This thread clearly deserves an update. Itโs been 12.5 years since its first post and almost 9 years since its most recent. Since then a lot has changed: reusable rockets have become the norm, cutting launch cost by several orders of magnitude, thereby making lower earth orbit accessible for even smaller companies and enabling the installation of the first satellite mega constellations.
For the first time in history, the majority of space launches are now performed by commercial launch service providers such as Blue Origin, Rocket Lab and of course SpaceX which alone accounts for more launches than all other entities combined. The number of private companies conducting business in the rapidly expanding space economy is growing bigger by the day: from launch service providers to equipment manufacturers, satellite operators and even space mining companies (e.g. Interlune). The growth of the space economy and along with it the number of space-related startups will most likely continue in the foreseeable future with NASAโs Artemis II lunar mission just around the corner (and Artemis III currently planned for 2027). What still sounded much like science fiction in 2013 when this thread was first posted, is quickly turning into science fact. .space-domains particularly could profit.
