There, I've said it. While Nations have built the foundation for space exploration, they no longer dominate as they used to.
Do they realize this? Do the numbers confirm this shift?
Who has the most rocket launches? - SpaceX
Who has the most satellites in space? - SpaceX
How many active rocket types are owned by nations vs private enterprise (including under development)?
Nations: 25, Private Enterprise: 35.
Approximately 15%–20% of all private enterprise rocket launches have payloads paid for by national space agencies, based on 2023–2025 trends.
The future of space exploration and expansion is Private Enterprise. That future is already here!
Is this a good thing?