The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a sledgehammer to the economy and the space industry is no exception.  Before the pandemic, the global space industry was really coming into its stride, valued at around $360 billion.  For the last few years, space startups with bold ideas could successfully close round after round of funding.  Now, companies may have a hard time getting infusions from outside investors.  That means companies will likely rely on government contracts, either from NASA or the Department of Defense, now more than ever as a guaranteed source of funding.  A few high-profile space companies succumbed at the start of the pandemic.  Analysts say these early losses are likely the result of problems that companies had before the pandemic, and the economic downturn just amplified those issues.  Whether they’re keeping busy or just trying to keep the lights on, companies across the industry are all stuck in the same pandemic-induced holding pattern. Like many industries, it’s still too early to say what will happen in the future. But for smaller companies with loftier ambitions, the financial picture has already shifted. To make it through, they’ll have to tighten their belts and adjust their plans or scramble for a government-funded lifeline that keeps their unique space goals alive.  Read More >>