List of private spaceflight companies

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This page is a list of non-governmental entities that currently offer – or are planning to offer – equipment and services geared towards spaceflight, both robotic and human spaceflight.

List of abbreviations used in this article

LEO: Low Earth orbit
GTO: Geostationary transfer orbit
VTOL: Vertical take-off and landing
SSTO: Single-stage-to-orbit
TSTO: Two-stage-to-orbit
SSTSO: Single-stage-to-sub-orbit

Contents

Manufacturers of space vehicles

Crew and cargo transport vehicles

Company name Craft name Craft type Launcher
name
Launcher
type
Maximum
reach
Passenger
capacity
Craft status Notes
United States AERA Altairis rocket/spacecraft self-powered self-powered sub-orbit 7 testing (2013) First flight planned for mid-20141
Romania ARCA Haas 2b capsule Haas 2b rocket sub-orbit 2 development 2
Romania ARCA Super Haas capsule Super Haas rocket orbit 2 development 3
United States Armadillo Aerospace Black Armadillo rocket self-powered self-powered sub-orbit 1-3 testing 4
United States Bigelow Aerospace and Boeing CST-100 capsule Atlas V5 rocket LEO 7 testing First use is planned for 20156
United States Bigelow Aerospace and Lockheed Martin Orion Lite capsule Falcon 9 rocket LEO 6-7 cancelled 7
United States Blue Origin New Shepard rocket self-powered (SSTSO) self-powered (SSTSO) sub-orbit 3 testing 8
Denmark Copenhagen Suborbitals Tycho Brahe rocket self-powered self-powered sub-orbit 1 testing 9
Denmark Copenhagen Suborbitals Tycho Deep Space I and II capsule - rocket LEO 1 development 9
FranceEuropean UnionEADS Astrium unnamed craft spaceplane self-powered (SSTSO) self-powered (SSTSO) sub-orbit 4 development 10
Isle of ManExcalibur Almaz TKS derivative capsule multiple rocket LEO 3 development 1112
United States Interorbital Systems Solaris X capsule self-powered (SSTSO) self-powered (SSTSO) sub-orbit 6 cancelled 13
United States Interorbital Systems Crew Module capsule Neptune TSAAHTO rocket lunar orbit 6 development 14
Japan Japanese Rocket Society Kankoh-maru rocket self-powered (SSTO) self-powered (SSTO) LEO 50 proposed Sponsors needed15
United StatesOrbital Sciences Corp. Cygnus capsule Antares (rocket) rocket LEO - testing First use planned for June 201316
United StatesOrbital Sciences Corp. Prometheus spaceplane Atlas V rocket LEO 4 development 17
United StatesPlanetSpace Canadian Arrow rocket self-powered self-powered sub-orbit 3 testing
United StatesPlanetSpace Silver Dart spaceplane Canadian Arrow rocket LEO 8 development 18
Reaction Engines Ltd. HOTOL spaceplane self-powered (SSTO) self-powered (SSTO) LEO - cancelled 19full citation needed
Reaction Engines Ltd. HOTOL 2 spaceplane An 225 airplane LEO - proposed 20
Reaction Engines Ltd. Skylon spaceplane self-powered (SSTO) self-powered (SSTO) LEO 5-20 development 20
Rocketplane Kistler K-1 rocket self-powered (TSTO) self-powered (TSTO) LEO - cancelled 21full citation needed
Rocketplane Kistler Rocketplane XP spaceplane self-powered (SSTSO) self-powered (SSTSO) sub-orbit 6 cancelled 22full citation needed
Rotary Rocket Roton rocket self-powered (SSTO) self-powered (SSTO) LEO 2 cancelled 23
Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne spaceplane WhiteKnightOne airplane sub-orbit 2 retired (3/3) 24
United KingdomUnited StatesScaled Composites and Virgin Galactic
(The Spaceship Company)
SpaceShipTwo spaceplane WhiteKnightTwo airplane sub-orbit 8 testing 25
United KingdomUnited StatesScaled Composites and Virgin Galactic
(The Spaceship Company)
SpaceShipThree spaceplane WhiteKnightTwo airplane LEO (or suborbital passenger-delivery)  ? proposed 26
Space Adventures and Myasishchev Design Bureau Explorer (Cosmopolis XXI, C-21) spaceplane M-55X airplane sub-orbit 5 development 27
Space Transport Corp. Rubicon I rocket self-powered (SSTSO) self-powered (SSTSO) sub-orbit 3 cancelled 28
SpaceDev Dream Chaser spaceplane Atlas V rocket LEO 7 testing 29
United States SpaceX Dragon capsule Falcon 9 rocket LEO 7 operational (3/3) 3 spacecraft have been launched into orbit and returned to earth30
Starchaser Industries NOVA capsule Starchaser 4 rocket sub-orbit - testing 31
Starchaser Industries Thunderstar capsule Starchaser 5 rocket sub-orbit 3 development 32
Starchaser Industries Thunderbird capsule Starchaser 5 rocket sub-orbit 6 development 32
Truax Engineering, Inc. X-3 Volksrocket capsule Private Enterprise rocket sub-orbit 1 cancelledcitation needed
t/Space CXV capsule QuickReach rocket LEO and lunar orbit 6 development 33
Venturer Aerospace S-550 capsule Falcon 9 rocket LEO 6 cancelled 34
XCOR Xerus spaceplane self-powered (SSTSO) self-powered (SSTSO) sub-orbit 2 cancelled 35
XCOR and Space Expedition Corporation Lynx spaceplane self-powered (SSTSO) self-powered (SSTSO) sub-orbit 1 development First test flight planned for 2013.3637

