For thousands of years men have been hypnotized by the night sky. They always wondered what secrets and mysteries were hiding behind its alluring and frightening power, what treasure and dangers could expect one brave enough to explore it and what significance our humble home has in the grand scheme of the universe. To answer those questions they have created maps and telescopes, spent months upon months gazing up into the eternal darkness, just for the chance to catch the light of a star that was dead, long before they were born. All this effort did not go to waste, for now we have arrived in the intriguing age of space exploration. The age where rockets launch every other day and we can see galaxies more than 13 billion light yearsaway from us. And whilst we still do not know all the secrets of the universe and those we do we can only explain theoretically, the question of the mysteries has gone to a second plan. For now, something previously unattainable has come into our reach - the treasures and perspectives of the space are finally at our disposal. Today, we will talk exactly about this, about the space economy as a whole and the companies at its spear.
Unless you have been living under a rock for the last 15 years, you probably know that space is now no longer a government-exclusive playground. The time of Sputnik and Apollo are long foregone. Space is now a 400 billion dollar economy, divided into two main branches: the space-for-earth and space-for-space economies.
So far, the former is the more important one, as it constitutes 95% of revenues earned in space. The space-for-earth economy includes goods and services produced in space for the use on earth. It obviously includes the telecommunications and internet infrastructure and observational capabilities, but also more inconspicuous industries such as 3D printing, which we will discuss later. The decrease in launch prices, from 65000$ to 1500$per kg, and the drop in size and cost of satellites, due to private-sector sponsored innovation, have been the main drivers of the robust increase in revenues in this part of the space economy. 
The yet unrealized applications also present a fruitful field for investment. For example, space research, which in itself does not present a novelty, is now available at far cheaper prices so pharmaceutical companies might be interested in creating space laboratories to research cellular behavior in zero gravity. We also should not forget that the space-for-earth economy is more likely to be the recipient of large governmental support. The national pride, which previously allowed governments to explain spending billions of dollars in funding for space programs, is now rather worn out, so results affecting the lives of taxpayers are needed for most kinds of such expenditures. And since, at least for now, most of the electorate is located on earth, it seems obvious which of the two space economies will find itself in the spotlight of government aid and funding. In Conclusion, it seems that a bright future is expecting the space-for-earth economy - the interest in the industry isat it all times high and the number of possible applications is unprecedentedly broad. The pioneers are likely to find themselves in extremely lucrative spots in the future, not only because of their positions in limited low orbital space, but also because building infrastructure is likely to reduce costs for further operations even more.
As, for the space-for-space economy, everything is not so clear and shiny. Since 1970 people have predicted that it will outgrow the terrestrial economy. However, thus far the smaller of the two brothers has struggled to fulfill its true potential. The most important issue at hand is that so far there are very few people in space, precisely ten at the moment of publication, and thus low or even non-existing demand for products made in space for space. The whole idea behind the industry is that once more people will start living on planets other than the earth, it will be cheaper to produce the needed resources, such as water, in space rather than having to deliver them from the earth. Also because of the difference in environments between earth and lets say Mars, people living on Mars will have different needs like radiation protection or clothes. If the settlements are large enough it will only make sense to produce those specifically demanded goods in space, because of the cost and time associated with transporting them from earth. Additionally, materials that are not specific to any environment such as food, medicine or building supplies, also will have to be produced in space. This details building factories and other infrastructure such as fuel loading stations for spacecraft, which combined provides an almost infinite amount of commercial opportunities that will only be limited by our own creativity and of course by the amount of people in space. So far, however, it is hard to predict when there will be enough humans in space for non-terrestrial production to become profitable. But once the tipping point is reached, there is likely to be an unprecedented boom in economic activity,
Now all of this is very exciting, but who exactly are the ring leaders of this great exploration? Well, the most well known example is obviously US based SpaceX. The company found by Elon Musk is absolutely dominant in the rocket launch market. Using its Falcon 9, which according to someis the most successful rocket ever built in terms of reliability, costs and performance, SpaceXs market share in launches over 50% in 2021, China excluded. Reusing the successful parts of Falcon 9 and improving others, the company is right now developing its next rocket Starship. If built functional it will become the tallest and heaviest rocket ever used. This rocket is worrying the competitors. After SpaceX was awarded the contract for the NASA Artemis mission, which will carry humans back to space in 2024, multiple other launch enterprises, including Jeff Bezos Blue Origin, have expressed concern about the monopolistic position of SpaceX. Besides being very successful in rocket launches SpaceX also has two other important branches of business. First one, named Starshield, is targeting governments, offering space-related national security services such as observational capacities and communications. 
The second, called StarLink, provides private users with internet connection via an expansive satellite network. Starting in 2020, SpaceX has already brought over 3000 satellites to earth's orbit. The company mostly targets people in areas without fixed-line connections. It also has contracts with cruise companies and airlines. All of this, allowed the company to reach a million subscribers in 2022, which is impressive considering the price for the user, at the time of publication it will cost you 85$ per month with a 450$ hardware fee. SpaceX has already brought over 3000 satellites to earth's orbit. The company mostly targets people in areas without fixed-line connections. It also has contracts with cruise companies and airlines. All of this, allowed the company to reach a million subscribers in 2022, which is impressive considering the price for the user, at the time of publication it will cost you 85$ per month with a 450$ hardware fee. SpaceX has already brought over 3000 satellites to earth's orbit. The company mostly targets people in areas without fixed-line connections. It also has contracts with cruise companies and airlines. All of this, allowed the company to reach a million subscribers in 2022, which is impressive considering the price for the user, at the time of publication it will cost you 85$ per month with a 450$ hardware fee.
