The DownLink Podcast Space Money: $613B - What’s Behind the Big New Number?
Jul 25, 2025
Lesley Conn, the Director of Research and Digital Programming at the Space Foundation, dives into the booming global space economy, which has skyrocketed to $613 billion. She discusses the rapid increase in launch frequency, predicting launches every 28 hours by 2025. The conversation highlights the significant role of AI in space exploration, particularly in NASA initiatives. Conn also touches on the complexities of measuring commercial revenue and the rising tide of space investments, showcasing strong trends that shape the future of this exciting sector.
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Space Economy Growth and Projection
- The global space economy grew by 7.8% in 2024, reaching $613 billion, recovering from pandemic setbacks.
- This growth implies it could hit $1 trillion by 2032, accelerating earlier forecasts significantly.
Defining the Space Economy Scope
- The space economy excludes revenues of companies just using space tech, focusing on 12 commercial sectors plus government budgets.
- This focused definition avoids fuzzy extrapolations, ensuring data clarity and consistency in space economy valuation.
Commercial Space Spending Shifts
- Non-government space spending surged over 10%, driven by broadband constellations and expanding geographic markets.
- Satellite TV and radio declined, reflecting shifts to broadband and challenges like insurance payouts in space sectors.