Space stations

Private Company name Space Craft name Space Craft type Internal
volume
Passenger
capacity
Craft status Ref
Bigelow Aerospace Genesis I Inflatable module 11.5 m3 (406 cu ft)38 unmanned currently in LEO 39
Bigelow Aerospace Genesis II Inflatable module 11.5 m3 (406 cu ft)40 unmanned currently in LEO 41
Bigelow Aerospace Galaxy Inflatable module 16.7 m3 (590 cu ft)42 unmanned cancelled 43
Bigelow Aerospace Sundancer Inflatable module 180 m3 (6,357 cu ft) 3 cancelled 44
Bigelow Aerospace BA 330 Inflatable module 330 m3 (11,654 cu ft) 6 testing 45
Bigelow Aerospace BA 2100 Inflatable module 2,100 m3 (74,161 cu ft) 16 proposed
Excalibur Almaz Almaz derivative Rigid module  ? 3 development 1112
Galactic Suite Ltd. Galactic Suite Rigid module  ? 6 proposed 46
Orbital Technologies/RSC Energia Orbital Technologies Commercial Space Station Rigid Module The first module CSS will be volume about 20 m³. 7 development 47

Launch vehicles

Company name Launcher
name
Launcher
type
No. of
stages
Maximum
reach
Launcher
status
Maiden
flight
Ref
AirLaunch LLC QuickReach rocket 2 LEO development  ? 48
ARCA Haas 2b small rocket 1 suborbit development  ? 2
ARCA Super Haas medium rocket 2 LEO development  ? 3
Beal Aerospace BA-2 medium rocket 3 GTO cancelled  ? 49
Canadian Arrow Canadian Arrow rocket 2 LEO testing  ? citation needed
DIRECT Leviathan-140 rocket 2 GTO development  ? 50
Galaxy Express GX medium rocket 2 SSO cancelled  ? 51
Interorbital Systems Sea Star TSAAHTO light rocket LEO development  ? 52
Interorbital Systems Neptune 30 light rocket multi LEO proposed  ? 14
Interorbital Systems Neptune 1000 medium rocket multi lunar orbit proposed  ? 14
Interorbital Systems Neptune TSAAHTO heavy rocket lunar orbit proposed  ? 14
Lockheed Martin VentureStar medium rocket 1 LEO cancelled  ? 53
Orbital Sciences Corp. Taurus I light rocket 4 LEO operational (6/9) 1989 54
Orbital Sciences Corp. Antares medium rocket 3 LEO development 2012 (planned)  ?
Orbital Transport & Raketen AG OTRAG medium rocket variable LEO retired 1977 citation needed
Rocket Lab ATEA-1 light rocket 2 suborbit operational (1/1) 2009 5556
Scorpius Space Launch Company
(Spin-off of Microcosm)
SR-M light rocket 1 suborbit operational  ? 57
Scorpius Space Launch Company
(Spin-off of Microcosm)
Sprite light rocket - - testing  ? 57
Scorpius Space Launch Company
(Spin-off of Microcosm)
Liberty light rocket - - development  ? 57
Scorpius Space Launch Company
(Spin-off of Microcosm)
Exodus medium rocket - - development  ? 57
Scorpius Space Launch Company
(Spin-off of Microcosm)
Space Freighter medium rocket - - proposed  ? 57
Space Services Inc. of America Percheron light rocket 1 suborbit cancelled  ? 58
