As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, the U.S. Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) market was characterized by significant advancements and competition among private aerospace companies aiming to revolutionize space access. Key players like SpaceX and Blue Origin were at the forefront of this market, driving innovation and reducing launch costs through the development of reusable rockets. The U.S. reusable launch vehicle market size stood at USD 482.4 million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 1,634.9 million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 14.77% during the forecast period.
Informational Source:
https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/us-reusable-launch-vehicle-market-102005
SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets had already demonstrated the viability of reusability by successfully landing their first stages back on Earth after launch. This achievement significantly lowered launch costs, making space access more economically feasible and fostering an environment for increased satellite deployment, space tourism prospects, and exploration missions.
Blue Origin, led by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, was working on their New Shepard suborbital vehicle and New Glenn orbital rocket, with both designs featuring reusability as a central tenet. These efforts aimed to offer more flexibility to a variety of customers, ranging from satellite operators to government agencies and commercial entities, and potentially pave the way for more ambitious space missions.
Major Companies Covered in U.S. Reusable Launch Vehicle Market are:
- ArianeGroup (Paris, France)
- Blue Origin LLC (Washington, the U.S.)
- Lockheed Martin Corporation (Maryland, the U.S.)
- Master Space Systems (California, the U.S.)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Washington, the U.S.)
- Rocket Labs USA (California, the U.S.)
- Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) (California, the U.S.)
- The Boeing Company (Illinois, the U.S.)
- The Spaceship Company (California, the U.S.)
- United Launch Alliance (ULA) (Colorado, the U. S.)
- Other Players
The U.S. government agency NASA was also fostering the growth of the RLV market through its Commercial Crew and Commercial Resupply Services programs, which aimed to facilitate the transportation of astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station using privately developed spacecraft. This support encouraged competition and diversity in the launch vehicle market.
A reusable launch vehicle (RLV) is a type of vehicle that can help a satellite or payload lift off into space. The vehicle makes use of several modern concepts and its ultimate aim is to reduce the massive costs that are incurred for launching satellites. The RLV has the ability to recover and re-use all components of the system. Recent advances in RLV by private as well as government space organizations such as NASA will have a massive impact on the growth of the US reusable launch vehicle market in the coming years. The presence of several large scale companies in this market, coupled with the increasing adoption of reusable vehicles by companies such as Tesla (SpaceX), will bode well for the growth of the regional market in the foreseeable future.
Delays in Proposed Satellite Launches during the Covid-19 Pandemic to have a Negative Impact on the Market
The recent coronavirus outbreak has had a negative impact on several industries across the world. As most businesses have been compelled to shut down, it has become difficult to operate in a constrained environment. The rising Covid-19 cases in the United States, has not only affected the economy, but has also resulted in an increase in the unemployment rate. Several companies had lined up respective space launches in the year 2020, but with limited manpower and confined budgets, these satellite programs have been delayed.
Company Mergers are an Increasing Trend Among Major Companies in the United States
The report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years. Among all factors, the increasing number of company mergers and acquisitions as well as collaborations has made the highest impact on the growth of the market. In April 2020, Masten Space announced that it has signed a contract with the US Air Force. The company announced that this contract is part of the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Through this contract, the company will be developing a reusable rocket-powered landing craft. This contract will not just be beneficial for the company, but also for the regional market. Increasing number of company collaborations will have a massive impact on the growth of the market in the coming years.
Industry Developments:
August 2020: Space Exploration Technologies Corp. announced that it has received a contract worth USD 316 million for Falcon Heavy launch by the U.S. air force.
In summary, the U.S. Reusable Launch Vehicle market was marked by intense competition among companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, leveraging reusability to reduce launch costs and broaden access to space. These developments were anticipated to have significant implications for various sectors, including satellite deployment, space tourism, and exploration missions. Please note that developments in this field may have occurred after September 2021, and I recommend checking more recent sources for the latest information.
