Global investment in space companies surged to a record $7.95 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to data from Seraphim Space. This figure nearly doubles the previous quarter's total, pushing the trailing 12-month investment to an all-time high of $18.8 billion.
The increase was driven by larger late-stage financing rounds rather than a sharp rise in deal volume. The average deal size climbed to $68 million, with the largest transaction being U.S.-based Saronic's $1.75 billion funding round.
Investment associate Lucas Bishop of Seraphim Space described the market as 'risk-on,' with capital moving quickly into perceived category leaders. He pointed to converging tailwinds, including defense spending, renewed lunar ambitions, and significant investor anticipation around SpaceX's potential initial public offering (IPO).
A SpaceX IPO would provide a landmark liquidity event for early investors and create a crucial valuation benchmark for the entire venture-backed space sector.
Geographically, North America accounted for roughly 70% of total funding. Europe posted its strongest performance since 2022, and Asia contributed over $1.2 billion.
The sector's focus is broadening beyond traditional satellite communications. Significantly more capital is now flowing into emerging segments like in-space infrastructure, including space stations and data centers. Recent momentum in satellite connectivity was highlighted by Amazon's announced $11.6 billion acquisition of Globalstar last week.