Orbital Space Industry
LEO/GEO commerce: stations, manufacturing, tourism, energy, communications
Overview
Developing a fully orbital economy. Microgravity manufacturing, space-based energy, tourism, commercial stations, asteroid resources.
Impact: $1T+ space economy, abundant energy, unique materials, breakthrough pharmaceuticals
Involved actors
Roadmap
Starlab clears NASA's critical design review
Announced on February 23, 2026, completion of the commercial critical design review moves the program from design to manufacturing. It is the twenty-eighth milestone of its Space Act agreement.
NASA reverts to conventional contracts for commercial stations
After switching to Space Act agreements in July 2025, NASA published a draft request for proposals on July 6, 2026 based on federal acquisition regulations: fixed-price contracts, multiple awards, at least two awardees.
Award of NASA's phase-two contracts
Final request for proposals expected in August 2026, proposals in October, award targeted for spring 2027 according to the acquisition schedule published by Johnson Space Center.
Axiom Station becomes a free-flying platform
Under the architecture revised in December 2024, the Payload Power Thermal Module is to dock to the ISS then detach to fly autonomously as soon as 2028. Axiom has published no launch date for it.
End of the ISS's operational life
NASA has committed to operating the station until 2030; its deorbit will be handled by a dedicated vehicle awarded to SpaceX in June 2024 for up to $843M.
Projects
Active
Orbital Manufacturing & Facility
Using commercial stations for industrial production. 1000x+ margins vs the ground.
48% — 2025-2026
SpaceX — Starshield Constellation
Government alternative to Starlink. Redundancy, sovereignty, rapid global coverage.
61% — 2026-2027
ESA — Ariane 6 and the European Launcher Challenge
The European Launcher Challenge commits over 900M euros: a first successful orbital flight must be demonstrated by 2027 at the latest. Next up for Ariane 6, its first geostationary mission.
55% — 2026
Development
Axiom Space — Axiom Station
Four private missions flown to the ISS, from Ax-1 in April 2022 to Ax-4 in June 2025; Ax-5 no earlier than January 2027. Over $525M in funding closed in June 2026.
45% — Non daté
Starlab — the station launched in a single flight
Twenty-eighth Space Act agreement milestone completed. Voyager has also secured the seventh private astronaut mission to the ISS, no earlier than 2028.
58% — Avant 2030
Blue Origin — Space Energy Initiative
SSPS (Space Solar Power Stations) concept. Clean energy, 24/7, zero-weather dependent.
18% — 2030s