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Global space investment hits record $3.5 billion as funding widens beyond SpaceX and OneWeb

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Global space investment soared to a record $3.5 billion in the third quarter, almost doubling last year’s figure, as money flowed into a broader range of startups and defense-related projects, according to a new report from Seraphim Space.

The data marks a shift in the fast-growing industry, with capital now spread across multiple players instead of being dominated by giants such as SpaceX and OneWeb. “We’re seeing a far more diverse set of investable companies, signaling that space has evolved into a broader, more mature market,” said Lucas Bishop, investment associate at Seraphim.

The surge was led by U.S. defense and aerospace firms like Hadrian, Apex, and Hermeus, which raised large rounds focused on advanced manufacturing and hypersonic technologies. In China, Galactic Energy took the top spot with a $336 million raise in September.

Governments are fueling the boom as they expand domestic space and defense initiatives, with the U.S., China, and Europe all channeling funds into satellite networks and orbital infrastructure. The report said this momentum would likely continue into 2026, supported by dual-use technologies bridging civilian and military applications, such as SpaceX’s Starshield and OneWeb’s network expansion.

Publicly traded space firms have also surged. Rocket Lab and Planet Labs have more than doubled their market value in recent months, while AST SpaceMobile has tripled after demonstrating satellite-to-phone broadband connectivity — a milestone for direct-to-device communication.

SpaceX’s Rise Under Trump 2.0 Welcomed by Asia’s No. 1 Satellite Company

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For SKY Perfect JSAT (9412.T), Asia’s leading satellite company, the rise of Elon Musk’s SpaceX under the second Donald Trump presidency is not seen as a challenge but rather as an opportunity, according to the company’s president, Eiichi Yonekura. The Japanese firm plans to deepen its relationship with SpaceX, especially after announcing a $230 million investment in Planet Labs’ low-Earth orbit satellite Pelican, aimed at expanding its satellite imagery business.

Yonekura emphasized that the rapid advancements of SpaceX have been instrumental to the growth of JSAT, citing the company’s reliance on SpaceX rockets to launch its satellites into space. He added that the relationship has been beneficial, as the company is “probably the biggest SpaceX customer in Asia” and is set to expand its satellite operations with the launch of Planet Labs’ Pelicans, which will use SpaceX’s Falcon 9 for their deployments.

Musk’s close ties with Trump are also believed to have had an influence on U.S. space policies, with a stronger emphasis on Mars exploration. Reports suggest that the Trump administration may eliminate the National Space Council, a move that could potentially benefit SpaceX due to Musk’s lobbying efforts.

JSAT, which operates 17 geosynchronous communication satellites—the largest fleet in Asia—plans to enter the low-orbit satellite business by constructing a constellation of 10 Planet Pelicans by 2027. The company aims to generate 23 billion yen ($151 million) in revenue from satellite data services by fiscal year 2030, primarily from national security clients.

SpaceX’s development of the reusable Falcon 9 booster has revolutionized the cost structure of satellite launches, helping to lower costs significantly. While JSAT currently depends heavily on SpaceX for launches, Yonekura noted that if access to SpaceX boosters were to be restricted, JSAT would consider working with long-time European partner Arianespace or Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, whose H3 rocket is expected to become competitive within the next four to five years.

 

SpaceX Marks Success with the Launch of 131 Satellites on Transporter 12 Mission

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SpaceX successfully launched 131 satellites into orbit during its Transporter 12 mission on January 14, 2025. The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, with the Falcon 9 rocket lifting off at 2:09 p.m. EST. This mission continues to build on SpaceX’s rideshare program, which provides an efficient way to send multiple payloads into space for various customers with a single rocket. The Transporter 12 mission not only highlights SpaceX’s technical capabilities but also its commitment to making space access more affordable and accessible for a wide range of clients, including both commercial and government entities.

One of the notable aspects of this mission was the successful landing of the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster, which touched down at Vandenberg’s Landing Zone 4 approximately 7.5 minutes after launch. This achievement further underscores SpaceX’s progress in reusable rocket technology, which significantly reduces the cost of space launches. Transporter 12 is the 12th mission in SpaceX’s Transporter series, designed to carry multiple payloads, with this flight including satellites from a variety of companies. Notably, 37 of the satellites were from Planet Labs, a company based in San Francisco, specializing in Earth observation.

Among the Planet Labs payloads were 36 SuperDove cubesats and a single Pelican-2 satellite. The SuperDove satellites are equipped for high-resolution imaging of Earth’s surface, while the Pelican-2 satellite boasts advanced AI-powered solutions designed to analyze data in near real-time. This mission not only helped deploy satellites aimed at providing critical Earth observation data but also demonstrated how space technology is evolving with the integration of artificial intelligence to enhance data collection and processing capabilities.

With the successful completion of Transporter 12, SpaceX has now launched over 1,100 satellites across 13 rideshare missions, cementing its position as a leader in small satellite deployment. The satellites deployed during the mission were sent into low Earth orbit over a 90-minute period, beginning 54 minutes after launch. These consistent and efficient rideshare missions, which have served over 130 clients, continue to drive the expansion of the commercial space industry, providing key infrastructure for a wide range of industries, from telecommunications to Earth observation.