Investing in Space
Exploring the potential of investing in the space industry
The global space economy is projects to grow from approximately $450-630 billion (2023-2025) to $1.5-1.8 trillion by 2035, reperesenting a CAGR of 6.7-7.6% and potentially tripling in value. The space industry’s going through a unquie transition from government-dominated to commerial, which fudamentally changes its risk profile and growth accleration potential. weforum
Beyond Raw Growth Figures
1. Inflection Point Timing (Critical)
The space industry is entering an inflection point, researchers call it an ’S-curve’. Growth analysis projects 27.3% of incremental expansion after 2032, as commercial operations scale. McKinsey and the WEF see 2027 as a critical cost threshold breach, when reusable rocket economics mature and launch costs drop enough to unlock new markets. This mirrors the semiconductor industry’s trajectory: slow early growth, then explosive expansion once cost barriers break. futuremarketinsights
2. Satellite Internet as an Immediate Revenue Engine
This is the space sector’s “iPhone moment”—a consumer-facing product generating real revenue today:
- Starlink revenue: $11.8 billion by 2025 with 6–9 million subscribers, growing at 20,000+ daily adds spacexstock
- Satellite internet market reaching $22.6 billion by 2030 (significantly faster than broader space economy growth) spacexstock
- Direct implications for you (as someone interested in digital nomadism): Starlink enables true location independence, especially in underserved regions where terrestrial broadband is unavailable—a direct enabler of the lifestyle you’re pursuing.
- FCC just approved SpaceX to deploy 7,500 additional Gen2 Starlink satellites, bringing total constellation to 15,000 satellites; Starship V3 deployment targeting gigabit speeds by Q4 2026 ispreview.co
This isn’t speculative—it’s operational infrastructure with paying customers today.
3. Key Sub-Sector Growth Rates (Outpacing Overall Space Economy)
| Subsector | Growth Rate | Timeline | Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Space Launch | 14.2% CAGR | 2025–2033 | Higher growth than overall space economy; reusable rockets maturing markettrendsanalysis |
| Space Tourism | 31.6–40.6% CAGR | 2024–2032 | Fastest-growing segment; Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, SpaceX ramping investing |
| In-Space Infrastructure | 13% CAGR | 2025–2030 | Robotic servicing, orbital refueling, satellite repair emerging as $X-billion opportunities grandviewresearch |
| Asteroid Mining | 16.53% CAGR | 2023–2033 | Highly speculative but pathways clearing; AstroForge launching demonstration missions Feb 2025 sphericalinsights |
| Space Infrastructure Overall | 10% CAGR | 2026–2034 | Supporting the entire ecosystem; North America holds 46% market share fortunebusinessinsights |
The Three Biggest Opportunities (and Risks)
A. Satellite Internet & Connectivity (Highest Certainty)
Growth Rate: 20–25% CAGR (faster than broader space economy)
Why: Massive addressable market—billions of people lack broadband access. Starlink alone targeting 2+ billion potential customers globally. Direct-to-cell technology (partnering with T-Mobile, Reliance Jio) is enabling smartphone connectivity without ground infrastructure.
Investment Angle: SpaceX likely IPO-bound 2026–2027 with $400B+ current valuation (potentially $1T+ post-IPO). Competitors (Amazon Kuiper, OneWeb, Intelsat) getting funded but years behind.
Risk: Regulatory uncertainty (frequency allocations, orbital debris concerns), Starship development delays, competitive pricing pressure.
B. Space Tourism (Highest Growth, Medium Certainty)
Growth Rate: 31.6–40.6% CAGR through 2032
Market Projections: $1.1 billion (2025) → $15–18 billion (2032–2033)
Why: Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX all flying paying customers now. Reusable rockets make per-flight economics improving quarterly. High-net-worth individual demand is proven—tickets selling at $450K–$600K+.
Investment Angle: Pure wealth effect play. As affordability improves (longer-term), mass-market potential emerges. Companies pursuing “experience economy” positioning.
Risk: Safety incident could crater market. High regulatory scrutiny. Remains niche luxury good for foreseeable future.
C. Lunar Economy & Resource Utilization (Speculative but Transformative)
Growth Rate: Resource utilization at 29% CAGR; transportation at 18% CAGR
Timeline: Government funding dominates through 2030 ($93B Artemis program). Commercial viability depends on cost reduction from $54K/kg to <$10K/kg (projected 2034–2036).
Why: Lunar water ice for propellant production ($7–9M/ton in lunar orbit) is economically transformative for deep-space missions. This unlocks Mars colonization, asteroid mining staging posts, and sustained orbital operations.
D. Asteroid Mining (Experimental, 10–15 Year Timeline)
Growth Rate: 16.53% CAGR; market reaching $8.4 billion by 2033
Current Status: AstroForge launching Odin mission Feb 2025 to asteroid 2022 OB5 for sample collection; Vestri mission planned for actual mining demonstration.
Why: Asteroid metallic resources contain 16,000x higher concentrations of platinum-group metals than Earth deposits. Single metal-rich asteroid worth trillions (hypothetically). Cost of space access dropping 40x in 15 years (from $400M missions to <$10M) makes prospecting viable.
Risks & Caveats
- Regulatory challenges, such as orbital debris, frequency spectrum conflicts, and geopolitical tensions, could constrain growth.
- Technical execution risks, including the development of Starship and the unknown engineering challenges of lunar missions, exist.
- Price volatility could arise if competitors break through SpaceX’s dominance.
- Space budgets are subject to political whims, but current bipartisan support is strong.