Cosmic Radiation Shielding Market Report 2025

The cosmic radiation shielding market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.13 billion in 2024 to $1.23 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9%. The growth during the historic period can be linked to growing awareness of astronaut health risks, an increase in space exploration missions, expanded satellite deployments for communication and defense purposes, rising investments in space tourism initiatives, and heightened demand for advanced shielding materials in spacecraft design.

The cosmic radiation shielding market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.72 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth expected in the forecast period is driven by the expanding commercialization of space travel, increased government funding for deep space missions, greater adoption of miniaturized satellites, growing involvement of the private sector in space programs, and a rising need for protection during long-duration spaceflights. Key trends during this period include advancements in nanomaterial-based shielding solutions, development of advanced polymer composites for lightweight protection, innovations in active radiation shielding technologies, incorporation of AI for predictive space weather shielding, and the creation of advanced multi-layered shielding systems tailored for deep space missions.

The rising expenditure on space exploration is expected to drive the growth of the cosmic radiation shielding market in the future. Space exploration expenditure involves funding activities related to exploring outer space and securing national interests through space-based defense initiatives. This increase is motivated by heightened national security concerns, leading countries to invest heavily in protecting their space assets and maintaining strategic dominance in the space domain. A significant portion of this spending is focused on developing advanced shielding technologies to safeguard astronauts and equipment from cosmic radiation, which poses a critical challenge for long-duration missions beyond Earth’s orbit. These investments support research into innovative materials and designs that improve safety and mission success in deep space environments. For example, in April 2024, the World Economic Forum, a Switzerland-based NGO, projected the space economy's value to rise from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035, with an annual growth rate of around 9%. Thus, growing space exploration and defense spending is propelling the cosmic radiation shielding market.

Key players in the cosmic radiation shielding market are prioritizing strategic partnerships to improve the testing of shielding materials. Strategic collaborations involve agreements between organizations that pool resources and expertise to pursue shared long-term goals or strengthen competitive positioning. For example, in April 2022, Cosmic Shielding Corporation, a US space technology firm known for its advanced Plasteel radiation shielding material, announced a partnership with European startup Space Forge. This collaboration aims to test Cosmic Shielding’s material aboard Space Forge’s ForgeStar-0 satellite, a small-class vehicle designed for manufacturing in space. The launch will take place from Spaceport Cornwall using Virgin Orbit’s Launcher One system. This partnership represents an important milestone in validating radiation protection technologies for future space missions.

In March 2022, Trivitron Healthcare, an India-based medical technology company, acquired The Kennedy Company for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to strengthen Trivitron’s position in the US market by expanding its manufacturing and R&D capabilities. It also enhances Trivitron’s offerings in radiation protection and medical imaging technologies. The Kennedy Company is a US-based manufacturer specializing in radiation shielding materials.

Major players in the cosmic radiation shielding market are The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Airbus SE, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A., Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, 3M Company, Toray Industries Inc., Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., AMETEK Inc., QinetiQ Group plc, Hexcel Corporation, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Cobham Limited, StemRad Ltd., and Barrier Technologies LLC.

North America was the largest region in the cosmic radiation shielding market in 2024. The regions covered in cosmic radiation shielding report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the cosmic radiation shielding market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

Cosmic radiation shielding involves materials and technologies developed to protect astronauts, spacecraft, and sensitive equipment from the harmful effects of cosmic radiation encountered in space. This shielding helps reduce exposure to high-energy particles, thereby minimizing health risks and preventing damage to equipment. It is crucial for the safety of long-duration space missions and satellite operations.

The primary materials used for cosmic radiation shielding include polyethylene, hydrogenated boron nitride nanotubes, aluminum, and others. Polyethylene, a type of thermoplastic polymer, is valued for its lightweight nature, high impact resistance, and effective radiation-blocking capabilities, making it widely used in space applications. Shielding technologies include both active and passive methods. These materials are applied in spacecraft, satellites, space stations, and other space systems, serving end users such as aerospace companies, defense organizations, research institutions, and more.

The cosmic radiation shielding market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides cosmic radiation shielding market statistics, including the cosmic radiation shielding industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the cosmic radiation shielding market share, detailed cosmic radiation shielding market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the cosmic radiation shielding industry. This cosmic radiation shielding 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.

The cosmic radiation shielding market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as simulation and modeling services, training and educational services, and certification and compliance services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The cosmic radiation shielding market also includes sales of nanotechnology-based materials, in-situ fabricated materials, and inflatable or deployable shields. 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 downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

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 and 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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