Space Cargo Delivery Market Report 2025

The space cargo delivery market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $4.57 billion in 2024 to $5.15 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to increased satellite deployments, a rise in commercial space missions, growing international space collaborations, an increase in defense and surveillance satellites, and a surge in data and communication satellites.

The space cargo delivery market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $8.14 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the rising number of international space missions, increasing space traffic, expansion of satellite networks and space exploration activities, growing demand for complex payload deployments, and heightened need for satellite launches. Key trends anticipated during the forecast period include a shift toward reusable launch vehicles and hardware, the adoption of eco-friendly propellants, increased use of artificial intelligence for mission automation, growing commercial cargo partnerships, and advancements in 3D printing for manufacturing spare parts in space.

The rising number of international space missions is expected to drive the growth of the space cargo delivery market in the coming years. Space exploration missions involve planned journeys or operations carried out by humans or robotic spacecraft to investigate outer space. The increase in international space missions is mainly due to expanding collaboration among countries and space agencies, which work together to share resources, lower costs, and achieve scientific and technological goals more effectively. Space cargo delivery plays a crucial role in these missions by providing timely and dependable transport of essential supplies, scientific instruments, and technology to orbiting spacecraft, lunar bases, or deep space locations. For example, in September 2022, the Government Accountability Office, a U.S.-based government agency, projected that the number of satellites actively operating in orbit would rise from 5,500 in 2022 to 58,000 by 2030. As a result, the growth in international space missions is supporting the expansion of the space cargo delivery market.

Leading companies in the space cargo delivery market are developing innovative solutions like automated cargo capsules to improve delivery efficiency and reduce reliance on crewed missions. Automated cargo capsules are uncrewed spacecraft designed to autonomously transport supplies to and from space stations. These capsules help decrease human involvement, reduce mission costs, and allow for more frequent and reliable resupply missions that support ongoing space operations. For instance, in November 2024, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), a U.S.-based space technology company, launched nearly 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg) of cargo to the International Space Station aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This mission, SpaceX’s 31st resupply flight for NASA, successfully delivered an uncrewed Cargo Dragon capsule carrying food, equipment, and scientific experiments such as solar wind studies, investigations of cosmic radiation effects on plants, cold welding research in space, and a Japanese-developed wooden satellite named LignoSat designed to explore sustainable spacecraft materials.

In January 2022, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), a U.S.-based aerospace and defense organization, partnered with Space Exploration Technologies Corp. to advance spacecraft technology and space logistics capabilities. Through this collaboration, AFRL aims to utilize SpaceX’s expertise to evaluate the feasibility and operational potential of rocket technology for rapid global cargo delivery and military logistics support. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. is a U.S.-based astronautics company specializing in cargo delivery services to space.

Major players in the space cargo delivery market are The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Blue Origin LLC, Thales Alenia Space S.A.S., Airbus Defense and Space S.A.U., Sierra Space Corporation, Orbital Sciences Corporation, Rocket Lab USA Inc., Firefly Aerospace Inc., Impulse Space Inc., Nanoracks LLC, D-Orbit S.p.A., Starfish Space Inc., Exotrail S.A., Astrobotic Technology Inc., Skyrora Limited, Atomos Nuclear and Space Corporation, Space Machines Company Pty Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the space cargo delivery market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in space cargo delivery report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the space cargo delivery 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 cargo delivery refers to the transportation of goods, equipment, and supplies between Earth and space destinations such as the International Space Station (ISS), satellites, or prospective lunar and Martian bases. This delivery is typically carried out using specialized spacecraft developed by government space agencies or private companies. Space cargo delivery is essential for sustaining ongoing missions, enabling scientific research, and supporting future space exploration as well as long-term human presence beyond Earth.

The primary payload types in space cargo delivery include satellites, general cargo, crew supplies, and other payload categories. Satellites are spaceborne payloads launched into various orbits to support functions such as communication, navigation, Earth observation, and scientific research. These satellites operate in different orbital regimes including low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, and beyond. A range of launch vehicles, both reusable and expendable, are utilized to deliver these payloads, serving diverse end users such as commercial enterprises, government agencies, and military organizations.

The space cargo delivery market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides space cargo delivery market statistics, including the space cargo delivery industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the space cargo delivery market share, detailed space cargo delivery market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the space cargo delivery industry. These space cargo delivery 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 cargo delivery market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as orbital cargo transport, sub-orbital cargo flights, satellite deployment, return cargo services, payload integration, on-orbit cargo transfer, space logistics and supply chain management, autonomous and robotic cargo delivery, commercial resupply services, and deep space cargo missions. 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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