National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
NASA explores the unknown realms of air and space, pioneering innovations for the betterment of humanity and serving as a beacon of inspiration through groundbreaking discoveries. With a legacy spanning over 65 years, NASA has consistently turned the seemingly impossible into reality.
Spanning 20 centers and facilities nationwide, alongside collaborations with U.S. commercial enterprises and international partners, NASA leads in the study of Earth science—encompassing climate research, solar studies, and exploration of our Sun, solar system, and beyond. The agency conducts cutting-edge research to drive advancements in technology and aeronautics.
At the forefront of its operations is the International Space Station, renowned as the world’s premier space laboratory. Looking forward, NASA is committed to establishing a sustainable and robust presence on the Moon by the end of this decade through the Artemis campaign, ushering in a new era of lunar exploration.
China National Space Administration (CNSA)
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) is the governmental agency of the People's Republic of China, established in 1993 to oversee the nation's space endeavors. CNSA manages civil space activities and coordinates international space cooperation, fulfilling crucial government oversight roles. It directs industry efforts in space, ensuring their steady, organized, and healthy growth.
CNSA also spearheads foreign exchanges and collaborations on behalf of the Chinese government within the space sector. Its headquarters are located in Beijing. The agency operates four primary launch facilities across different provinces: Jiuquan in Gansu province, Taiyuan in Shanxi province, Xichang in Sichuan province, and Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province.
European Space Agency (ESA)
The European Space Agency (ESA) serves as Europe’s gateway to the cosmos, dedicated to advancing Europe’s space capabilities and ensuring that investments in space yield benefits for both European citizens and the global community. Founded in 1975, ESA collaborates closely with its 22 Member States to pioneer scientific and technological frontiers, fostering economic growth across Europe.
Headquartered in Paris, ESA maintains its leadership in space research and exploration by engaging in collaborative initiatives with other spacefaring nations, including the United States, China, Canada, India, and Japan. These partnerships are instrumental in driving forward ESA’s mission to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and expand humanity's presence in space.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is India's primary space agency, dedicated to advancing science, engineering, and technology to leverage the benefits of outer space for India and humanity. Originally established as the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962 under the vision of Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai, ISRO officially formed on August 15, 1969. It superseded INCOSPAR with an expanded mandate to harness space technology for national development.
ISRO has pioneered the development of satellite launch vehicles such as the PSLV and GSLV, essential for deploying satellites into designated orbits. Headquartered in Bengaluru, ISRO operates through various centers and units across the country, driving forward its mission to explore and utilize space for the benefit of society.
Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities (ROSCOSMOS)
Roscosmos, officially known as the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, serves as the central coordinating body for space endeavors in Russia. It oversees a wide array of civilian activities, including Earth monitoring and the astronaut program, while also collaborating with the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation for military launches. Originating from the renowned Soviet space program established in the 1950s, Roscosmos came into being after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Previously named the Russian Federal Space Agency, formed in 1992, Roscosmos evolved through the merger of this agency and the United Rocket and Space Corporation, a joint-stock entity aimed at fortifying the Russian space sector. However, Russia's involvement in space exploration dates back much further. During the height of the former Soviet Union's space dominance in the 1950s and 1960s, the nation achieved numerous pioneering milestones, including the first human spaceflight.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was established in October 2003 through the merger of three institutions: the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL), and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). Prior to the merger, ISAS focused on space and planetary research, NAL specialized in aviation research, and NASDA, founded in October 1969, developed rockets and satellites.
In 2013, marking its 10th anniversary, JAXA introduced the corporate slogan "Explore to Realize," embodying its mission to leverage space and the skies for the advancement of a secure and prosperous society. Headquartered in Tokyo, JAXA oversees Japan's longstanding human exploration program, which has made significant contributions to the International Space Station and continues to push the boundaries of space exploration.
National Centre for Space Studies (CNES)
The CNES, known as the French Space Agency and headquartered in central Paris, is a governmental organization founded in 1961. As a program-oriented agency and center of technical expertise, CNES plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing France’s space policy, particularly through international collaborations within Europe. CNES serves as a primary source of initiatives aimed at maintaining and enhancing France and Europe’s competitiveness, ensuring their continued leadership in the global space sector.
