Private Space Companies

TakeOff by Bill Wright

Like public space companies, the number of private space companies continues to grow. You can't invest in these privately owned companies by purchasing stock, but there are other ways you can become involved. The private space industry is young. As with any new industry, this is a dynamic and exciting time. These companies range from research non-profits to corporations building suborbital spacecraft and even small space stations.

If you want to help contribute to their success, consider making a donation (sometimes tax-deductible) or volunteering your time. Some private space companies have job openings and are actively hiring, so consider applying if you have the qualifications.

• Armadillo Aerospace™. (Website)  This company has performed over two hundred flight tests spread over two dozen different vehicles. They have done work for NASA and the Air Force, and flown vehicles at every X-Prize Cup event. Founder: John Carmack (co-founder, ID Software). Location: Mesquite, Texas. Established in 2000. Contribute:  Buy Merchandise   Careers/Volunteer   Invest
• Bigelow Aerospace, Inc. (Website) Their long-range goal is to bring human space flight into the arena of commercial business. Objectives include providing a low-cost, low earth orbit (LEO) human-rated space station that is accessible to the commercial sector. Founder: Robert Bigelow (owner, Budget Suites of America). Location: Las Vegas, Nevada. Established in 1998.
• Blue Origin LLC. (Website) This company develops concepts and technology to support future human spaceflight operations. Among other projects, they are developing a sub-orbital space vehicle that will take off and land vertically. Founder: Jeff Bezos (founder, Amazon.com). Locations: Kent, Washington office and a launch complex in Culberson County, Texas. Incorporated in 2000. Contribute:  Careers   Internships
• ISECCo. (Website) International Space Exploration & Colonization Company. A non-profit research organization located in Fairbanks, Alaska, dedicated to research and development of space oriented technology. Contribute:  Donate
• Rocketplane, Ltd. (Website) Creator of the Rocketplane XP, a suborbital spacecraft that will launch civilian astronauts more than 330,000 feet above Earth's atmosphere to experience the sensation of weightlessness and an extraordinary view of planet Earth from space. Rocketplane is taking reservations for suborbital flights. Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Established in 2001.
• Scaled Composites, LLC. (Website) An aerospace and specialty composites development company. Scaled has broad experience in air vehicle design, tooling, manufacturing, specialty composite structure design, analysis, fabrication and developmental flight test. In 2004, the Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne was the first private craft ever to leave the Earth's atmosphere, making the company the winner of the Ansari X Prize. Founder: Burt Rutan. Location: Mojave, California. Established in 1982. Contribute:  Careers
• The Spaceship Company. (Website) An aerospace joint venture between Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites. They plan to build the world’s first fleet of commercial sub-orbital spaceships and carrier aircraft. Current vehicles include WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo. Location: Mojave Air and Space Port, Mojave, California. Founded in 2008. Contribute:  Careers
• SpaceX. (Website) This private space company has developed two launch vehicles, established an impressive launch manifest, and been awarded COTS funding by NASA to demonstrate delivery and return of cargo to the International Space Station. By their own account, SpaceX is on a sound financial footing as they move towards volume commercial launches. Founder: Elon Musk (co-founder, PayPal). Established in 2002. Contribute:  Careers
• Virgin Galactic LLC. (Website) This company is working to develop the suborbital tourism industry. They are currently accepting booking for suborbital flights. Tickets cost $200,000; over 400 individuals have given deposits for future flights. Also plans to launch suborbital science missions and small satellites. Founder: Richard Branson (founder, Virgin Group). Location: Spaceport America, New Mexico. Contribute:   Buy Merchandise   Careers

Read about a way to make private space development potentially very profitable, without depending on government funding.