Subject Development of private business in the rocket-and-space industry is a fairly new trend. If in the early 2000's entrepreneurs announced their ambitious plans in the field of space, during recent several years it is possible to observe the implementation of the conceived programs, as well as the growing number of private companies in the sector. Objectives The study aims at analyzing trends, development prospects, and the role of private business within the system of economic relations that arise in the course of formation and strengthening of the space industry at the national and global levels. Methods The theoretical and methodological framework for thepaper is a general scientific methodology involving the application of such approaches as dialectical analysis and synthesis, statistical surveys, comparison, induction and deduction. The information sources include scientific publications and interviews with Russian and foreign experts in the space industry, the world famous mass media in the field of astronautics, effective laws and regulations, and official reports of recognized research organizations in the space activities area. Results The article presents a brief review of existing private projects in the field of space and identifies the most attractive segments of the space sector for private business. I have analyzed the importance of private initiatives for the development of national space activities, and described the conditions and factors that contribute to the formation of entrepreneurship in the rocket and space area, in particular, the main tools of the US government policy in this area. I pay particular attention to the formation of the private sector in the Russian rocket-and-space industry. Conclusions The study reveals the availability of private initiative in all segments of space activities, even in high-tech ones. The USA is a leader in terms of a number of private companies operating in the space area. Private business is a source of optimal solutions, innovation and an effective form of participation in commercial space activities. It is crucial to create favorable conditions in the Russian space area for private business development, as in many ways, it will help eliminate the causes of systemic crisis in the Russian rocket-and-space industry.
Desyatov A., Parfenov V. Proekty chastnye – interes gosudarstvennyi [Projects are private, the interest is public]. Rossiiskii kosmos = Russian Space, 2011, no. 10, pp. 54–55.
Paison D.B. Gosudarstvenno-chastnoe partnerstvo kak institut razvitiya v oblasti kosmicheskoi deyatel'nosti: zarubezhnyi opyt i rossiiskie plany [Public-private partnership as an institution for space activities development: foreign experience and Russian plans]. Voprosy gosudarstvennogo i munitsipal'nogo upravleniya = Public Administration Issues, 2009, no. 3, pp. 17–34.
Chentsova M.V. Opyt i perspektivy vzaimodeistviya sub"ektov innovatsionnoi ekonomiki (na primere gosudarstvenno-chastnogo partnerstva v kosmicheskoi promyshlennosti) [Experience and prospects for cooperation between the innovation economy actors (a case study of public-private partnership in the space industry)]. Available at: Link. (In Russ.)
Paison D.B. Chastnyi biznes v kosmose [Private business in space]. Available at: Link. (In Russ.)
Zheleznyakov A.B. Kosmicheskaya deyatel'nost' stran mira v 2012 [Space activities of countries worldwide in 2012]. Available at: Link. (In Russ.)
Babitskii A. Kosmos kak usluga [Space as a service]. Available at: Link. (In Russ.)
Zolotov E. Kosmicheskii izvoz [Space carrier’s trade]. Biznes-zhurnal =Business Journal, 2012, no. 12, pp. 27–34.
Crawley E. Pochemu osvoenie kosmosa vse bystree ukhodit v ruki chastnogo biznesa:interv'yu prezidenta instituta nauki i tekhnologii “Skolkovo” [Why space exploration goes to private business faster and faster: an interview with Edward Crawley, President of Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology]. Available at: Link. (In Russ.)
Kokorich M., Golubovich I. Pervyi poshel: kto i zachem zapuskaet chastnye sputniki v Rossii [The first one is launched: who and why launches private satellites in Russia]. Available at: Link. (In Russ.)
Ul'yanova N. Zvezdnaya bolezn' [Star fever]. Biznes-zhurnal = Business Journal, 2012, no. 12, pp. 34–38.
Ionin A.G. Ot Space 1.0 cherez Space 2.0 vpered k Space 3.0! [From Space 1.0 through Space 2.0 towards Space 3.0!]. Geomatika =Geomatics, 2013, no. 2, pp. 40–45.
Ionin A.G. Kto budet investirovat' v kosmonavtiku? [Who will invest in space exploration?]. Rossiiskii kosmos =Russian Space, 2015, no. 3, pp. 26–30.
Davidyuk A. Pervyi chastnyi [The first private one]. Rossiiskii kosmos = Russian Space, 2014, no. 7, pp. 14–20.
Paison D.B. Sravnitel'nyi analiz razvitiya institutsional'noi sredy v sfere proizvodstva i potrebleniya kosmicheskikh produktov i uslug v vedushchikh kosmicheskikh derzhavakh mira [A comparative analysis of institutional environment development in the production and consumption of space products and services in the major space powers of the world]. Audit i finansovyi analiz = Audit and Financial Analysis, 2010, no. 1, pp. 393–405.
Zinchenko O.N. Malye opticheskie sputniki DZZ [Small optical satellites for Earth remote sensing]. Available at: Link. (In Russ.)
Sobolev I. Chastniki v kosmose – za ili protiv? [Private traders in space: the pros and cons]. Available at: Link. (In Russ.)
Fox S. 6 Private Companies That Could Launch Humans Into Space. Available at: Link.
Shkolin A. 20 rynochnykh nish, v kotorykh mozhno zarabotat' v blizhaishie 5–10 let [20 market niches where it is possible to earn in the coming 5–10 years]. Available at: Link. (In Russ.)
Makarov Yu.N. Rossiiskaya kosmonavtika na mirovom rynke: konkurentsiya, problemy, perspektivy [The Russian space technology in the global market: competition, problems and perspectives]. Ekonomika i matematicheskie metody =Economics and Mathematical Methods, 2011, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 94–103.
Khrustalev E.Yu., Makarov Yu.N. Osnovy ekonomicheskogo analiza kosmicheskoi deyatel'nosti Rossii [Fundamentals of economic analysis of space activities of Russia]. Ekonomicheskii analiz: teoriya i praktika = Economic Analysis: Theory and Practice, 2011, no. 29, pp. 41–47.
Paison D.B. Konkurentsiya v raketno-kosmicheskoi promyshlennosti: vremya strategicheskikh reshenii [Competition in the rocket and space industry: time for strategic decisions]. Vestnik GLONASS = GLONASS Herald, 2013, no. 4, pp. 13–19.
