A chart shows predicted launch totals of global satellites from 2012-2031. (Credit: NSR)
The Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Services, 7th Edition (SMLS7) report from Northern Sky Research forecasts 2,356 satellites are expected to launch during the coming decade, with both GEO and non-GEO satellite operators turning to diverse solutions to remain competitive with space-based and terrestrial players. NSR identified a growing focus on leveraging advanced technologies and new practices in optimizing satellite business cases across all satellite applications.
“New platforms, flexible and more-capable payloads, mass production, satellite servicing, reusable launch—myriad options are now available to operators in their toolbox as they diversify their solutions to respond to an evolving market,” stated Carolyn Belle, NSR senior analyst and report author. “Non-GEO constellation projects, capacity and data pricing declines, and evolving end-user demand are creating a new market environment. The near-term result was a low 2016 commercial GEO order rate expected to continue into 2017, but, long-term, NSR expects a rebalancing of the market to involve unique architectures in GEO, and non-GEO, and a combination of the two.”
NSR’s SMLS7 study also found that government and military satellite markets demonstrate equally robust activity. “The value of space for economic development and national security continues to drive interest in launching space-based platforms, leading to a 10-percent increase in average launch rates in the coming decade,” continued Belle.