In all of the aforementioned business segments, SpaceX is facing fierce competition.
Thinking about the domain of rocket launches two companies immediately come to mind: Blue Origin and Rocket Lab. The first, has had success with its New Shepard rocket, designed specifically for transporting humans beyond the Kàrmàn line. Although the rocket does not travel any useful weight except the crew, it has an important advantage, as it is completely reusable. Right now the company is developing its competitor for the Starship called New Glen, which will carry the equipment and other necessities for the company's Moon and Mars missions. Also, in cooperation with Sierra Space, Boeing and others the firm is working on Orbital Reef. This project is supposed to become the first commercial low earth orbit space station, expanding the possibilities of enterprises beyond the ISS with its long waiting times and governmental oversight. The Reef will be a mixed-business park allowing anyone from filmmakers to researchers to use their facilities. The station is expected to be operational by 2027. As for Rocket Lab, the other SpaceX competitor, the company is bidding on its two rockets Electron and Neutron. Electron already had 33 successful launches bringing over 150 satellites to earth's orbit. Even though the rocket can only carry up to 300 kg of weight to the lower earth orbit, it has been demanded due to Rocket Labs innovative kick stage, which allows to place small satellites on precise and unique orbits. The Neutron is scheduled to debut in 2024. The distinctive feature of those two rockets is the lightweight carbon composite material used for the main body of the rocket. This significantly reduces the weight of the rocket and thus the price per launch. As for Rocket Lab, the other SpaceX competitor, the company is bidding on its two rockets Electron and Neutron. Electron already had 33 successful launches bringing over 150 satellites to earth's orbit. Even though the rocket can only carry up to 300 kg of weight to the lower earth orbit, it has been demanded due to Rocket Labs innovative kick stage, which allows to place small satellites on precise and unique orbits. The Neutron is scheduled to debut in 2024. The distinctive feature of those two rockets is the lightweight carbon composite material used for the main body of the rocket. This significantly reduces the weight of the rocket and thus the price per launch. As for Rocket Lab, the other SpaceX competitor, the company is bidding on its two rockets Electron and Neutron. Electron already had 33 successful launches bringing over 150 satellites to earth's orbit. Even though the rocket can only carry up to 300 kg of weight to the lower earth orbit, it has been demanded due to Rocket Labs innovative kick stage, which allows to place small satellites on precise and unique orbits. The Neutron is scheduled to debut in 2024.
The distinctive feature of those two rockets is the lightweight carbon composite material used for the main body of the rocket. This significantly reduces the weight of the rocket and thus the price per launch. Electron already had 33 successful launches bringing over 150 satellites to earth's orbit. Even though the rocket can only carry up to 300 kg of weight to the lower earth orbit, it has been demanded due to Rocket Labs innovative kick stage, which allows to place small satellites on precise and unique orbits. The Neutron is scheduled to debut in 2024. The distinctive feature of those two rockets is the lightweight carbon composite material used for the main body of the rocket. This significantly reduces the weight of the rocket and thus the price per launch. Electron already had 33 successful launches bringing over 150 satellites to earth's orbit. Even though the rocket can only carry up to 300 kg of weight to the lower earth orbit, it has been demanded due to Rocket Labs innovative kick stage, which allows to place small satellites on precise and unique orbits. The Neutron is scheduled to debut in 2024. The distinctive feature of those two rockets is the lightweight carbon composite material used for the main body of the rocket. This significantly reduces the weight of the rocket and thus the price per launch. The distinctive feature of those two rockets is the lightweight carbon composite material used for the main body of the rocket. This significantly reduces the weight of the rocket and thus the price per launch. The distinctive feature of those two rockets is the lightweight carbon composite material used for the main body of the rocket. This significantly reduces the weight of the rocket and thus the price per launch.
Starshield's biggest competitor is Maxar Technologies. The company now famous for space pictures of the battlefields in Ukraine, does much more than that. Maxar specializes in manufacturing and operating satellites. Like Starshield it has a fleet of observation and communications satellites, which are used for purposes of national security, environment protection and logistics. One more curious case is the application of high resolution imaging Maxar provides in mining. With mines being as big as they are now, it is not always possible, to get a full picture unless you are looking from space. This allows companies to decrease risk by observing changes in elevation of open mines and other operational changes.
Outside of the launch satellite business there are also remarkable companies. Made In Space, the leader in manufacturing technologies designed for outer space applications, is one of the examples. The firm operates an industrial 3D printer onboard the ISS used both by private companies and governmental entities. The zero gravity environment allows the printer to manufacture details with higher precision than is possible on earth. For instance, Made In Space produces high quality optic fiber used in internet and telecommunications technologies that could not be produced on earth. Right now the company is working on producing solar arrays in space that then could be installed on satellites and spacecraft.
All in all, the space economy represents a vibrant and ultra innovative industry. It is clear that in the years to come the space-for-earth industry will find more and more applications and provide countless capitalizable services for the inhabitants of earth. The space-for-space industry will probably only take off once a sufficient amount of humans leave earth for other planets. When this moment is reached, it is likely to become the next big thing that you would hate to miss out on. Therefore, we invite the readers to explore the space industry beyond the scope of this article.