World's first self-styled space trader scopes out a $43-billion industry

Nagasaki's startup, Space BD Inc. wants to become a one-stop shop for companies looking for room on rockets, offering technical advice and matching them to launch operators

The business of manufacturing and launching small satellites is projected to grow almost fourfold over the coming decade to $42.8 billion, creating an opportunity for those seeking to profit from increased commerce between companies in the industry.

One of them is Masatoshi Nagasaki, the world’s first self-styled space trader.

The 39-year-old doesn’t work in a spacecraft, jetting from planet to planet like a character in an Isaac Asimov novel. Instead, he works on the seventh floor of a building that’s become a hub for space-related startups. He’s already won contracts from Japan’s space agency to broker satellite launches.

“Space companies will definitely need