PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1872946
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1872946
In-orbit servicing robotics are robotic systems designed to maintain, repair, refuel, or assemble spacecraft while they operate in orbit. They utilize robotic arms, sensors, and autonomous controls to perform tasks such as inspection, component replacement, and debris removal. These technologies extend the lifespan and functionality of satellites, reducing the overall cost of space operations.
The primary service types of in-orbit servicing robotics include life extension, refueling, repair and maintenance, assembly, debris removal, and others. Life extension refers to the use of robotic systems in space to maintain, repair, refuel, or upgrade satellites and spacecraft, thereby extending their operational lifespan without returning them to Earth. The robot types involved are remotely operated and autonomous, used across commercial, defense, and scientific research applications, with end-users including satellite operators, space agencies, defense organizations, and others.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.
The in-orbit servicing robotics market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides in-orbit servicing robotics market statistics, including in-orbit servicing robotics industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a in-orbit servicing robotics market share, detailed in-orbit servicing robotics market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the in-orbit servicing robotics industry. This in-orbit servicing robotics market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The in-orbit servicing robotics market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.90 billion in 2024 to $2.16 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.5%. The growth in the historic period was driven by increasing demand for satellite life extension, rising government funding for space sustainability, a growing number of satellite launches, expanding collaboration between public and private space entities, and a heightened need for orbital debris mitigation.
The in-orbit servicing robotics market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.54 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.2%. The growth in the forecast period is driven by deployment of satellite mega constellations, greater focus on sustainable space operations, growing commercial space exploration missions, increasing regulatory emphasis on space debris removal, and rising demand for on-orbit asset maintenance. Key trends in the forecast period include technological advancements in autonomous servicing systems, innovations in modular satellite design, development of advanced sensor and imaging technologies, investment in on-orbit assembly and manufacturing capabilities, and progress in compact propulsion systems for servicing missions.
The increasing demand for debris removal services is expected to drive the growth of the in-orbit servicing robotics market. Debris removal services refer to space-based operations and technologies designed to track, capture, and safely remove or reposition defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and other orbital debris. The growing need for debris removal is fueled by the rapid expansion of space activities, which result in increased orbital congestion and higher collision risks. In-orbit servicing robotics help address this issue by enabling efficient and cost-effective debris removal or repositioning, ensuring safer and more sustainable space operations. For example, in July 2024, the Office of Space Commerce, a US-based unit within the Department of Commerce, reported that the United States Department of Defense is currently monitoring over 45,200 space objects, including about 10,200 active satellites and 18,800 pieces of debris. Experts estimate that over one million additional fragments are too small to be tracked with current technology. Thus, the rising demand for debris removal services is driving the growth of the in-orbit servicing robotics market.
Companies in the in-orbit servicing robotics market are focusing on developing advanced solutions such as autonomous in-orbit servicing vehicles to demonstrate and validate robotic servicing capabilities that enhance the longevity, functionality, and sustainability of satellites in orbit. An autonomous in-orbit servicing vehicle is a spacecraft equipped with robotic systems that can independently conduct maintenance, refueling, upgrades, relocation, or de-orbiting of other satellites in space. For example, in May 2023, Thales Alenia Space, a France-based space systems company and joint venture between Thales and Leonardo, secured a $273 million (€235 million) contract from the Italian Space Agency to design, develop, and qualify an autonomous robotic vehicle for an in-orbit servicing demonstration mission. This vehicle integrates an advanced spacecraft platform with a dexterous robotic arm to perform tasks such as refueling, component repair or replacement, orbital transfers, and controlled re-entry of satellites. The project marks a significant step in advancing Europe's autonomous space robotics capabilities, enabling more sustainable, flexible, and cost-efficient satellite operations.
In January 2022, Blue Origin, a US-based aerospace manufacturer and spaceflight services company, acquired Honeybee Robotics for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition significantly boosted Blue Origin's capabilities in in-orbit servicing robotics, advanced planetary exploration technologies, and space resource utilization. By leveraging Honeybee's expertise in robotic systems, precision drills, actuators, and highly specialized space mechanisms, Blue Origin is positioned to support complex and long-duration space missions. Honeybee Robotics, based in the US, specializes in advanced robotic systems for planetary exploration and satellite servicing.
Major players in the in-orbit servicing robotics market are Airbus SE, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Blue Origin, Thales Alenia Space, MDA Space Ltd., Sierra Space, Redwire Corporation, Voyager Space Holdings, Inc., D-Orbit S.p.A., ClearSpace SA, GITAI, Starfish Space, Astroscale Holdings Inc., Space Applications Services, Skycorp Inc., Orbit Fab, Turion Space Corp., Motiv Space Systems, PIAP Space, Infinite Orbits, Kurs Orbital, OrbitAID Aerospace, Momentus Inc., Kinetik Space, and WorkerInSpace.
North America was the largest region in the in-orbit servicing robotics market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in in-orbit servicing robotics report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
The countries covered in the in-orbit servicing robotics market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The in-orbit servicing robotics market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as inspection services, testing and calibration, payload transfer, orbit optimization, end-of-life decommissioning, satellite relocation, orbital tug services, and satellite reconfiguration support. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The in-orbit servicing robotics market also includes sales of robotic arms, dexterous manipulators, end-effectors, autonomous docking systems, capture mechanisms, guidance and navigation systems, control and propulsion modules, and modular robotic platforms. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
In-Orbit Servicing Robotics Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on in-orbit servicing robotics market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for in-orbit servicing robotics ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The in-orbit servicing robotics market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.