Space Services Inc. of America Conestoga 1620 medium rocket 4 LEO cancelled  ? 58
Space Transport Corp. Spartan light rocket 3 suborbit cancelled  ?
SpaceX Falcon 1 light rocket 2 LEO retired (2/5) 2008 59
SpaceX Falcon 1e light rocket 2 LEO testing 2011 (planned) 59
SpaceX Falcon 5 medium rocket 2 GTO cancelled  ? 60
SpaceX Falcon 9 medium rocket 2 GTO operational (4/4) 2010 61
SpaceX Falcon Heavy heavy rocket 2+boosters lunar orbit development 2013 (planned) 61
Texas Spacelines Inc / TSI. Sol Cazador light rocket 7 HEO/lunar/escape development  ? 62
Ventions VR-1 Nanosat Launch Vehicle (NLV) development 2012 63

Landers, rovers and probes

Company name Craft name Craft type Craft status Ref
Armadillo Aerospace unnamed craft rocket module testing 64
BlastOff! Corporation Lunar 1 rover cancelled 65
Odyssey Moon MoonOne (M-1) rover development 66
Astrobotic Technology Artemis Lander lander development 67
Astrobotic Technology Red Rover rover development 68
Team Italia rover development 69
Micro Space development 70
Next Giant Leap development 71
Team FREDNET development 72
TransOrbital TrailBlazer lunar orbiter cancelled 73
ARCASPACE ELE lunar orbiter development 74
Lunatrex development 75
Chandah development 76
Advaeros development 77
STELLAR development 78
JURBAN development 79
Omega Envoy development 80
Independence-X development 81
SYNERGY MOON development 82
Euroluna ROMIT development 83
Team Selene LuRoCa 1 rocket car development 84
SCSG cancelled 85
Quantum3 cancelled 86
Puli Space Technologies Puli rover fundraising 87
Golden Spike Company Moon lander

Research craft and tech demonstrators

Company name Craft name Craft purpose Craft status Ref
ARCA Demonstrator 2b demonstrate reusable monopropellant engine retired
Armadillo Aerospace Quad demonstrate VTOL operational
Blue Origin Goddard demonstrate VTOL operational
Interorbital Systems Neutrino systems testing operational
Interorbital Systems Tachyon systems testing operational 88
Lockheed Martin X-33 demonstrate SSTO cancelled
Masten Space Systems XA-0.1 demonstrate VTOL retired
Masten Space Systems XA-0.1B Lunar Lander Challenge Level 1 operational
Masten Space Systems XA-0.1E Lunar Lander Challenge Level 2, commercial precursor flights operational
Masten Space Systems XA-0.1E2 commercial flights development
McDonnell Douglas DC-X demonstrate VTOL retired (11 test flights)
Rotary Rocket Roton ATV demonstrate VTOL retired (3 test flights)
Space Services Inc. Conestoga I systems testing retired (1 test) 58
SpaceX Grasshopper demonstrate VTOL testing 89
Swedish Space Corp. Maxus payload to 700 km operational
Swedish Space Corp. Maser payload to 300 km operational
UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL payload to 140 km operational 90

