Space Rescue Operations Market Report 2025

The space rescue operations market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.4 billion in 2024 to $2.59 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to an increase in space missions conducted by government agencies, international cooperation focused on space safety, the expansion of commercial spaceflight activities, growing concerns regarding space debris and astronaut safety, and a rise in space exploration missions.

The space rescue operations market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.46 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the emergence of space tourism, increasing private investments in space infrastructure, rising demand for in-orbit servicing and maintenance, regulatory requirements for crew safety protocols, and the development of autonomous space rescue systems. Key trends expected during the forecast period include the integration of AI and robotics in rescue operations, adoption of reusable rescue spacecraft, advancements in real-time space tracking, enhanced collaboration between private and public space agencies, and a growing focus on standardizing emergency response protocols in orbit.

The escalating number of space missions is expected to propel the growth of the space rescue operations market going forward. Space missions refer to planned journeys or operations in outer space for purposes such as exploration, scientific research, satellite deployment, or national defense. The escalating number of space missions is primarily due to the growing demand for advanced communication services, as satellites enable high-speed internet, broadcasting, and secure military communication across remote and urban areas. Space rescue operations are used in space missions to ensure crew safety and mission continuity during emergencies, increasing overall reliability and operational success and enabling more ambitious exploration efforts with improved risk management strategies. For example, in January 2024, according to the report published by Space Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organization, the global space launch activity in 2024 included 223 attempts and 212 successful missions, where commercial launches saw a 50% increase over 2022, contributing to the deployment of over 2,800 satellites, up 23% from the previous year. Therefore, the escalating number of space missions is driving the growth of the space rescue operations market.

Major companies operating in the space rescue operations market are focusing on initiating innovative missions such as crew retrieval using commercial spacecraft to enhance safety and mission continuity for stranded astronauts. Crew retrieval using commercial spacecraft refers to safely transporting astronauts back to Earth from space missions using spacecraft developed and operated by private companies. For example, in May 2025, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a US-based government agency, partnered with Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), a US-based space technology company, and launched the Crew-10 mission using the commercial Dragon spacecraft to retrieve crew members who had been stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nearly nine months following the failure of Boeing’s Starliner mission. The Starliner capsule experienced multiple technical malfunctions, including helium leaks and reaction control thruster failures, which led to the mission’s early abandonment. NASA relied on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule, underscoring the critical role of commercial spaceflight companies in emergency crew recovery efforts and the increasing importance of public-private partnerships in advancing space mission safety and resilience.

In September 2024, Space Machines Company Pty Ltd, an Australia-based aerospace company, partnered with Ananth Technologies Limited and Digantara Research and Technologies Private Limited to support the Space Mission for Australia-India's Technology, Research and Innovation (MAITRI) mission. This partnership supports the Space MAITRI mission by integrating Australia's in-space servicing capabilities with India's launch and testing expertise to promote sustainable space operations, including space debris management and enhanced space domain awareness. Ananth Technologies is an India-based aerospace and defense manufacturer, and Digantara is an India-based space infrastructure company specializing in space traffic management and rescue operations.

Major players in the space rescue operations market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, Airbus Defense and Space SAS, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Thales Alenia Space SAS, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Sierra Nevada Corporation, Axiom Space Inc., Planet Labs PBC, Astroscale Holdings Inc., D-Orbit S.p.A., Starfish Space Inc., Safe Rescue LLC, Operator Solutions LLC, LifeGear LLC, Network Access Associates Ltd., Altius Space Machines Inc., Digantara Research and Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Vyoma GmbH, OrbitGuardians Inc., Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc.

North America was the largest region in the space rescue operations market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in space rescue operations report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the space rescue operations 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.

Space rescue operations involve planned or emergency measures carried out to assist astronauts, spacecraft, or equipment facing distress or malfunction in space. These operations are designed to safeguard human life and recover valuable assets in space environments such as low Earth orbit (LEO), lunar orbit, deep space, or other extraterrestrial locations.

The primary service types in space rescue operations include emergency evacuation, on-orbit repair, search and rescue, and medical assistance. Emergency evacuation refers to the swift and dependable extraction of astronauts or space equipment from hazardous situations to ensure safety. These operations utilize various types of vehicles, both manned and unmanned, and are applied across commercial, governmental, and military missions. The services cater to a range of end users, including space agencies, private space companies, and defense organizations.

The space rescue operations market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides space rescue operations market statistics, including the space rescue operations industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the space rescue operations market share, detailed space rescue operations market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the space rescue operations industry. These space rescue operations 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 space rescue operations market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as emergency evacuation services, search and rescue missions, medical support and telemedicine, technical assistance and troubleshooting and communication and monitoring services. 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 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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