Rocket Deorbiting Systems Market Report 2025

The rocket deorbiting systems market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $2.38 billion in 2024 to $2.62 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%. The growth observed during the historic period can be credited to a rise in satellite launches, heightened concerns over space debris, growing demand for orbital sustainability, the expansion of space agency missions, and increased regulatory focus.

The rocket deorbiting systems market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.79 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%. The projected growth in the forecast period is driven by the growing adoption of deorbiting-as-a-service, increased government investment in space cleanup, the expansion of commercial satellite constellations, greater involvement from the private sector, and a rise in global space collaboration. Key trends expected during this period include advancements in autonomous deorbit systems, innovations in passive drag devices, expanded research in propulsion technologies, the development of smart end-of-life planning software, and the emergence of multi-mission deorbit platforms.

The increasing amount of space debris is expected to drive the growth of the rocket deorbiting systems market in the near future. Space debris, also referred to as orbital debris or space junk, consists of non-functional, human-made objects in Earth's orbit that no longer serve any useful purpose. This includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions, explosions, or the disintegration of spacecraft. The rise in space debris is largely due to the expansion of satellite constellations, as companies launch a growing number of small satellites to provide global services, such as broadband internet. Rocket deorbiting systems play a crucial role in minimizing space debris by ensuring that defunct rockets and spacecraft are safely deorbited or moved to graveyard orbits, reducing collision risks and promoting a cleaner, more sustainable space environment. For example, in May 2025, the European Space Agency reported that there are around 1.2 million pieces of space debris ranging in size from 1 cm to 10 cm, as well as approximately 140 million smaller fragments between 1 mm and 1 cm. As such, the growing presence of space debris is contributing to the growth of the rocket deorbiting systems market.

Key players in the rocket deorbiting systems market are focusing on developing advanced solutions like propulsion-based deorbiting systems to ensure precise and controlled re-entry, thus reducing orbital debris. These propulsion-based systems use onboard engines to actively guide rockets or spacecraft out of orbit by reducing their velocity. This method offers a reliable and controlled approach for safely deorbiting large or high-altitude objects. For instance, in June 2024, The Aerospace Corporation, a U.S.-based nonprofit space research and development organization, developed a new prototype deorbit motor. This motor allows small spacecraft, such as CubeSats, to safely deorbit at the end of their missions. The motor uses a commercial solid-propellant rocket with a unique deflector plate and nozzle design, creating spin-stabilized axial thrust for controlled re-entry, even for satellites that have lost some attitude control. The technology also meets new regulatory standards, such as the FCC’s five-year deorbit rule, and helps mitigate the growing risk of space debris by enabling operators to retire satellites on demand, thus improving sustainability in space operations.

In March 2025, Astroscale, a Japan-based provider of orbital debris removal and satellite life-extension services, partnered with Digantara and Bellatrix Aerospace to enhance orbital services in the Asia-Pacific region. This collaboration aims to combine Astroscale's expertise in end-of-life satellite servicing with Digantara’s space situational awareness and Bellatrix’s in-space mobility systems to ensure safer and more sustainable satellite operations. Digantara is an India-based space technology startup specializing in space situational awareness (SSA) and space traffic management, while Bellatrix Aerospace, also based in India, focuses on orbital data infrastructure.

Major players in the rocket deorbiting systems market are Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), Astroscale, Firefly Aerospace Inc., Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, ClearSpace SA, Space Flight Laboratory, MMA Design LLC, ThrustMe S.A.S., High Performance Space Structure Systems GmbH, D-Orbit S.p.A., Motiv Space Systems Inc., Orbotic Systems Inc., Kall Morris Inc. (KMI), Kurs Orbital Inc., CU Aerospace L.L.C., OrbitGuardians Inc., Skyrora Limited, Spaceo Inc., Vestigo Aerospace LLC.

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

Rocket deorbiting systems are innovative technologies designed to safely bring rockets or their components back from orbit at the end of a mission. These systems facilitate a controlled descent into Earth's atmosphere or a transfer to a designated graveyard orbit. Their primary goal is to minimize space debris, decrease the likelihood of in-orbit collisions, and enhance the long-term sustainability of space activities.

The primary types of rocket deorbiting systems are active and passive systems. Active systems use controlled techniques to precisely deorbit spacecraft, effectively reducing space debris. These systems employ a range of technologies, such as chemical, electric, and hybrid propulsion, serving diverse applications across commercial, military, and government sectors. They are utilized by satellite operators, space agencies, defense organizations, and other stakeholders.

The rocket deorbiting systems market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides rocket deorbiting systems market statistics, including the rocket deorbiting systems industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the rocket deorbiting systems market share, detailed rocket deorbiting systems market segments, market trends, opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the rocket deorbiting systems industry. This rocket deorbiting systems 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 rocket deorbiting systems market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as orbital path correction, end-of-life satellite disposal, deorbit planning consultancy, and mission assurance support. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The rocket deorbiting systems market includes sales of thruster modules, autonomous deorbit kits, integrated satellite components, and retrofitting hardware. 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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