76%support federal spending on space
57%support major roles for private companies
90%of Republicans support private companies in major roles, compared with 32% of Democrats
co/efficient executive briefing · October 2026
America believes in space.
But who gets to build it?
The 2026 American Space Economy Study reveals what voters believe about the private companies, new technologies, and national priorities shaping the next era of space.
1,102 likely voters surveyed nationally · October 8–15, 2026 · Mobile text responses · Margin of error ±2.94%
The executive readout
The mandate is broad. The permission is conditional.
The study does not reveal a single attitude toward the space economy. It reveals a series of different judgments about investment, oversight, reputation, technologies, and long-term risks. Explore the results by demographic group in each section.
01The landscape
The space economy has a public opinion problem.
Voters support the mission. They are far less united on the companies carrying it out.
What the findings mean
Industry-wide enthusiasm is a starting point, not a substitute for trust in the companies doing the work.
02Government affairs
The next argument is about authority, oversight, and trust.
Support for American leadership does not erase questions about accountability.
71%of Democrats prefer stronger oversight, even if it slows progress
46%of Democrats support more funding and partnerships to stay ahead in space
71%are comfortable with private firms providing secure military communications
What the findings mean
Lead with the specific public purpose and explain the safeguards. An endorsement of “space” alone is not a policy argument.
03Communications
Visibility is not the same thing as trust.
For much of the industry, reputation is still being formed.
4 of 9companies are unfamiliar to a majority of voters
53%view SpaceX favorably, and 43% unfavorably
24%have never heard of Blue Origin
What the findings mean
Measure who has heard of the company, how they feel about it, and what specific traits its name evokes.
Where the companies rank
What is your opinion of each of the following organizations in the field of space exploration or research?
The public does not judge the space economy as one thing. It judges each promise, each risk, and each company separately.
04Marketing & positioning
The technology matters. So does how you explain it.
Not every space application begins with the same public advantage.
81%see satellite repair and refueling as promising, including 88% of Republicans and 79% of Democrats
47%see private space stations as promising
21%of voters 18–34 see private space stations as promising
What the findings mean
Explain the practical benefit first. Distinguish what the technology does from who controls it.
05Executives & strategy
Today’s enthusiasm is not a guarantee of tomorrow’s acceptance.
Generational differences and widespread public concerns deserve attention now.
28%of voters 18–34 support major private roles, and 42% strongly oppose
69%of voters 45–54 support those roles
88%are concerned about satellites being used to spy on people
What the findings mean
The next generation is not automatically a more permissive audience. Understand the concerns that attach to your business model.
06The big picture
One industry.
Several different public opinions.
Broad support for exploration should not be mistaken for approval of every company or capability. The public is more comfortable with some activities than others, more concerned about particular risks, and sharply divided across parties and generations. That is why the same message does not work for every audience.
01
Support for investment is stronger than support for private leadership.
02
Specific public benefits can bridge political divisions.
03
For many companies, familiarity and trust are still being established.
04
Younger voters are notably less supportive of major private roles.
Methodology
Source: co/efficient, Space and the Emerging Space Economy, October 8–15, 2026. The attached full study reports 1,102 likely general election voters, fielded using mobile text responses and weighted by age, gender, race, education, and community type. Reported margin of error is ±2.94 percentage points. Percentages are rounded; some combined measures are sums of rounded answer categories. The crosstab explorer presents descriptive subgroups and does not imply subgroup-level statistical significance.