be spared long waits for re-supply missions, as files for the printer can be digitally shared from Earth.
Moon Express
Among the most popular start-ups for investors, Moon Express has raised over $30 million in private capital, and is bidding to scoop the Google Lunar Xprize by achieving the first moon landing by a private company. Co-founder Naveen Jain expects the mission to take place in 2017, ahead of wide-ranging exploration of the Moon and the potential establishment of an International Lunar Observatory.
Among the most popular start-ups for investors, Moon Express has raised over $30 million in private capital, and is bidding to scoop the Google Lunar Xprize by achieving the first moon landing by a private company. Co-founder Naveen Jain expects the mission to take place in 2017, ahead of wide-ranging exploration of the Moon and the potential establishment of an International Lunar Observatory.
Bigelow Aerospace
Entrepreneur Robert Bigelow is seeking to capture the orbital accommodation market with a space-creating, inflatable design. A partnership with NASA will see the company's BEAM (Bigelow Expandable Activity Module) delivered and attached to the International Space Station. The design compresses to eight feet wide in transit but expands to 565 cubic feet. The company also has plans for an 80,000 cubic feet model, and beyond that hopes to create habitation for the Moon.
Entrepreneur Robert Bigelow is seeking to capture the orbital accommodation market with a space-creating, inflatable design. A partnership with NASA will see the company's BEAM (Bigelow Expandable Activity Module) delivered and attached to the International Space Station. The design compresses to eight feet wide in transit but expands to 565 cubic feet. The company also has plans for an 80,000 cubic feet model, and beyond that hopes to create habitation for the Moon.
Planetary Resources
A single asteroid could be worth $100 billion, this Seattle firm estimates, and it's determined to put them to work. The plan is to use robotic spacecraft to carry out the daunting job of catching and drilling a rock flying at supersonic speed, and Chief Engineer Chris Lewicki told CNN this could be achieved within 5-10 years. Once mines can be established, it is hoped that they could be converted into gas stations to fuel longer range travel -- including to Mars.
A single asteroid could be worth $100 billion, this Seattle firm estimates, and it's determined to put them to work. The plan is to use robotic spacecraft to carry out the daunting job of catching and drilling a rock flying at supersonic speed, and Chief Engineer Chris Lewicki told CNN this could be achieved within 5-10 years. Once mines can be established, it is hoped that they could be converted into gas stations to fuel longer range travel -- including to Mars.
Space VR
However fast the price drops, space tourism will likely to remain an elite pursuit for the foreseeable future. But Space VR offers the experience of space to anyone with $10 and a virtual reality headset. For that price, armchair astronauts will be able to access live cameras aboard the International Space Station and navigate a 360-degree environment from the comfort of home.
However fast the price drops, space tourism will likely to remain an elite pursuit for the foreseeable future. But Space VR offers the experience of space to anyone with $10 and a virtual reality headset. For that price, armchair astronauts will be able to access live cameras aboard the International Space Station and navigate a 360-degree environment from the comfort of home.
Astroscale
A forward-thinking venture to ensure that space does not become as polluted as earth, this Singapore start-up has pioneered "spacesweeping" to clean up dangerous debris. A catcher satellite uses GPS to lock on to an object up to 100kg, before releasing smaller, adhesive satellites that stick to and drag it down to burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
A forward-thinking venture to ensure that space does not become as polluted as earth, this Singapore start-up has pioneered "spacesweeping" to clean up dangerous debris. A catcher satellite uses GPS to lock on to an object up to 100kg, before releasing smaller, adhesive satellites that stick to and drag it down to burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
Skybox Imaging
Along with Planet Labs, one of the leading players in a new field of private satellite start-ups, that make use of inexpensive Cubesat devices to deliver wider and more accurate imaging. In 2014, Skybox was acquired by Google in a $500 million deal. Key to its appeal is the vast data bank its satellites collect, which will inform industries from agriculture to insurance, shipping and disaster response.
Along with Planet Labs, one of the leading players in a new field of private satellite start-ups, that make use of inexpensive Cubesat devices to deliver wider and more accurate imaging. In 2014, Skybox was acquired by Google in a $500 million deal. Key to its appeal is the vast data bank its satellites collect, which will inform industries from agriculture to insurance, shipping and disaster response.
Tethers Unlimited
Founded in 1994 to produce space tethers, the company has since diversified into new services and products. NASA recently awarded it a contract to recycle trash from the International Space Station into useable material for 3D printing. Better still, the company will soon launch its Spiderfab innovation, a spindly robot capable of assembling -- or spinning - structures in orbit, such as spacecraft booms, solar power hubs and satellites.
Founded in 1994 to produce space tethers, the company has since diversified into new services and products. NASA recently awarded it a contract to recycle trash from the International Space Station into useable material for 3D printing. Better still, the company will soon launch its Spiderfab innovation, a spindly robot capable of assembling -- or spinning - structures in orbit, such as spacecraft booms, solar power hubs and satellites.
Xcor
Headquartered in the Mojave Desert alongside Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, Xcor has lacked the financial resources of its better-known competitor, but may yet win the race to send tourists sub-orbital. The company has received over 200 advanced bookings at around $150,000 each for a ride in its Lynx Spaceplane, powered by jet fuel and liquid oxygen, which will take off four times a day from as early as 2016.
Headquartered in the Mojave Desert alongside Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, Xcor has lacked the financial resources of its better-known competitor, but may yet win the race to send tourists sub-orbital. The company has received over 200 advanced bookings at around $150,000 each for a ride in its Lynx Spaceplane, powered by jet fuel and liquid oxygen, which will take off four times a day from as early as 2016.
Troth Technologies
If space flight seems like too much hassle, Troth is hoping to realize an alternate mode of transport that has been the dream of sci-fi enthusiasts for over a century. The space elevator concept has received support from an International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) report that stressed its feasibility and low cost compared with rockets. Troth hope to sidestep the problem of raising an elevator 100,000km by making it electricity-powered and built from modular cells. Still a long shot, in every sense, but exciting.
If space flight seems like too much hassle, Troth is hoping to realize an alternate mode of transport that has been the dream of sci-fi enthusiasts for over a century. The space elevator concept has received support from an International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) report that stressed its feasibility and low cost compared with rockets. Troth hope to sidestep the problem of raising an elevator 100,000km by making it electricity-powered and built from modular cells. Still a long shot, in every sense, but exciting.
