Carrier Rocket Market Report 2026

The carrier rocket market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $13.69 billion in 2025 to $15.06 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to development and deployment of early orbital and suborbital rockets, advancements in multi-stage rocket technologies, growth in government-funded space programs, increasing commercial satellite launches driving demand for launch vehicles, expansion of global launch service providers and infrastructure.

The carrier rocket market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $21.99 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for super heavy-lift rockets for large payload deployment, growth in commercial satellite constellations and space exploration missions, advancements in reusable and cost-efficient launch vehicle technologies, increasing private sector investment in orbital and interplanetary launches, integration of ai and predictive analytics for launch optimization and mission success. Major trends in the forecast period include reusable launch vehicle development, increased demand for small satellite launches, advancement in multi-stage propulsion systems, growing commercial space launch activities, rise in ride-share launch offerings.

The growing number of space expeditions is expected to drive the expansion of the carrier rocket market. These expeditions involve missions that explore outer space using spacecraft and, in some cases, astronauts venturing beyond Earth. The increase in such missions is largely driven by the search for alternative resources and potential habitats beyond our planet, aimed at addressing Earth’s long-term challenges. Carrier rockets are essential to these missions, providing the necessary thrust to lift spacecraft, satellites, and scientific instruments into space. They follow precisely calculated trajectories to deliver payloads into orbit or toward other celestial bodies. For example, in January 2024, the Space Foundation reported that more than 2,800 satellites were launched into orbit in 2023 - a 23% increase from the previous year - indicating strong growth in launch activity.

Companies in the carrier rocket market are focusing on innovation, particularly the development of solid-propellant rockets, to boost payload capacity, enhance launch efficiency, and lower operational costs. Solid-propellant rockets use pre-packed solid fuel that ignites to generate the thrust needed for space launches. In January 2025, Galactic Energy, a China-based aerospace company, successfully launched the CERES-1 Remote 16 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, placing five satellites into orbit. This mission was the 16th in the Ceres-1 series and brought the total number of satellites launched by this platform to 63, reinforcing its status as one of China's leading commercial launch systems.

In January 2024, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a government-owned company in India, entered into a long-term agreement with Arianespace to provide satellite launch services. The partnership will leverage ISRO’s LVM3 and Arianespace’s Ariane 6 rockets to address the increasing global demand for launching heavier communication satellites and satellite constellations. Arianespace is a French provider of commercial launch services.

Major companies operating in the carrier rocket market are Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Blue Origin LLC, United Launch Alliance LLC, Relativity Space Inc., Rocket Lab USA Inc., Firefly Aerospace Inc., ExPace Services Inc., Orbex Space Ltd., Virgin Orbit Inc., LandSpace Technology Corporation, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Eurockot Launch Services GmbH, Orbital ATK Inc., Skyrora Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the carrier rocket market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the carrier rocket market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs are influencing the carrier rocket market by increasing the cost of advanced propulsion components, satellite integration systems, and imported aerospace materials, particularly impacting North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific launch providers. Orbital rockets and cryogenic propulsion technologies are among the most affected due to reliance on specialized global supply chains. While tariffs have slowed production and raised pricing for commercial launch services, they have also accelerated domestic manufacturing investments, local sourcing of critical components, and collaboration within regional space ecosystems.

The carrier rocket market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides carrier rocket market statistics, including the carrier rocket industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the carrier rocket market share, detailed carrier rocket market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the carrier rocket industry. This carrier rocket market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

A carrier rocket, also referred to as a launch vehicle, is a rocket engineered to carry payloads - such as satellites, spacecraft, or scientific equipment - from the Earth's surface into space. It generates the thrust required to overcome Earth’s gravitational pull and place the payload into a specific orbit or flight path. Carrier rockets are generally composed of multiple stages, which detach progressively during ascent, enhancing efficiency and ensuring precise and secure payload delivery into space.

The primary types of carrier rockets include solid rocket boosters, liquid rocket engines, hybrid rockets, and cryogenic rockets. Solid rocket boosters (SRBs) utilize solid propellant to produce thrust and are typically employed to provide extra power during the initial stages of flight. Launch types encompass dedicated missions, rideshare opportunities, and regularly scheduled launches. Target orbital ranges consist of low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), geostationary Earth orbit (GEO), and other specialized orbits. Launch objectives vary, including satellite deployment, interplanetary exploration, space station servicing, and scientific experimentation. Major industry participants include government space agencies, private aerospace firms, academic and research institutions, international space organizations, defense bodies, and commercial entities.

The countries covered in the carrier rocket market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The carrier rocket market consists of sales of orbital rockets, suborbital rockets, and super heavy-lift rockets. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including satellite companies, government agencies, commercial operators, and resellers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods, such as launch integration support and associated pre-launch services.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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