On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Market is projected to expand from USD 3.21 Billion in 2025 to USD 5.67 Billion by 2031, reflecting a CAGR of 9.95%. On-orbit satellite servicing involves a variety of in-space logistical tasks intended to inspect, repair, refuel, assemble, or upgrade spacecraft after they have been deployed. The market is primarily driven by the economic need to prolong the revenue-generating life of high-value assets and the critical requirement for orbital debris mitigation to guarantee sustainable space access. These drivers represent fundamental structural necessities for financial efficiency and physical sustainability in an increasingly congested space environment, distinguishing them from temporary market trends.

However, rapid market growth is hindered by the absence of standardized docking interfaces and regulatory frameworks, which complicates interoperability between client satellites and servicing vehicles. This technical and legal fragmentation introduces high operational risks for entities attempting to service third-party assets. The necessity for such solutions is highlighted by the increasing density in Low Earth Orbit. According to the Satellite Industry Association, in 2025, it was reported that a total of 11,539 satellites were operating in Earth orbit at the end of the previous year.

Market Drivers

The rising demand for satellite life extension and refueling services is fundamentally reshaping the market by converting spacecraft from fixed-lifespan assets into upgradeable infrastructure. Operators are actively seeking solutions to service national security assets and high-value commercial platforms to maximize return on investment and ensure operational resilience. This shift is accelerated by significant defense investments designed to secure critical orbital capabilities against depletion or failure. For instance, according to SpaceNews, May 2024, in the article 'Starfish Space lands $37.5 million Space Force contract,' the U.S. Space Force awarded a $37.5 million Strategic Funding Increase to the company to develop the Otter servicing vehicle for autonomous docking and maneuver missions, validating the transition to operational servicing architectures.

Simultaneously, the growing necessity for active space debris removal is compelling the industry to address the physical risks associated with an overcrowded orbital environment. As collision probabilities increase, regulatory bodies and operators are prioritizing removal technologies to protect long-term orbital sustainability and reduce liability. According to the European Space Agency, July 2024, in the 'Annual Space Environment Report,' surveillance networks were tracking approximately 35,000 objects in orbit, a density that poses a severe threat to mission safety. The financial sector is also recognizing the commercial viability of addressing this crisis; according to TechNode Global, June 2024, in the article 'Japan's Astroscale raises $153M from Tokyo IPO,' Astroscale Holdings raised approximately $153 million during its listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, signaling strong market confidence in debris mitigation business models.

Market Challenges

The absence of standardized docking interfaces and regulatory frameworks currently serves as a major structural barrier to the growth of the on-orbit satellite servicing sector. Without universally accepted technical standards for refueling and docking, servicing providers must engineer bespoke, mission-specific solutions for each client satellite. This fragmentation significantly increases operational costs and development timelines, effectively preventing the market from adopting a streamlined industrial model. Furthermore, the lack of clear legal frameworks regarding liability during proximity operations creates substantial uncertainty for investors and insurers, thereby stalling capital inflow and commercial adoption.

This inability to ensure safe, interoperable connections is particularly detrimental given the rising congestion of the orbital environment, where precision is essential. The risks associated with non-standardized maneuvering are exacerbated by the sheer volume of material currently orbiting the planet, which complicates trajectory planning for servicing vehicles. According to the European Space Agency, in 2024, the total number of tracked space objects reached approximately 35,000, including 26,000 pieces of debris larger than 10 centimeters. This high-density environment creates a hazardous backdrop for complex logistical operations, where the lack of technical interoperability increases the likelihood of mission failure and consequently slows broader market growth.

Market Trends

The Commercialization of In-Orbit Fuel Depots and Transfer Services is transforming orbital logistics by establishing a propellant supply chain that decouples spacecraft lifespan from launch fuel capacity. This trend advances beyond simple life extension to create a distributed infrastructure of tankers and transfer vehicles capable of delivering propellant to maneuverable assets, enabling dynamic operations such as inclination changes and orbit raising without depleting onboard reserves. This evolving architecture is essential for sustaining long-duration missions in geostationary and cislunar orbits, effectively shifting satellite operations from a single-use paradigm to a refuelable ecosystem. According to Payload Space, November 2025, in the article 'Orbit Fab Lands ESA, UK Space Agency Refueling Contract,' Orbit Fab secured a contract worth approximately $1.7 million to demonstrate these in-space refueling capabilities by 2028.

Concurrently, the Emergence of In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing Capabilities represents a parallel shift towards constructing large-scale structures directly in orbit, overcoming the volume limitations of launch vehicle fairings. This advancement enables the fabrication of modular power stations and expansive antennas that would be impossible to deploy as single units, fundamentally enhancing the performance density of orbital assets. Federal agencies and commercial operators are actively funding these technologies to validate the feasibility of autonomous construction and material processing in microgravity. According to Orbital Today, October 2025, in the article 'Momentus Secures NASA Contracts to Test Space Manufacturing and Propulsion Tech,' Momentus was awarded contracts worth a combined $7.6 million to carry out demonstrations of such innovative in-space manufacturing technologies, highlighting the progression from concept to operational testing.

Key Players Profiled in the On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Market

• Maxar Technologies
• Astroscale Holdings Inc.
• SpaceLogistics LLC
• Airbus SE
• Thales Alenia Space
• Tethers Unlimited, Inc.
• Altius Space Machines, Inc.
• Orbit Fab, Inc.
• Momentus, Inc.
• Orbitaid Aerospace Private Limited

Report Scope

In this report, the Global On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Market has been segmented into the following categories:

On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Market, by Type:

• Small Satellites (< 500 Kg)
• Medium Satellites (501- 1000 Kg)
• Large Satellites (>1000 Kg)

On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Market, by Service:

• Active Debris Removal (ADR) and Orbit Adjustment
• Robotic Servicing
• Refueling
• Assembly

On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Market, by End User:

• Military & Government
• Commercial

On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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