Rocket Autonomous Navigation Market Report 2026

The rocket autonomous navigation market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $2.61 billion in 2025 to $2.95 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growing adoption of onboard flight control computers to improve rocket guidance accuracy, increasing integration of star trackers for precise attitude and position determination in space missions, rising reliance on software simulation for validating autonomous navigation algorithms, expansion of testing and validation services as rockets transitioned toward higher autonomy, early development of sensor and data processing systems enabling real-time trajectory adjustments.

The rocket autonomous navigation market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.76 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for fully autonomous mission planning to support reusable and deep-space rockets, increasing adoption of advanced navigation algorithms for higher precision and fuel efficiency, growing integration of multi-sensor fusion systems to enhance reliability under complex flight conditions, expansion of commercial launch providers investing in next-generation autonomous navigation technologies, technological advancements improving processing power and miniaturization of flight control computers and star trackers. Major trends in the forecast period include increased adoption of sensor fusion and redundant navigation architectures, growing integration of onboard autonomy and real-time decision making, rising use of miniaturized star trackers and lightweight flight computers, expansion of simulation-driven validation and hardware-in-the-loop testing, surge in demand for radiation-hardened navigation electronics.

The increasing emphasis on reusable rockets is anticipated to drive the growth of the rocket autonomous navigation market. Reusable rockets are launch vehicles engineered to return to Earth and be reused multiple times, significantly lowering the cost of space missions. The focus on reusable rockets is rising due to the demand for more affordable and sustainable launch solutions that reduce waste and enhance mission efficiency. Rocket autonomous navigation plays a vital role by providing precise guidance, enabling controlled landings, and allowing for real-time flight adjustments, all of which support the safe recovery and reuse of rockets. For example, in May 2025, PatentPC, a US-based artificial intelligence copilot technology company, reported that SpaceX carried out more than 90 launches using reusable rockets in 2023, a substantial increase from fewer than 20 disposable rocket launches in 2022. Thus, the growing interest in reusable rockets is fueling the expansion of the rocket autonomous navigation market.

Leading companies operating in the rocket autonomous navigation market are focusing on developing technological advancements such as autonomous rocket recovery ships to improve launch efficiency, reduce recovery costs, and enable reusable launch operations. An autonomous rocket recovery ship is an unmanned vessel equipped with advanced navigation and control systems designed to track, approach, and recover rocket boosters or stages after launch without human intervention. For example, in August 2025, iSpace, a China-based exploration company, introduced the Xingji Guihang to develop an autonomous rocket recovery ship intended to enhance rocket retrieval efficiency and support reusable launch operations. The ship is designed to recover reusable rocket boosters at sea, contributing to the nation’s efforts to achieve cost-effective space launches. It features a large recovery deck and an advanced dynamic positioning system that allows it to autonomously stabilize and accurately capture rockets even in rough ocean conditions. This development strengthens China’s reusable rocket capabilities, reduces launch costs, and enhances its competitive standing in commercial space technology.

In March 2024, Honeywell International Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturing company, acquired Civitanavi Systems S.p.A. for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Honeywell aims to strengthen its autonomous operations capabilities by integrating Civitanavi’s high-precision inertial navigation and stabilization technologies into its aerospace and industrial navigation offerings. Civitanavi Systems is an Italy-based manufacturing company that provides rocket autonomous navigation solutions.

Major companies operating in the rocket autonomous navigation market are Raytheon Technologies Corporation, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Airbus Defence and Space, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Honeywell Aerospace, BAE Systems plc, Safran S.A., Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leonardo S.p.A., Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Blue Origin LLC, Moog Inc., Sierra Nevada Corporation, Beyond Gravity Inc., Rocket Lab USA Inc., True Anomaly Inc., KinetX Incorporated, Starfish Space Inc., Xona Space Systems Inc., WeSpace Technologies Inc.

North America was the largest region in the rocket autonomous navigation market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the rocket autonomous navigation 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 affecting the rocket autonomous navigation market by increasing the cost of imported precision sensors, radiation-hardened electronics, and high-reliability computing components, which raises system prices and extends procurement timelines. These impacts are most pronounced for hardware components such as star trackers, IMUs, and flight control computers in regions dependent on global supply chains including North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Higher duties have slowed modernization and integration programs for aerospace and defense customers while elevating costs for smallsat and deep-space navigation systems. However, tariffs have also encouraged local sourcing, accelerated supplier diversification, and stimulated investment in domestic component manufacturing.

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

Rocket autonomous navigation refers to the ability of a rocket to manage and control its flight path independently, without the need for human input. It relies on sensors, onboard computing systems, and advanced algorithms to calculate real-time position, speed, and trajectory, enabling precise targeting, optimized fuel consumption, and enhanced mission safety.

The primary components of rocket autonomous navigation include hardware, software, and services. Hardware consists of the physical parts of a computing or electronic system, such as the processor, memory, and motherboard. It incorporates various technologies, including global positioning systems (GPS), inertial navigation systems, sensor fusion, and others, and is utilized by a range of end-users such as aerospace firms, defense agencies, space exploration organizations, and more.

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

The rocket autonomous navigation market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as navigation system design and integration services, software development and simulation, sensor and data processing services, testing and validation, and autonomous mission planning. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The rocket autonomous navigation market includes sales of star trackers and flight control computers. 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 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.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.