New Space Age
Companies like SpaceX and Axiom are changing how we reach orbit
Date: October 30, 2025
An Ursa Cortex Blog By Akash Iyer
Introduction
A topic that could have a profound impact on everyone—from astronauts to everyday people—is commercial spaceflight. High-profile celebrities like Katy Perry and Jeff Bezos have already travelled to space, and now companies are working to bring down costs to open space travel to the general public. Firms such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Axiom Space have pioneered reusable rockets, government partnerships, and crewed orbital missions to lay the groundwork for a commercial space industry. This year has brought promising advancements in this field, which we’ll explore below.
Fourth NASA-Enabled Private Flight to Space Station Completes Safely
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) flew its fourth private astronaut mission in partnership with Axiom Space, demonstrating how private companies can now manage end-to-end crewed operations—including training, launch, and capsule recovery—under NASA’s oversight. NASA press release
This mission helps show that NASA can increasingly rely on private companies for low Earth orbit transport, freeing up the agency to focus on deeper space exploration.
An Industry Insider’s Off-Earth Status Report
In interviews and public statements, a senior member of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation outlined a strong period of growth for private space ventures, citing robust investor interest and favourable regulatory signals from the U.S. government. He highlighted how companies are not only launching rockets, but also developing in-orbit manufacturing, station modules, and lunar logistics chains.
However, the insider also warned that funding for these projects remains volatile and that an oversaturation in the launch market could lead to consolidation pressure. This cautious optimism reflects the dual nature of commercial space: huge opportunity, but real risk.
Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser Debut Mission Delayed Again
Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser Spacecraft—a reusable lifting-body vehicle designed for orbital cargo and crew missions—has faced another delay due to technical certification issues and changing contract terms. Spaceflight Now article
The spacecraft was originally intended to dock with the International Space Station (ISS), but now the first mission will demonstrate only cargo delivery and re-entry capability. Although the delay is a setback, both NASA and Sierra remain confident the Dream Chaser will become a key cargo (and eventually crew) vehicle in the commercial resupply fleet.
Why It Matters: What This Phase Means for Commercial Space
These stories show that commercial spaceflight is entering a new, more mature phase. Multiple companies can now perform human or cargo missions, and government agencies like NASA are increasingly shifting from operator to partner.
But success is not guaranteed—it will depend on maintaining reliability, ensuring financial transparency, and balancing innovation with regulation. For students and enthusiasts, this industry offers exciting career paths and real-world impacts.
What Students Can Do (You Included!)
If you’re in middle or high school, this is a moment to engage:
- Follow a company: Pick one commercial space firm (SpaceX, Blue Origin, Axiom, Sierra Space) and track their next launch or milestone.
- Create an event timeline: Build a simple infographic summarising major commercial launches in 2025 and what they achieved.
- Challenge assumptions: Write a short essay or record a video: “What makes commercial spaceflight different from government spaceflight?”
- Think about careers: As the industry grows, roles like aerospace engineer, mission planner, space lawyer, and commercial station designer will be in demand.
Conclusion
Commercial spaceflight is no longer just a vision—it’s happening. As private firms take on greater roles in orbit and beyond, the boundary between “astronaut” and “space traveller” begins to blur. The Ursa Majors Group believes that by observing this shift now—and even participating through education—we all have a stake in the future of space.