Technology Overview
Space is now working infrastructure. Satellites route broadband, track ships, forecast weather, guide navigation and watch for missiles, and the pace of launches, constellations and funding keeps rising. This ebook maps the companies building and using that infrastructure, from launch providers and satellite manufacturers to operators, data analysts and the agencies that set the agenda.
The range is wide. Launch companies such as Rocket Lab, Firefly and Arianespace move payloads to orbit. Satellite builders, from small-bus makers like Apex to established primes like OHB and Thales Alenia Space, supply the hardware. Operators deliver communications from GEO, MEO and LEO fleets, including SES and Telesat. Earth observation firms such as Planet, ICEYE and Spire sell imagery, radar and weather data. Around them sit component suppliers, ground station networks, space situational awareness providers, and in-space servicing, manufacturing and lunar logistics ventures. National agencies, research institutes, trade associations and space media complete the picture. Together they show how quickly space has become essential to defense, climate monitoring, connectivity and commerce.
Current Products and News
- Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX): Starship reached orbit for the first time on Flight 14 on September 28, 2026, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites. On October 1, SpaceX completed a launch tripleheader:
- The Transporter-18 rideshare placed 130 payloads in orbit.
- Crew-13 docked with the ISS in under eight hours, a new speed record for a U.S. spacecraft.
- A Falcon Heavy launched a U.S. government reconnaissance mission.
- Rocket Lab: The company signed its largest-ever commercial Electron deal, a 20-launch contract with Synspective (September 30, 2026). Iridium stockholders also approved Rocket Lab's acquisition of Iridium, with closing expected in mid-2027.
- OHB System AG: OHB signed a contract worth nearly €1 billion with SES to develop and produce eighteen MEO satellite platforms for the EU's IRIS² Secure Connectivity Programme.
- Varda Space Industries: Varda raised a $251 million Series D to scale space-based pharmaceutical processing. One day later, on October 1, 2026, it launched two W-series spacecraft on the same rocket for the first time.
- Stoke Space Technology: Stoke announced a $1 billion raise on September 8, 2026 to accelerate its fully reusable launch effort.
- The Exploration Company GmbH: The company closed a $450 million Series C, described as the largest ever for a European space company, and won the European Space Agency's ALADDIN cargo capsule contract.
- Muon Space, Inc: With Earth Fire Alliance, Muon released first light and first active-fire images from the operational FireSat constellation. This followed a $250 million Series C.
- MDA Space (MDA Ltd): MDA agreed to buy Blue Canyon Technologies from RTX for US$620 million. It also won a $688 million replenishment SAR satellite contract from the Canadian Space Agency and a $474 million award to supply more AURORA satellites for Telesat Lightspeed.
10 Leading Companies
- Rocket Lab – This end-to-end space company provides launch, satellites, components and software, flies from its own private launch sites, and has completed 97 Electron missions.
- Spire Global, Inc – Spire operates a large LEO nanosatellite constellation for maritime, aviation and weather data, and recently won a run of NOAA and EUMETSAT contracts.
- Telesat – This global satellite communications operator is building out ground infrastructure and partnerships for its Telesat Lightspeed LEO constellation.
- Redwire Corporation (Redwire Space) – Redwire is a vertically integrated space infrastructure company whose technology powers the ISS, and it was recently selected for Space Systems Command's $980 million NITE-STAR contract.
- SES Global SA – This leading satellite operator completed its O3b mPOWER MEO constellation in September 2026.
- Northrop Grumman – A prime U.S. government contractor behind Cygnus and the James Webb Space Telescope, Northrop Grumman is expanding its Arizona space engineering campus.
- Lockheed Martin Corporation – Lockheed Martin is a major producer of satellites, space systems and military aircraft, described as a key player in the space industry.
- L3Harris Technologies – A key supplier of satellite payloads, ground systems and sensing, L3Harris recently completed the Preliminary Design Review for SDA Tranche 3 missile tracking satellites.
- NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration – NASA is described as a world leader in satellites and space technology, and it is driving crewed missions such as Crew-13 and large logistics contract awards.
- Planet Labs (Planet.com) – Planet operates a constellation of more than 200 Earth-imaging satellites and is now adding satellite manufacturing in Germany.
Get Ahead in Satellites and Space
This market moves every day. On October 2, 2026 alone, 414 companies in this ebook updated their newsrooms. Computer Review puts all 1,902 companies across 74 countries in one place, with 1,155 job pages tracked, so you see the moves as they happen.
With a subscription you can:
- Catch every press release the day it is published
- Know who leads each company and who is hiring
- Size up markets country by country
- Find any company or topic in seconds with keyword search
Start today for just $15 a month, cancel any time, or get the best value at $120 a year and save 33%.
