Space Resource Utilization Market Report 2026

The space resource utilization market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $1.64 billion in 2025 to $1.97 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to early research into lunar and asteroid material composition for extraction potential, initial development of life support resource supply systems using in-situ resources, foundational experiments in orbital debris recycling for material reuse, growth in on-demand manufacturing technologies for space-based assembly, early pilot projects for using extraterrestrial materials in fuel production and construction.

The space resource utilization market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.1 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of large-scale lunar and asteroid mining initiatives for sustainable resource supply, increasing deployment of orbital recycling and material recovery platforms, development of advanced in-situ manufacturing and 3d printing technologies, rising investment in space-based power generation utilizing local resources, growing commercial and governmental partnerships to establish self-sufficient off-earth resource ecosystems. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of lunar and asteroid mining missions, growth in in-situ resource processing technologies, rising demand for on-orbit manufacturing and repair, increased investment in propellant production infrastructure, advancements in closed-loop life support resource systems.

The growing demand for rare minerals is expected to drive the growth of the space resource utilization market. Rare minerals are naturally occurring materials that are scarce in the Earth's crust and valued for their unique properties, which are critical in electronics, renewable energy, and aerospace technologies. Demand for these minerals is rising due to their essential role in manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles. Space resource utilization addresses this demand by enabling the extraction of scarce and valuable elements from asteroids and the lunar surface, reducing reliance on Earth's limited resources. For example, in January 2025, the United States Geological Survey, a US-based government agency, reported that global rare earth production increased from 376,000 metric tons in 2022 to 390,000 metric tons in 2024, reflecting a 3.7% rise over two years. Consequently, the increasing demand for rare minerals is fueling the growth of the space resource utilization market.

Major companies operating in the space resource utilization market are focusing on developing innovative solutions such as polar resources ice mining equipment to develop technologies for extracting and processing water ice from lunar poles. Polar resources ice mining equipment refers to specialized tools designed to excavate lunar polar soil and analyze it for the presence of water ice and other volatiles. For example, in February 2025, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., a US-based space technology company, launched the Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission carrying PRIME-1 (Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1). It is a NASA payload designed to demonstrate key technologies for locating and extracting water ice from the Moon’s surface. PRIME-1 aims to test a drill and a mass spectrometer to detect and analyze subsurface ice. The mission supports future lunar exploration by helping to develop methods for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), which is critical for enabling long-term human presence on the Moon and reducing reliance on Earth-supplied resources.

In August 2025, Space Ocean Corp, a US-based aerospace company, formed a partnership with Astrum Drive Inc. The collaboration aims to advance space exploration and resource development by combining Astrum Drive’s propellantless propulsion technology with Space Ocean’s expertise in orbital fluid transfer and satellite logistics. Astrum Drive Inc. is a US-based technology company specializing in space exploration and propulsion solutions, with a focus on innovative propellantless propulsion systems.

Major companies operating in the space resource utilization market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Airbus Defence and Space SA, Blue Origin Enterprises L.P., Thales Alenia Space SAS, Sierra Nevada Company LLC, AMi Exploration, ispace Inc., Turion Space Corp., Wyvern, AstroForge Inc., Bradford Space Inc., Interlune Corporation, Astrobotic Technology Inc., Moon Express Inc., Orbit Fab Inc., Trans Astronautica Corporation, Astronika, Off-World Inc., Polimak Space, Lunasonde.

North America was the largest region in the space resource utilization market in 2025. The regions covered in the space resource utilization 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 space resource utilization market by raising costs on imported robotics, extraction hardware, advanced alloys, and sensor systems essential for mining, processing, and in-situ manufacturing. These cost pressures most affect metal and mineral extraction technologies, propellant production systems, and commercial operators in regions reliant on foreign components, such as North America and Europe. While tariffs disrupt supply chains and delay mission timelines, they also encourage localization of manufacturing, stimulate domestic innovation in resource extraction technologies, and strengthen regional supply resilience.

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

Space resource utilization involves the identification, extraction, processing, and application of materials located in space, such as those on the Moon, asteroids, or other celestial bodies, to support space missions and enable sustained human presence beyond Earth. These resources are used for life support, fuel generation, construction materials, and space-based manufacturing. The goal of space resource utilization is to minimize dependence on Earth-supplied resources, reduce mission costs, and promote sustainable space exploration and development.

The primary types of resources involved in space resource utilization include water, metals, minerals, gases, and others. Water refers to frozen or liquid water found on celestial bodies like the Moon or asteroids and is used in various applications such as construction, fuel production, life support, and manufacturing. These resources serve a range of end users including government agencies, commercial entities, and other stakeholders.

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

The space resource utilization market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as life support resource supply, orbital debris recycling, power generation services, and on-demand manufacturing support. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

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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