Q3 saw an unprecedented $2.5B of investment in cleantech aviation, more than doubling Q2’s $0.9B and exceeding annual investment in the aviation sector for the past five years. Sustainable aviation solutions are without a doubt a key theme for cleantech innovation, investment, and global decarbonization strategy. However, the category driving this investment boom is not commercial aviation but space solutions.
The global space economy has grown rapidly for years, hitting $686B in 2025. The cost of launch has dropped exponentially over recent decades, and commercial activity now accounts for nearly 80% of the global space economy ($544B), with government budgets and spending at just over 22%. The U.S. government made up nearly 60% of global government space investment ($77B, up more than 7% from 2024). Notably, the Space Foundation’s annual report identified a significant jump in funding from non-U.S. governments, with a number of national governments pouring substantial funds into space solutions manufacturing (e.g., Canada, up 100%, and South Korea, France, and the UK, each up more than 40%). In a pattern similar to the push for energy sovereignty, governments around the world are working to establish locally controlled space infrastructure, launch, and production.
Cost per Kilogram of Space Launch
Source: Visual Capitalist
Resilience x Defense
Despite the exorbitant cost of space launch and activity, the past year, and Q3 in particular, saw a record amount of venture investment in space solutions. Because Cleantech Grou
The Full Picture Is Members-Only
Members get the complete analysis. Unlock the full picture—the insights, data, and connections that will guide your next move.