Commercial space insurance
The space economy spans launch technology, satellite operations, data infrastructure, and commercial tourism. RiskCube places tailored commercial space insurance through top-rated aerospace carriers — so whether you operate satellites, manage launch contracts, or supply government missions, your coverage satisfies procurement requirements on the first review.
What is commercial space insurance?
Commercial space insurance protects companies against financial losses from satellite damage, launch failure, in-orbit malfunction, and third-party liability arising from space operations. Policies follow the full mission lifecycle — from ground transport through launch and on-orbit operations.
Types of commercial space insurance
Coverage is structured around mission phase. Most operators combine two or more policy types into a coordinated program.
Satellite insurance
Covers in-orbit hardware from malfunction, degraded performance, shortened mission life, or total loss. Underwriters review telemetry data and mission history before binding. Required by most government contracts and commercial SLAs that depend on continuous satellite availability.
- In-orbit hardware and payload loss
- Partial malfunction and life reduction
- Revenue interruption from SLA breach
- Third-party liability for orbital debris
Launch insurance
Protects payload and vehicle from lift-off through early-orbit operations — typically the highest-severity risk window in any mission. Carriers evaluate launch vehicle track record, payload valuation, and mission profile. FAA and government procurement rules commonly mandate third-party launch liability.
- Pre-launch transport and handling
- Total payload loss on launch failure
- Third-party liability for ground damage
- Re-launch cost coverage after failure
Need both? RiskCube submits a single application across top-rated aerospace carriers so you compare the full program in one review.
What a claim looks like
A LEO satellite startup transporting hardware for a government launch contract experiences payload damage during pre-launch handling. That leads to missed launch windows, contract penalties, storage expenses, and launch rescheduling costs.
Without insurance
The company has to pay for replacement hardware and launch rescheduling, plus related legal costs.
With RiskCube
The policy covers payload damage, launch disruption expenses, legal defense, contractual liability exposure, and financial losses.
Top risks for space startups
1. Government contract and regulatory risks
Most space startups sell to NASA, Space Force, FAA AST, or SpaceX. Or, they work as subcontractors to agencies that review insurance requirements at every milestone. A compliance failure, ITAR violation, or delayed spectrum authorization pushes back critical milestones, or in the worst case, causes you to lose the deal. RiskCube places coverage through top-rated carriers that satisfy vendor insurance requirements on the first review.
2. In-orbit malfunction and satellite degradation
Onboard systems, propulsion units, communication hardware, and software updates become single points of failure once a satellite reaches orbit—and COTS component degradation is the most common claim driver for LEO operators. A degraded satellite interrupts data delivery, breaches SLAs, and triggers customer reimbursement demands that lead to multimillion-dollar losses. RiskCube offers tailored space insurance to protect you from in-orbit risks.
3. Space launch failure
Launch is the highest-severity moment in any mission—even small technical malfunctions can lead to total loss of the spacecraft, launch vehicle, or its payload during liftoff. This can lead to severe financial losses and delays. RiskCube offers comprehensive insurance for space launch failures, enabling businesses to continue pursuing their mission with confidence.
4. Space tourism and lunar operations liability
Space tourism includes risks like passenger safety, vehicle malfunctions, and liability for accidents. A single incident can trigger multimillion-dollar financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory concerns for companies operating in space tourism. RiskCube places tailored coverage to protect against severe financial losses arising from operational accidents, ensuring you can focus on space innovation.
5. Cyberattacks on space infrastructure
The reliance on digital infrastructure and connectivity in space operations grows on a daily basis. Spacecraft and satellites are increasingly exposed to cyberattacks that could lead to communication interruption, data leakage, and loss of control of critical infrastructure. Consequences are severe financial losses, threats on national security, and public safety. RiskCube places specialty cyber coverage to recover from financial losses and ensure resilience for these assets.
The exclusion problem: Your strategic gap
Traditional brokers often sell space startups standard commercial insurance policies. Those policies include aviation, spaceflight, and in-orbit exclusions.
If a payload degrades in orbit or a launch fails, a traditional carrier won't cover the losses, leaving your runway exposed. RiskCube eliminates this gap. We partner with top-rated space carriers that specialize in space startups and their unique risks.
Who needs it?
Satellite operators and aerospace infrastructure
You manage satellites, payload systems, communication infrastructure, or orbital assets where hardware failure can put government contracts and commercial revenue at risk.
