Commercial spaceflight

Commercial spaceflight is the development or operation of space transportation and services by private companies. It includes activities ranging from launching satellites to carrying people into space.

Launch vehicle: A rocket-powered vehicle that carries payloads from Earth to space. Commercial launch companies use these vehicles to deliver customers’ satellites and spacecraft.
Satellite constellation: A group of satellites coordinated to operate as a system. Large constellations create recurring demand for commercial launches and in-space services.
NASA: The United States government agency responsible for civilian space exploration and aeronautics research. NASA became a major customer and partner for private launch and crew services.
Government spaceflight: Space missions funded, owned, or operated by national governments and their agencies. Commercial flight relies on private operators, though government programs often fund or purchase its services.
International Space Station: A multinational crewed research station in low Earth orbit. Commercial cargo and crew services sustain its operations and broaden access to it.
Reusable launch system: A launch system designed to recover and fly again some or all of its components. Reusing hardware can reduce the cost of commercial launches.
Satellite internet: Internet access delivered through communications satellites rather than only terrestrial networks. Companies deploy and operate satellite networks as a commercial space service.
Commercial Space Act of 1998: A United States law that established policy supporting commercial use of space and private remote sensing. It helped formalize federal support for commercial space activity.
Cost-plus contract: A contract that reimburses a provider’s allowable costs and adds an agreed fee or profit. NASA’s traditional cost-plus procurement differs from fixed-price commercial service contracts.
Low Earth orbit: The region of Earth orbit extending to roughly 2,000 kilometers in altitude. Most commercial crewed missions and many commercial satellites operate there.

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