Space mining

Company name Body to be mined Mining craft Mining status Ref
Shackleton Energy Company Moon Architecture Architecture
Moon Express Moon Unknown Unknown
Planetary Resources Near-Earth asteroids Arkyd Series 100, 200, 300 development 91
Deep Space Industries Near-Earth asteroids press conference
Stott Space Inc. Near-Earth asteroids fundraising 92

Space manufacturing

Company name Products Manufacturing craft status Ref
Shackleton Energy Company propellant, space infrastructure, Propellant depot
Deep Space Industries propellant, communications platforms, space solar power satellites

Space Colonisation

Company name Colony location Status Ref
Mars One Mars Fundraising and assessing astronaut applications 93

Propulsion manufacturers

Company name Engine Engine type Applications Ref
Ad Astra Rocket Company VASIMR magnetoplasma may be used for future Mars missionscitation needed
AE Aerospace HIRE9495 hybrid ion rocket
AE Aerospace Scearamjet96full citation needed Electric Scramjet
American Rocket Company hybrid rocket The company became insolvent and was shut down in May 1996. Its lineage is part of SpaceShipOne.
ARCA Executor (rocket engine) Liquid Oxygen/RP-1 IAR 111, Haas 2, Haas 2b, Super Haas
The Elwing Company Electrodeless Plasma Thruster Electric Propulsion may be used for future explorations missions97full citation needed
Firestar Technologies98
Reaction Engines Ltd. SABRE precooled air-breathing rocket planned to be used in Skylon 99
Sierra Nevada Corporation RocketMotorTwo hybrid rocket SpaceShipTwo
SpaceDev hybrid rocket SpaceShipOnecitation needed
SpaceX Kestrel (rocket engine) Liquid Oxygen/RP-1 Falcon 1 second stage
SpaceX Merlin (rocket engine) Liquid Oxygen/RP-1 Falcon 1,100 Falcon 9,101 Falcon 9 Heavy first stagecitation needed
SpaceX Merlin Vacuum Liquid Oxygen/RP-1 Falcon 9, Falcon 9 Heavy second stagecitation needed
SpaceX Raptor (rocket stage) Liquid Oxygen/Liquid Hydrogen As of July 2009, some preliminary concept work was being done.102

Satellite launchers

Spaceliner companies

Company name Contracts for Craft utilised Status
Benson Space Company SpaceDev Dream Chaser waiting for hardwarecitation needed
MirCorp none Soyuz TM, Progress M1 and Mir defunct, Mir deorbited
Space Adventures none Soyuz and the ISS active (6 tourists sent)
RocketShip Tours XCOR Lynx rocketplane waiting for hardware
Virgin Galactic Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo waiting for hardware