Lunar infrastructure & space tourism startups
You build deep-space assets, rovers, and habitats that handle massive passenger safety risks that require specialized liability protection.
Launch providers and mission contractors
You coordinate launch schedules, payload integration, transport logistics, and mission execution where technical failures can result in expensive contractual liability exposure.
Government suppliers and aerospace manufacturers
You work with NASA, Space Force, NOAA, FAA AST, or other major aerospace businesses where procurement requirements, compliance obligations, and mission performance scrutiny are extremely high.
Why RiskCube?
- Top-rated carrier access. Government agencies and enterprise MSAs typically require AM Best A or A-XV minimum insurance to pass procurement.
- Easy and fast market access through one application. RiskCube places your application across the full market of top-rated insurance carriers to get multiple quotes to compare.
- Optimal ROI of insurance. Through independent search and comparison, RiskCube helps to find the coverage that satisfies vendor requirements for optimal costs.
| Category | RiskCube | Traditional Broker | Digital Broker |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI-Risk Scoring (Proprietary) | Yes | No | No |
| Tailored space coverage | Yes | No | No |
| Slack Support | Yes | No | No |
| Renewal Support | Yes | No | No |
| Startup-focused | Yes | No | Yes |
| Transparent pricing | Yes | No | No |
FAQs About Space Insurance
What does commercial space insurance cover?
Commercial space insurance covers satellite hardware, launch vehicle payloads, third-party liability for orbital debris and ground damage, in-orbit malfunction, and revenue interruption from mission failure. Most programs combine satellite insurance, launch insurance, and general aerospace liability into a single coordinated policy reviewed by the carrier before binding.
How much does commercial space insurance cost?
Cost depends on satellite value, launch vehicle track record, orbital altitude, and mission duration. Early-stage space startups often begin with general liability while satellite and launch programs are priced individually based on payload valuation and risk profile. Because aerospace risk varies so widely, RiskCube submits your application across multiple aerospace carriers so you can compare real quotes for your specific mission before committing.
How does space and satellite insurance work?
Space insurance follows the lifecycle of an orbital project, protecting hardware during transport, launch preparation, and active in-orbit operations. Depending on the policy structure, coverage protects against payload damage, total launch failure, partial in-orbit malfunctions, complete satellite loss, and mission-related revenue interruption.
How does satellite insurance differ from traditional insurance?
Traditional insurance policies price predictable, terrestrial risks. In contrast, satellite insurance evaluates launch exposure, orbital malfunction, payload valuation, shortened mission lifespan, and aerospace liability.
If a space startup relies on a standard commercial policy, they often discover too late that frontier aerospace risks are excluded coverage.
Can space satellite insurance cover cyberattacks on satellites?
Yes, but this depends on policy wording and underwriting structure. Cyber coverage for space startups might pay for ransomware events, command-system compromise, communication interference, unauthorized access, and operational disruption affecting satellite performance or mission continuity.
Can a satellite be insured after it is already in orbit?
Yes. In-orbit insurance can protect operational satellites against degraded performance, shortened service life, partial malfunction, or complete inoperability during the mission period.
That said, underwriters usually review telemetry data, mission condition, and operational history first.
How long does it take to get a payout for a failed launch with space and lunar insurance?
The precise timeline depends on the severity and complexity of the loss. Partial failures might resolve faster. In contrast, total launch losses can require months of engineering analysis, telemetry review, contractual assessment, and carrier investigation before your payout is approved.
How fast can I get covered?
You can get quotes within 24-48 hours after submitting the intake form. This only takes 10 minutes. Then, compare quotes, purchase your coverage, and get your certificate of insurance (COI).
Get insurance for space startups, including mission-critical launch and satellite coverage
If the countdown's on and you need coverage fast, use RiskCube to compare your options. Get aerospace coverage that protects your startup from mission-critical commercial space risk.
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About the author
Andrei Craciunescu
Founder & CEO, RiskCube · CA License #4467994
LinkedIn ProfileAndrei previously worked in Risk & Analytics at WTW (Willis Towers Watson), one of the world's largest insurance brokers. He holds an M.Sc. in Mathematics from LMU Munich and conducted PhD-level research in financial mathematics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). His work focuses on translating risk data into actionable insurance coverage decisions for VC-backed startups and small-to-medium businesses across the U.S.