Exoplanet Exploration Global Market Report 2026

Exoplanet exploration involves the scientific study and investigation of planets located outside our solar system, orbiting stars other than the Sun. This discipline aims to detect, observe, and analyze these distant planets to gain insights into their physical properties, atmospheric makeup, and their potential to support life.

The primary technologies used in exoplanet exploration include space telescopes, ground-based telescopes, spectroscopy instruments, and others. Space telescopes are sophisticated devices positioned in orbit or deep space to observe the universe beyond Earth's atmosphere. These technologies are utilized for scientific research, commercial purposes, and more by various end-users such as government agencies, academic institutions, private companies, 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.

Tariffs have impacted the exoplanet exploration market by increasing costs of precision optical instruments, detectors, and spacecraft components. The impact is most visible in space telescope development and spectroscopy equipment, particularly in North America and Europe. Higher tariffs have influenced research budgets and mission timelines. However, tariffs have also supported domestic manufacturing of scientific instruments and reduced reliance on imported space technologies.

The exoplanet exploration market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides exoplanet exploration market statistics, including exoplanet exploration industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a exoplanet exploration market share, detailed exoplanet exploration market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the exoplanet exploration industry. This exoplanet exploration 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 exoplanet exploration market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.25 billion in 2025 to $1.41 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to advancements in telescope technology, growth of astrophysics research funding, discovery of early exoplanets, expansion of space observatories, improvements in data processing capabilities.

The exoplanet exploration market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.26 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to next generation space telescope missions, increasing interest in extraterrestrial life research, growth of private space exploration companies, advances in deep space imaging, rising interdisciplinary scientific collaborations. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing deployment of space based telescopes, growing use of AI driven data analysis for exoplanet detection, expansion of spectroscopy based atmospheric analysis, rising collaboration between public and private space institutions, higher focus on habitable zone planet discovery.

The increasing interest in space tourism is expected to drive the growth of the exoplanet exploration market in the future. Space tourism involves commercial trips by private individuals to space for leisure or adventure. This interest is growing due to the public's fascination with space exploration, as more people want to experience the excitement of traveling beyond Earth and exploring a previously inaccessible frontier. Exoplanet exploration is important for shaping the future of space tourism by discovering planets outside our solar system that might have conditions suitable for life or human visits. For example, in May 2025, PatentPC, a US-based full-service law firm, projected that between 250 and 400 individuals would travel to space in 2025. Thus, the rising interest in space tourism is boosting the exoplanet exploration market.

The expanding interest in space exploration is expected to support the growth of the exoplanet exploration market in the coming years. Space exploration involves the study and discovery of outer space through astronomy, space technologies, and missions beyond Earth's atmosphere. This growing interest is driven by technological advancements that make space missions more practical, efficient, and affordable, encouraging involvement from both governments and private sectors. Rising enthusiasm for space exploration significantly aids exoplanet research by attracting funding, promoting international collaboration, and advancing technology. This excitement speeds up missions aimed at finding and studying exoplanets, bringing humanity closer to discovering Earth-like planets and understanding our place in the cosmos. For instance, in March 2025, according to the House of Commons Library in the UK, government contracts totaling $1,150.03 million (£844 million) were awarded between 2022 and 2024 via the European Space Agency (ESA). Hence, the growing interest in space exploration will enhance the exoplanet exploration market.

Key players in the exoplanet exploration market are focused on developing missions that provide important insights into how planetary systems form and evolve across the galaxy. Exoplanet missions are scientific efforts conducted from space to discover and study planets beyond our solar system. For example, in February 2025, NASA, a US government agency, selected SpaceX, a US aerospace manufacturer, to launch Pandora, a 716-pound (325-kilogram) satellite designed to help scientists better understand how host star variations affect exoplanet atmospheres. Operating in low Earth orbit, Pandora will observe at least 20 transiting exoplanets, which are planets that pass in front of their stars from the satellite's viewpoint. Each planet will be studied 10 times with continuous 24-hour observations. The satellite features a 17-inch-wide all-aluminum telescope capable of capturing visible and near-infrared light, as well as near-infrared spectra from the planets.

Major companies operating in the exoplanet exploration market are Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin Corp., Airbus SE, Northrop Grumman Corp., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Honeywell International Inc., National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA), Thales Alenia Space, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leidos Holdings Inc., CACI International Inc., Teledyne Technologies Inc., Bruker Corp., General Atomics, DLR, Ball Aerospace and Technologies, OHB System AG, Sierra Nevada Corporation, JAXA

North America was the largest region in the exoplanet exploration market in 2025. The regions covered in the exoplanet exploration market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

The countries covered in the exoplanet exploration market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

The exoplanet exploration market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as exoplanet detection, spectroscopic analysis, astrometric measurement services, and astronomical instrument calibration. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The exoplanet exploration market also includes sales of photometers, adaptive optics systems, coronagraphs, starshades, and interferometers. 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.

Exoplanet Exploration Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses exoplanet exploration 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.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for exoplanet exploration ? 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 exoplanet exploration 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, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• 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.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Technology: Space Telescopes; Ground-Based Telescopes; Spectroscopy Instruments; Other Technologies
• 2) By Application: Scientific Research; Commercial; Other Applications
• 3) By End-User: Government Agencies; Academic Institutions; Other End Users
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Space Telescopes: Optical Space Telescopes; Infrared Space Telescopes; Ultraviolet Space Telescopes; X-ray Space Telescopes
• 2) By Ground-Based Telescopes: Optical Ground Telescopes; Radio Telescopes; Adaptive Optics Telescopes; Very Large Telescopes (VLTs)
• 3) By Spectroscopy Instruments: Transit Spectrometers; Radial Velocity Spectrometers; Direct Imaging Spectrometers; Atmospheric Characterization Spectrometers
• 4) By Other Technologies: Coronagraphs; Starshades; Interferometers; Photometric Detectors
• Companies Mentioned: Raytheon Technologies; Lockheed Martin Corp.; Airbus SE; Northrop Grumman Corp.; Mitsubishi Electric Corp.; Honeywell International Inc.; National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA); Thales Alenia Space; L3Harris Technologies Inc.; Leidos Holdings Inc.; CACI International Inc.; Teledyne Technologies Inc.; Bruker Corp.; General Atomics; DLR; Ball Aerospace and Technologies; OHB System AG; Sierra Nevada Corporation; JAXA
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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