Private spaceflight refers to spaceflight activities undertaken by non-governmental entities, such as corporations, individuals, or non-profit organizations. This contrasts with public spaceflight, which is traditionally conducted by government agencies like NASA, ESA, or JAXA.
The emergence of private spaceflight companies in the middle of 20th and early 21st centuries significantly impacted space exploration and commercialized various aspects of the space industry. These companies are involved in:
These companies are actively developing and launching rockets and spacecraft, conducting orbital and suborbital space tourism missions, and contributing to the ongoing exploration of space.