Planetary Geology Market Report 2026

The planetary geology market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $2 billion in 2025 to $2.25 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing government-funded planetary exploration missions generating demand for geological mapping services, rising use of remote sensing instruments and spectrometers for analyzing planetary surfaces, early development of planetary rovers and landers enabling in-situ geological studies, growth in scientific data interpretation services driven by expanding deep-space missions, greater reliance on mineral and chemical composition assessment for mission planning.

The planetary geology market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.51 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expanding commercial participation in lunar and asteroid exploration requiring advanced geological analysis, increasing adoption of high-resolution imaging and autonomous mapping technologies, rising demand for data analytics tools to process large volumes of planetary research data, growing focus on extraterrestrial resource identification supporting future mining feasibility studies, development of next-generation planetary rovers and landers enhancing precision geological investigations. Major trends in the forecast period include growing demand for high-resolution multispectral planetary imaging, rising use of in-situ geological analysis tools for extraterrestrial missions, increasing adoption of advanced geological mapping for lunar and martian colonization planning, expansion of contract-based planetary data interpretation services, integration of miniaturized scientific instruments in compact planetary rovers.

The growing investment in space exploration is expected to drive the growth of the planetary geology market in the coming years. Space exploration investments refer to financial support aimed at developing and advancing technologies, infrastructure, and services related to space missions and operations. These investments are increasing primarily due to rising interest from private companies seeking commercial opportunities in satellite deployment, space tourism, and data services. Funding for space exploration supports planetary geology by enabling missions that examine the composition, structure, and history of planets, moons, and asteroids. For example, in December 2024, the European Space Agency, a France-based intergovernmental organization, reported that global space budgets in 2024 reached €121 billion ($138.75 billion), a 7% increase from 2023, with 47% allocated to civil space programs, representing a 5% rise compared to the previous year. Consequently, the growing investment in space exploration is driving the growth of the planetary geology market.

Key companies in the planetary geology market are focusing on technological advancements like interplanetary spacecraft to improve exploration and analysis of extraterrestrial surfaces. An interplanetary spacecraft is designed to travel between planets within a solar system, operating beyond Earth’s orbit to study bodies such as Mars, Venus, Jupiter, asteroids, and comets. For instance, in October 2024, NASA, a US-based independent space agency, launched the Europa Clipper mission, an interplanetary spacecraft intended to investigate Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. The spacecraft carries high-resolution cameras, ice-penetrating radar, thermal instruments, and a magnetometer to examine Europa’s surface, subsurface ocean, and potential habitability. It weighs about 6,000 kg and is powered by solar arrays spanning over 30 meters. Europa Clipper plans nearly 50 flybys of Europa, with data aimed at determining whether conditions exist to support life beneath the moon’s icy crust.

In March 2025, ispace Inc., a Japan-based lunar robotic exploration company, partnered with SpaceData Inc. This partnership aims to combine ispace’s lunar lander technology with SpaceData’s advanced geological analysis to improve lunar surface exploration and resource mapping. SpaceData Inc. is a Japan-based technology company specializing in planetary geology and space-based data analytics.

Major companies operating in the planetary geology market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, Airbus SE, Thales SA, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp, Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH, Bruker Corporation, Maxar Technologies Inc, Leica Geosystems AG, Earth Science Systems Inc, Sensors & Software Inc, Sercel SAS, ESG Solutions Ltd, GEOSPACE Technologies Corporation, Honeybee Robotics Ltd, Güralp Systems Ltd, Malin Space Science Systems Inc, Scintrex Limited, Officina Stellare, RMS Instruments Inc, Radar Systems Inc., Geonics Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the planetary geology market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the planetary geology 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 on advanced sensors, imaging instruments, precision robotics, and spectrometry components are increasing production and procurement costs across the planetary geology market, slowing the deployment of high-end instruments and mission-support services. These impacts are most pronounced in instrument-heavy segments such as spectrometers, seismometers, GPR systems, and robotic mobility units, as well as regions reliant on imported aerospace hardware. Research institutions and space agencies face budgetary pressures, while domestic manufacturers in some countries may benefit from reduced foreign competition, spurring localized innovation and supply-chain diversification.

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

Planetary geology is the scientific discipline that examines the composition, structure, and surface processes of celestial bodies such as planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. It aims to understand geological features like craters, volcanoes, tectonic movements, and erosion patterns to reveal the history and evolution of these bodies. This field plays a vital role in supporting space missions, shaping exploration strategies, and locating potential extraterrestrial resources.

The primary components involved in planetary geology include instruments, software, and services. Instruments are physical tools such as cameras, spectrometers, laser altimeters, and radars that are installed on spacecraft, landers, or rovers to analyze the surfaces and internal compositions of celestial bodies. These are used across a range of applications, including space exploration, research and development, academic use, and by government organizations. Key end-users include the aerospace and defense sectors, research institutions, and other related entities.

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

The planetary geology market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as planetary surface analysis, geological mapping of celestial bodies, remote sensing and imaging, mineral and chemical composition assessment, and data interpretation for space missions. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The planetary geology market includes sales of energy-efficient components and smart grid integrate geological mapping software, remote sensing instruments, spectrometers, planetary rovers and landers, data analytics tools, and other scientific equipment. 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.

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