SpaeCor News

The last few years have given rise to a whole new industry, Aimed at Outer Space!  We’ve had some amazing developments in the industry and in the next decade it will only heat up more.  We will have a presence in outer space but it wont be thanks to any one government.  The following is a list of companies that either have proven themselves as a great private space enterprise or show great potential for future outer space Development.

9) Armadillo Aerospace
While this company was a favorite at previous X Prize competitions, they’ve since gone into obscurity. Armadillo Aerospace continues to make the list because it does have very promising LEO capabilities and could still offer a winged answer to space exploration rather than the usual rockets of the day.

8 ) Space Adventures
Space Adventures is responsible for putting the first tourist into space. In 2001 Denis Tito became the first Space Tourist. Space Adventures brokered the launch on a Russian Soyuz Rocket. They currently has plans for returning to the moon and putting even more tourists into space.

7) TeamFredNet
Team Frednet is the most popular team competing in Googles Lunar X prize. While not considered a private company its an open source answer to the space problem. Team Frednets philosophy is the belief that a million peoples input is much better than a few, therefore they use the open source model to come up with great ideas and propel humans into space.

6) Bigelow Aerospace
Bigelow Aerospace is another proven space company, they currently operate Genesis. Genesis is currently orbiting the world. It is part of their plan to produce inflatable habitats, whether on the moon or orbiting earth. Although Bigelow Aerospace doesn’t offer incredible profits, its backed by the real estate giant Robert Bigelow. The Success of Genesis hopes to propel orbiting hotels as a viable commercial enterprise.

5) Xcor Aerospace
Xcor the 2nd company to ever receive a reusable Launch Vehicle mission license is potentially the greatest competitor for Virgin Galactic, Space Adventures and Armadillo Aerospace. Their Lynx model proves to be a major contender for a piece of the tourist pie.

4) Astrobotic
A competitor in Google’s Lunar X Prize challenge, Astrobotic is also a leader in terrestrial unmanned robotic missions to remote locations around the world. They now plan to extend their operations to the moon. Astrobotic has a great business plan for exploration of the moon. With the sale of their survey information Astrobotic proves to be a formidable company in future space exploration. Plus the gotz robots! need I say more!

3) Scaled Composites
Scaled Composites is one of the most innovative aerospace companies in existence. Its founder Burt Rutan is the creator of SpaceShip One, the only non governmental spacecraft to reach earth orbit.

2) Virgin Galactic
Yet another division of Richard Branson’s Virgin Brand, Virgin Galactic proves to be innovative and has the funding to back them up. After buying Burt Rutans Spaceship one model Virgin Galactic, is in position to be the worlds first space liner. Offering the  civilian flights to outer space. Virgin Galactic will be able to offer cheap access to LEO ushering in an era thats come to be known to people in the biz…. as NewSpace.

1) SpaceX
Probably the most well known private space company in the industry. Boasting the first fully privately funded rocket launch, SpaceX is the worlds first space trucking company. SpaceX was awarded the contract to supply the international space station after the discontinuation of the space shuttle in 2010. These guys have a working spaceship and are already making money. Just 1 month ago they sent Razaksat into orbit. Its only a matter of time before their RnD has the ability to surpass that of even NASA.