Since its inception, CNES has been actively engaged in developing propulsion subsystems to meet domestic requirements and bolster industry competitiveness, while enhancing the capabilities of affiliated research centers. France, represented by CNES, became the third nation to achieve autonomous access to space, following the USSR and the US, and has actively shared technologies within Europe for the development of the Ariane launcher family
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is the research institution of the Federal Republic of Germany dedicated to aerospace. Its comprehensive research and development activities encompass aviation, space exploration, energy, transportation, and security, conducted in collaboration with national and international partners.
Founded over 115 years ago, DLR and its predecessors pioneered some of the world's earliest aeronautical research initiatives. Today, DLR operates across 30 locations throughout Germany, employing over 10,000 professionals. Additionally, DLR maintains offices in Brussels, Paris, Tokyo, and Washington DC, underscoring its global engagement and influence in aerospace research and technology.
Italian Space Agency (ASI)
The Italian Space Agency (ASI), founded in 1988, is a national public institution responsible for formulating and executing Italy's space policy in alignment with governmental directives. Renowned globally, ASI plays a pivotal role in advancing space science, satellite technologies, and capabilities for cosmic exploration.
ASI operates from its headquarters in Rome and three additional operational bases in Matera, Malindi, and Sardinia. Italy's space industry, supported by ASI, actively participates in human spaceflight endeavors. The agency has made significant contributions to space exploration by deploying numerous scientific payloads aboard NASA and ESA satellites, contributing to the exploration of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and advancements in cosmology.
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
Established in March 1989, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is a federal agency tasked with overseeing all of Canada's civil space-related activities. It plays a crucial role in advancing space knowledge through scientific exploration and leveraging its findings for the betterment of Canadians and humanity at large.
The CSA focuses its efforts and resources across three primary domains: space exploration, space utilization, and space science and technology. With approximately 936 employees, the agency's headquarters are located in Longueuil, Quebec.
According to its mission statement, the CSA is dedicated to spearheading the development and application of space expertise to benefit Canadians and global society. The agency actively participates in numerous international initiatives, contributing to projects involving satellites, rovers, and space telescopes.
SpaceX
Founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, SpaceX has revolutionized space exploration with groundbreaking achievements. It became the first private company to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, and in 2012, its Dragon spacecraft delivered cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). In 2020, SpaceX made history again, sending humans to the ISS for the first time.
SpaceX is developing the next generation of fully reusable launch vehicles, including the powerful Starship, with the goal of enabling human missions to Mars and beyond. By mastering rocket reusability, SpaceX has significantly reduced launch costs and transformed the economics of space travel.
Today, SpaceX is the world’s leading space launch provider, surpassing both private competitors and government agencies in launch frequency, and also collaborating closely with NASA on joint missions and deep-space exploration.
Blue Origin
Founded in 2000 by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin is driven by a vision of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The company is developing reusable launch vehicles and in-space systems that are safe, affordable, and designed to meet the needs of civil, commercial, and defense sectors.
Blue Origin’s symbol, the feather, represents the company’s commitment to perfecting flight—embodying freedom, exploration, mobility, and progress. The company’s flagship vehicle, New Shepard, is used for suborbital space tourism, offering brief flights to the edge of space. Blue Origin is also developing New Glenn, a powerful orbital-class rocket designed to launch both people and payloads into space.
Sierra Space Corporation
Sierra Space, founded as an offshoot from Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) in April 2021, is a privately held aerospace company based in Louisville, Colorado, United States. SNC itself, established in 1963, has a long history in aerospace development.
Sierra Space is at the forefront of the commercial space industry, aiming to revolutionize both space transportation and orbital destinations. The company is best known for its Dream Chaser® spaceplane, the world’s only commercial spaceplane, and its innovative inflatable space station technology. With over 30 years of aerospace experience and 500 missions under its belt, Sierra Space provides orbital services to a wide range of customers, including commercial businesses, the Department of Defense (DoD), and national security agencies. Through these efforts, the company is helping to usher in the “Orbital Age®”—a new era of space commercialization that promises to transform how humanity accesses and utilizes space.
Relativity Space
Relativity Space made history by launching the world’s first 3D-printed rocket, Terran 1, and is now developing Terran R, a reusable medium-to-heavy-lift launch vehicle. The company’s ultimate goal is to build humanity’s industrial base on Mars. Founded in 2015 by Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone, Relativity Space began with an idea sketched on a coffee shop receipt. Operating out of a WeWork space in Seattle, Washington, United States, they aimed to disrupt the space industry by harnessing the power of 3D printing, an approach overlooked by other private space companies at the time.
