What was once the exclusive domain of a few national space programmes is steadily becoming a commercial marketplace.
Within just a few years, private firms have transformed human spaceflight from a rare event into a recurring fixture on the space calendar.
They now routinely transport both fare-paying passengers and professionally trained private astronauts into low Earth orbit.
A number of independent missions have docked with the International Space Station, carried out experiments, and returned their crews safely to the ground.
More strikingly, the first entirely commercial spacewalk has been accomplished, a task previously reserved for government astronauts alone.
The companies behind these ventures are determined to expand their flight schedules year on year.
Several are also pursuing the bold ambition of constructing privately operated orbital stations.
Gradually but unmistakably, the frontier of space is being prised open beyond the reach of state agencies.