Spacecraft component developers and manufacturers

See also

References

  1. ^ AERA Space Corporation AERA Space Corporation
  2. ^ a b Haas2b specifications ARCA
  3. ^ a b Super haas Specifications ARCA
  4. ^ Armadillo Aerospace Armadillo Aerospace
  5. ^ "Boeing Selects Atlas V Rocket for Initial Commercial Crew Launches". 2011-08-04. Retrieved 2011=10=29. 
  6. ^ Boeing: Boeing CST-100 Spacecraft to Provide Commercial Crew Transportation Services
  7. ^ Klamper, Amy (2009-08-14). "Company pitches 'lite' spaceship to NASA : Stripped down version of NASA's future spaceship could be ready 2013". Msnbc.com. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
  8. ^ Blue's Rocket Clues (MSNBC's Cosmic Log, June 24, 2006)
  9. ^ a b Copenhagen Suborbitals Copenhagen Suborbitals
  10. ^ Spaceplane – Rocketing into the future EADS-Astrium
  11. ^ a b Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Beating swords into plough shares with Soviet Almaz
  12. ^ a b Excalibur Almaz to Pioneer Private Orbital Manned Space Flight In cooperation with NPOM of Russia | OnOrbit
  13. ^ Space racers set sights on orbital frontier MSNBC
  14. ^ a b c d Interorbital Systems Neptune Interorbital Systems
  15. ^ 準軌道宇宙旅行 宇宙丸プロジェクト Kankoh-maru
  16. ^ http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
  17. ^ Orbital’s Cygnus debut mission to the ISS outlined
  18. ^ Space tourism company still aiming for space station New Scientist
  19. ^ BAe Hotol Cutaway - Pictures & Photos on FlightGlobal Airspace
  20. ^ a b http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/skylon_overview.html
  21. ^ NASA Gives Rocketplane Kistler Termination Notice | Space.com
  22. ^ Rocketplane XP spec and description Rocketplane.com
  23. ^ Roton Encyclopedia Astronautica
  24. ^ SpaceShipOne Makes Historiy With First Private Spaceflight Space.com
  25. ^ Virgin Galactic in Space Ship Three talks New York Times
  26. ^ Entrepreneur Unveils New Tourist Spacecraft Your Industry News
  27. ^ New group to Develop Passenger Spacecraft MSNBC
  28. ^ http://www.seattlepi.com/local/200644_forks22.html.  Missing or empty |title= (help)dead link
  29. ^ Dream Chaser begins test flights SEN TV LIMITED
  30. ^ Space Exploration Technologies Corporation - Dragon
  31. ^ NOVA Armadillo Aerospace NOVA
  32. ^ a b Industries Starchaser Industries
  33. ^ NASA - Taking the Vision to the Next Step
  34. ^ Venturer Aerospace pursues NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services contract
  35. ^ XCOR Aerospace Unveils Rocket-Powered Lynx Vehicle Design FlightGlobal
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  48. ^ New Satellite Lift Tech Studied National Space Symposium 31-MAR-2009
  49. ^ Man With a Mission D Magazine
  50. ^ Leviathan-140 Product Information DIRECT Launcher 15-AUG-2011
  51. ^ "IHI to liquidate GX rocket venture after govt pullout". iStock Analyst. 2010-01-16. Retrieved 2010-04-01. 
  52. ^ Interorbital Systems Sea Star Interorbital Systems
  53. ^ X-33/VentureStar – What really happened | NASASpaceFlight.com
  54. ^ Taurus
  55. ^ "NZ's first space launch saved by $6 replacement part". The New Zealand Herald. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2011. 
  56. ^ http://www.rocketlab.co.nz/atea-1.html/
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  58. ^ a b c TSE - Conestoga
  59. ^ a b Space Exploration Technologies Corporation - Falcon 1
  60. ^ Space Exploration Technologies Corporation - Press
  61. ^ a b Space Exploration Technologies Corporation - Falcon 9
  62. ^ Spaceflight
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  64. ^ Armadillo Aerospace: Scaling Up for Modularized Spaceships Space.com Space News
  65. ^ Blast Off The unauthroized top-secret website of Peter H. Diamandis
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  89. ^ Klotz, Irene (2011-09-27). "A rocket that lifts off — and lands — on launch pad". MSNBC. Retrieved 2011-11-23. 
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  92. ^ "Technology". Retrieved 3 April 2013. 
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  95. ^ Hybrid Ion Rocket Engine/AE Aerospace owner Andrew Edwards 2010
  96. ^ Scearamjet 2009
  97. ^ [2] 2010
  98. ^ Firestar
  99. ^ "The SABRE Engine". Retrieved 2010-08-10. 
  100. ^ Clark, Stephen (2008-09-28). "Sweet success at last for Falcon 1 rocket". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 2011-01-27. 
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