Based in Long Beach, California, United States, the company is reshaping rocket manufacturing using 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and robotics. These technologies streamline production, reduce supply chain complexity, and accelerate the rocket-building process. Relativity’s journey starts with launching payloads into orbit, but the bigger vision is an interplanetary future, with Earth and Mars connected through advanced space technology. The next chapter of this mission is already underway.
Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is an American private aerospace company based in Austin, Texas, United States, specializing in the development of small- and medium-lift launch vehicles for commercial orbital launches. As a fully integrated space transportation provider, Firefly’s mission is to enable global access to space - anytime, anywhere!
With a focus on affordability and reliability, Firefly offers a range of solutions, including launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles, catering to both government and commercial customers. The company’s growing workforce of over 700 employees is dedicated to supporting regular launches, on-orbit missions, and lunar landings. Looking ahead, Firefly is set to evolve its fleet of launch vehicles and spacecraft, providing even more affordable, reliable access to space while supporting increasingly complex missions.
Axiom Space
Axiom Space, an American private space infrastructure company based in Houston, Texas, was founded in 2016 by Dr. Kam Ghaffarian and Michael Suffredini. The company specializes in human spaceflight services and is developing Axiom Station, a successor to the ISS, to enable a permanent human presence in space. While not building rockets like SpaceX or Blue Origin, Axiom focuses on end-to-end missions to the ISS and creating advanced spacesuits for low-Earth orbit, the Moon, and beyond.
In addition to its space station development, Axiom offers exclusive "private astronaut" missions to the ISS, featuring up to seventeen weeks of training and custom itineraries tailored to the unique goals of each passenger. With a commitment to advancing space exploration, Axiom is shaping the future of human space travel.
Arianespace
Arianespace, a French company founded in 1980, was the world’s first commercial launch service provider. A subsidiary of ArianeGroup, which owns nearly 74% of its capital, Arianespace’s remaining 26% is held by 15 shareholders from the European launcher industries. For over four decades, Arianespace has been at the forefront of innovation in the space industry, providing European launch services to customers worldwide.
Drawing on this extensive experience, Arianespace collaborates closely with each customer to develop customized missions that perfectly align with their needs. Whether launching to low Earth orbit, the Moon, or beyond, Arianespace is dedicated to delivering the best space transportation solutions. Having launched more than 1,100 satellites for over 150 institutional and commercial customers globally, Arianespace offers unparalleled expertise and capacity to transport any satellite, to any orbit, at any time.
Space Adventures
Space Adventures, Inc., an American space tourism company founded in 1998 by Eric C. Anderson, opened the door for private citizens to explore space in 2001, marking a significant step for humanity’s future in space. While Space Adventures doesn’t build rockets or spacecraft, it partners with spaceflight providers to offer unique opportunities for clients to undertake multi-day missions. The company arranges spaceflights by securing spots on scheduled launches, matching individuals to crewed missions, and facilitating fully-private missions.
Space Adventures offers missions to the International Space Station, circumlunar flights, zero gravity experiences, and astronaut training. Focused on making space travel accessible, the company envisions a future where clients can choose from a variety of spacecraft and destinations in the next decade.
Astra space
Astra Space, Inc., an American space company based in Alameda, California, made history in 2021 by delivering its first commercial launch to low Earth orbit, becoming the fastest company ever to achieve this milestone - just five years after its founding in 2016.
Astra advances its mission through two key business areas: Launch Services and Space Products. The company’s Launch Services division offers one of the lowest cost-per-launch dedicated orbital services of any operational provider globally. Meanwhile, Astra’s Space Products division provides one of the industry's first flight-proven electric propulsion systems for satellites, the Astra Spacecraft Engine™. Astra (NASDAQ: ASTR) was also the first space launch company to be publicly traded on Nasdaq. In 2023, following over $750 million in losses, the company was taken private by its CEO and CTO, with the deal finalized in July 2024.
Ursa Major Technologies
Ursa Major, a leading independent rocket propulsion provider based in Colorado, plays a critical role in strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base. Founded in 2015 by Joe Laurienti, a former propulsion engineer at SpaceX and Blue Origin, Ursa Major has been driving innovation in aerospace and defense ever since.
As the first American company to successfully fire an oxygen-rich staged combustion engine, a milestone previously only achieved by Russian manufacturers. Ursa Major is at the forefront of advanced rocket propulsion, the company supplies reusable, high-performance propulsion systems to commercial space enterprises, defense contractors, and the Department of Defense for a wide range of applications, including launch services, hypersonics, and national security missions.