1
Country: USA | Funding: $11.8B
SpaceX is Elon Musk's leading space company, having achieved numerous advances in rocket propulsion, reusable launch vehicles, human spaceflight and satellite constellation technologies. It's the dominant global launch provider, surpassing all others in launch frequency. Its Falcon rockets launch 1-3 times per week. The company operates its own Starlink satellite constellation, which provides satellite internet worldwide. SpaceX also builds Dragon capsules for delivering human missions to the space station. It's building Starship, the largest launch vehicle in history, which aims to fully realize the company's vision of a fully reusable, cost-effective and adaptable launch vehicle. SpaceX is also developing its own spacesuit and astronaut as part of its Polaris program and human lander for lunar missions as part of the Artemis program.
SpaceX is Elon Musk's leading space company, having achieved numerous advances in rocket propulsion, reusable launch vehicles, human spaceflight and satellite constellation technologies. It's the dominant global launch provider, surpassing all others in launch frequency. Its Falcon rockets launch 1-3 times per week. The company operates its own Starlink satellite constellation, which provides satellite internet worldwide. SpaceX also builds Dragon capsules for delivering human missions to the space station. It's building Starship, the largest launch vehicle in history, which aims to fully realize the company's vision of a fully reusable, cost-effective and adaptable launch vehicle. SpaceX is also developing its own spacesuit and astronaut as part of its Polaris program and human lander for lunar missions as part of the Artemis program.
2
Country: USA | Funding: $525M
Impulse Space develops orbital maneuvering vehicles for last-mile cargo delivery.
Impulse Space develops orbital maneuvering vehicles for last-mile cargo delivery.
3
Country: USA | Funding: $65.5M
Moon Express develops a robotic spacecraft for low cost missions beyond the Earth, including the Moon, asteroids, and Mars.
Moon Express develops a robotic spacecraft for low cost missions beyond the Earth, including the Moon, asteroids, and Mars.
4
Country: USA | Funding: $12M
Starpath Robotics builds spacecraft propellant that reduces the deep space transport cost.
Starpath Robotics builds spacecraft propellant that reduces the deep space transport cost.
5
Country: USA | Funding: $9.9M
General Galactic is developing water-powered space propulsion systems. The core of this system is electrolyzer, which splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, then converts the oxygen into plasma. The system then uses a magnetic field to extract the plasma from the engine. In the case of chemical propulsion, electrolysis is followed by combustion of hydrogen with oxygen as an oxidizer. Electric propulsion is designed to provide a constant flow of thrust, which could prove effective for reaching deep space targets like Mars. Chemical propulsion, on the other hand, can provide much more powerful but short-lived pulses of thrust, allowing satellites to accelerate in space. General Galactic plans to launch its first 500-kilogram satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. In space, the satellite will demonstrate the two types of water engines.
General Galactic is developing water-powered space propulsion systems. The core of this system is electrolyzer, which splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, then converts the oxygen into plasma. The system then uses a magnetic field to extract the plasma from the engine. In the case of chemical propulsion, electrolysis is followed by combustion of hydrogen with oxygen as an oxidizer. Electric propulsion is designed to provide a constant flow of thrust, which could prove effective for reaching deep space targets like Mars. Chemical propulsion, on the other hand, can provide much more powerful but short-lived pulses of thrust, allowing satellites to accelerate in space. General Galactic plans to launch its first 500-kilogram satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. In space, the satellite will demonstrate the two types of water engines.
6
Country: Germany
Pulsar Fusion has designed the first launch-capable, high-power chemical rocket engine fueled by plastic waste. Pulsar is in advanced stages of design of Fusion power station reactor
Pulsar Fusion has designed the first launch-capable, high-power chemical rocket engine fueled by plastic waste. Pulsar is in advanced stages of design of Fusion power station reactor
7
Country: USA
BioAstra intends to genetically enhance astronauts for Mars missions. The company aims to develop and test potential countermeasures against DNA-damaging cosmic rays emitted by exploding supernovae, which could bombard crew capsules flying outside Earth's protective magnetic shield. For this purpose the company is preparing three space missions - to low Earth orbit, around the Moon and then during a flight around Mars. To accurately track the genetic changes induced during these three missions, BioAstra will use exact DNA twins - one half of a pair of identical human twins - on each mission, while a "control" sibling will remain on Earth, out of reach of dangerous cosmic and solar radiation.
BioAstra intends to genetically enhance astronauts for Mars missions. The company aims to develop and test potential countermeasures against DNA-damaging cosmic rays emitted by exploding supernovae, which could bombard crew capsules flying outside Earth's protective magnetic shield. For this purpose the company is preparing three space missions - to low Earth orbit, around the Moon and then during a flight around Mars. To accurately track the genetic changes induced during these three missions, BioAstra will use exact DNA twins - one half of a pair of identical human twins - on each mission, while a "control" sibling will remain on Earth, out of reach of dangerous cosmic and solar radiation.
