Space startups to watch
The 12 space startups we think are most worth following right now, ranked. Each one has a reason to be here and a next step that will show whether we were right.
Ranking reviewed 27 September 2026 · How the list works · Changes
- 1
In August 2026 a Zhuque-3 first stage came back from an orbital launch and landed 390 km downrange. LandSpace is the third company to land an orbital-class booster, after SpaceX and Blue Origin, and the first in China.
Next to watch: A second flight for the booster it landed. LandSpace aims to refly it within six months, although a fire broke out in its aft section after touchdown. source
- August 2026Achievement Zhuque-3 lands its first stage 390 km downrange, China's first orbital-class booster recovery on land and the third company ever to do it; video then showed a fire breaking out in its aft section source
- December 2025Achievement Zhuque-3 reaches orbit on its debut; the first stage is lost during its landing attempt source
Full profile and timeline →On the list since 20 August 2026
- 2New
Vikram-1 reached orbit on its first flight in July 2026. It was the first orbital launch by a private Indian company.
Next to watch: The second Vikram-1 flight, and how soon it follows the first.
- 18 July 2026Achievement Vikram-1 reaches orbit on its first flight, the first orbital launch by a private Indian company source
- 7 May 2026Funding Raises $60M at a $1.1B valuation, becoming India's first space tech unicorn source
Full profile and timeline →On the list since 27 September 2026
- 3Up 4
At the end of 2025 ForgeStar-1 heated its furnace past 1,000°C in orbit and made plasma, a first for commercial in-space manufacturing. Space Forge wants to grow semiconductor materials in orbit and bring them back to Earth.
Next to watch: Pridwen, the fold-out heat shield meant to bring its materials home. An ESA grant is paying for a mission to launch it and return it to Earth. source
- 4Up 6
Pallas-1, a kerosene-fuelled rocket designed to have its first stage recovered, reached orbit on its first flight on 1 September 2026. It followed a failed debut for Ceres-2, the company's other new rocket, in January.
Next to watch: The first attempt to recover a Pallas-1 first stage. The recovery hardware is expected to fly from the third flight onwards. source
- 1 September 2026Achievement Pallas-1 reaches orbit on its debut from Jiuquan, with first-stage recovery planned for later flights source
- January 2026Anomaly Ceres-2 is destroyed on its debut; Ceres-1 returns to flight at sea the same week, its ledger at 23 flights and 89 satellites source
Full profile and timeline →On the list since 20 August 2026
- 5Down 2
Gravitas, its first free-flying satellite, reached orbit in March 2026 and was operating by July. It weighs about two tonnes, spans 40 metres with its solar arrays open and is built to make 20 kW of power.
Next to watch: Trinity, its next mission, which will launch several satellites in the second quarter of 2027. source
- 30 July 2026Funding Raises a $500M Series D at a $6.8B valuation, led by Kleiner Perkins and ICONIQ, with about $1B of signed contracts source
- 30 March 2026Achievement Gravitas, its first free-flying satellite, launches on Transporter-16: about two tonnes, a 40 m solar array span and 20 kW of power source
- 6Down 2
Its Mira spacecraft has now flown three missions. In July 2026 the Mira from the second mission flew to within about 200 metres of the Mira from the third, and the two photographed each other.
Next to watch: The first flight of Helios, a kick stage built to carry five tonnes from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit in under a day. It is now expected in 2027. source
- 12 August 2026Contract Space Force adds $28M to its contract for two more Mira vehicles, for the Victus Salo 2 and 3 responsive-space missions source
- July 2026Achievement The Mira from LEO Express-2 closes to within about 200 metres of the Mira from LEO Express-3, and the two photograph each other source
- 7Down 5
Starfish builds Otter, a spacecraft that docks with satellites to keep them working or take them out of orbit. Its second prototype has been flying close to its target satellite since June, ahead of a docking attempt.
Next to watch: The first full-size Otter will fly within a few hundred metres of several defunct US satellites and inspect them for NASA. It was due to launch on SpaceX's Transporter-18 in October 2026. source
- 8Down 2
Clarity-1, the first commercial satellite built for very low Earth orbit, flew for nine months until a radio memory fault ended the mission in January 2026. Its flight data supports a five-year life at 275 km, and Albedo now sells the satellite bus to other payload operators.
Next to watch: Vicinity, its second satellite bus for very low orbit, with deployable solar arrays for more power. It will launch in 2027. source
- 23 January 2026Anomaly Reports Clarity-1 lost after nine months in orbit when a radio memory fault blocked reboots; the bus data supports a five-year life at 275 km source
- 1 October 2025Company Shuts its commercial imagery business and lays off staff to sell the VLEO bus itself to other payload operators source
- 9New
Agnikul flew a suborbital test in May 2024 from its own launch pad at Sriharikota, powered by an engine 3D-printed in a single piece. In May 2026 it fired four of those engines together, a step toward its orbital rocket, Agnibaan.
Next to watch: Its first orbital launch, which the company has scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. source
- September 2026Funding India's Technology Development Board agrees to provide ₹200 crore, in convertible debentures, toward a reusable Agnibaan source
- May 2026Achievement Test-fires four Agnilet engines together as a cluster, a step toward the orbital Agnibaan source
Full profile and timeline →On the list since 27 September 2026
- 10Down 2
AstroForge wants to mine platinum-group metals from asteroids. Its Odin probe was lost in deep space in March 2025, and the company published a full account of the failure. Its next spacecraft, DeepSpace-2, was finished in June 2026.
Next to watch: The launch of DeepSpace-2, riding the Falcon 9 that carries Intuitive Machines' IM-3 lander. source
- 11Down 2
Orbit Fab wants to sell fuel to satellites in orbit. Its Tenzing tanker reached orbit in 2021, and since late 2025 it has won fluid-transfer work from ESA and NASA. Its founding CEO, Daniel Faber, handed over to Peter Shaper in 2026.
Next to watch: Its first fully integrated refuelling system, due to launch in 2027. source
- 7 July 2026Company Names Peter Shaper CEO, opens its Series B and takes more than $25M of interim financing led by Stride Capital, with its first integrated refuelling architecture due to launch in 2027 source
- March 2026Company Founding CEO Daniel Faber hands over leadership as the company opens a $20M Series B source
- 12Down 7
Its Nyx capsule survived reentry on its first flight in June 2025 but was lost minutes before splashdown. In September 2026 ESA chose Nyx to carry cargo to the International Space Station.
Next to watch: The Nyx demonstration flight to the ISS on an Ariane 6, due to dock by mid-2029. source
How the list works
We review the list every month and log each change below with its date. Every pick has something recent on its profile, dated and sourced, and a next step we can check. A company that is bought, lists on a stock exchange or shuts down leaves at the next review. Money raised does not earn a place.
Changes to the list
- 27 September 2026Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos join, and the list is re-ranked.
- 23 August 2026LandSpace moves to the top after landing a Zhuque-3 first stage.
- 20 August 2026LandSpace and Galactic Energy join.
Which space startups should you watch in 2026?
Our list, last reviewed on 27 September 2026, is led by LandSpace, Skyroot Aerospace and Space Forge. It ranks 12 companies from 5 countries, each with the reason it is on the list and the next step to watch for.
How does a company get on the Ones to watch list?
It has to be in the directory, independent and private, with something recent on its profile that is dated and sourced, and a next step we can check. We review the list every month. Money raised does not earn a place.
How often does the list change?
We review it every month and log each review with its date. The latest change was on 27 September 2026: Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos join, and the list is re-ranked.
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