Asteroid Prospecting Micro-Probe Market Report 2026

The asteroid prospecting micro-probe market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $0.93 billion in 2025 to $1.08 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growing interest in space mining and resource exploration, advancements in miniaturized spacecraft and probe technologies, early demonstration missions for asteroid analysis, collaborations between space agencies and private aerospace firms, increasing investment in scientific instrumentation for small-scale probes.

The asteroid prospecting micro-probe market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.96 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to development of swarm and fleet micro-probes for coordinated asteroid prospecting, integration of advanced sensors and autonomous navigation systems, rising demand for data-driven asteroid resource mapping, expansion of private and commercial space mining initiatives, emphasis on lifecycle support, in-orbit testing, and remote mission operations. Major trends in the forecast period include miniaturization of space instruments, in-situ resource utilization (isru) technologies, swarm and fleet coordination for asteroid exploration, advanced surface composition analysis, enhanced deep space communication protocols,.

The expansion of space infrastructure is set to drive growth in the asteroid prospecting micro-probe market. Space infrastructure encompasses the facilities, technologies, and assets such as satellites, launch systems, and ground stations that enable space operations. This development is accelerating due to increasing demand for satellite communication and Earth observation services, which require enhanced networks of satellites and ground systems to support global connectivity and data needs. Improved space infrastructure provides asteroid prospecting micro-probes with advanced launch capabilities and reliable deep-space communication networks, enabling them to reach asteroids and transmit data back to Earth effectively. For example, in July 2025, the UK Space Agency announced a $13 million (£10 million) investment to advance spaceport infrastructure development in the Shetland Isles. Consequently, the growth of space infrastructure is fueling the asteroid prospecting micro-probe market.

Leading companies in the asteroid prospecting micro-probe market are advancing deep-space-ready CubeSat deployers to improve deployment efficiency, payload accuracy, and reliability in harsh space conditions. These specialized deployment systems are designed to securely store, transport, and release CubeSats during deep-space missions, withstanding extreme environments such as high radiation, temperature shifts, and vacuum beyond Earth’s orbit. For example, in December 2023, the European Space Agency successfully integrated the CubeSat deployer flight model into the Hera spacecraft. This system features a very low-speed release mechanism that ejects CubeSats at 2-3 cm/s, ensuring precise and safe deployment in the asteroid’s ultra-low gravity. This mission highlights advanced CubeSat deployment technology to support detailed asteroid exploration and future planetary defense efforts.

In October 2024, ISPACE Inc., a Japan-based provider of lunar landers, surface exploration systems, and mission operations services, entered into a partnership with Asteroid Mining Corporation Ltd. The collaboration aims to demonstrate lunar robotics that support future asteroid mining, with ISPACE delivering AMC’s SCAR-E robot to the Moon for resource exploration. Asteroid Mining Corporation Ltd is a UK-based aerospace and technology company that provides services for asteroid prospecting.

Major companies operating in the asteroid prospecting micro-probe market are BAE Systems Plc, Blue Origin LLC, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, European Space Agency, Sierra Space Corporation, KarmanPlus Holding Inc., GomSpace Group AB, Space Dynamics Laboratory, GITAI Inc., AstroForge Inc., Astrobotic Technology Inc., Motiv Space Systems Inc., OffWorld Inc., Trans Astronautica Corporation, Asteroid Mining Corporation Ltd., TransAstra Inc., SpaceFab.US Inc., Planetary Resources Inc., BigDipper Exploration Technologies, WeSpace Technologies.

North America was the largest region in the asteroid prospecting micro-probe market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the asteroid prospecting micro-probe 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 have impacted the asteroid prospecting micro-probe market by increasing costs for key components such as miniaturized sensors, spectrometers, and specialized robotics parts, disrupting supply chains primarily in regions with heavy manufacturing presence like North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The robotic and autonomous probe segments are most affected due to reliance on high-tech imports. However, tariffs have also encouraged regional manufacturing investments and innovation in cost-efficient probe designs, potentially strengthening local ecosystems in the long term.

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

An asteroid prospecting micro-probe is a compact, specialized spacecraft designed to investigate and analyze asteroids for their mineral and resource potential. It carries instruments to evaluate the composition, surface characteristics, and materials that could be extracted. These probes play a crucial role in space mining efforts by supplying essential data to identify valuable asteroid targets.

The primary categories of asteroid prospecting micro-probes include robotic probes, autonomous probes, and semi-autonomous probes. Robotic probes are automated devices engineered to carry out tasks such as surface exploration, sample gathering, navigation support, and communication relay in space or planetary settings. They are equipped with various payloads such as spectrometers, cameras, drills, sensors, and more. These probes are launched using different platforms including satellite launch vehicles and spacecraft. Their applications span resource mapping, sample collection, mineral analysis, scientific research, and others, serving a variety of end-users such as space agencies, private space enterprises, research institutions, and more.

The countries covered in the asteroid prospecting micro-probe market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The asteroid prospecting micro-probe market consists of sales of miniaturized laboratory probes, volatile detection probes, and swarm or fleet probes. 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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