Space Isn''t Sci-Fi Anymore. It''s a Business.
Morgan Stanley projects the global space economy will reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, up from $469 billion today. That''s 4x growth in a decade. And unlike the last space boom (hype-driven SPACs in 2021), this one is backed by real revenue, real customers, and real technology.
Where the Money Is
Satellite Internet ($250B by 2030): Starlink has 4M+ subscribers and is the first profitable satellite internet provider in history. OneWeb and Amazon Kuiper are chasing, but SpaceX has a 3-year head start and 6,000+ satellites already in orbit.
Launch Services ($35B by 2030): SpaceX''s Falcon 9 reduced launch costs from $54,500/kg to $2,720/kg. Rocket Lab (RKLB) is the #2 US launch provider. Relativity Space is 3D-printing entire rockets.
Earth Observation ($8B by 2028): Satellite imagery for agriculture, insurance, military intelligence, and climate monitoring. Planet Labs (PL), BlackSky (BKSY), and Maxar (private) lead this space.
Space Manufacturing ($15B by 2035): Zero-gravity manufacturing of fiber optics, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors. Still early but Varda Space Industries just returned its first space-manufactured drug capsule.
How to Invest
- Rocket Lab (RKLB): The closest thing to a "public SpaceX." Launch + satellite building + space systems. $10B market cap with 35% revenue growth.
- UFO ETF (Procure Space ETF): Basket of 30+ space companies. Diversified exposure.
- L3Harris (LHX): Defense + space systems. Builds satellites for the Space Force.
- SpaceX (private): If you have access to secondary markets (Forge Global, EquityZen), SpaceX shares trade at $250B+ valuation. Starlink alone could be worth $100B+.
