In the launch industry, heavy launch vehicles have long dominated the landscape. Initially, this was driven by necessity, as satellites were very large, heavy, and required the most lift possible. However, with the trends towards smaller satellites driven by miniaturization of payloads, delegation of onboard capability across fleets and networks, and new constellations announced almost.
[NSR] comments on SpaceX’s planned launch of a record breaking 143 satellites. “A growing number of launch opportunities provides more flexible and timely schedules to replace aging satellites or launch new ones, said [NSR]. SpaceX rideshare missions “certainly provide more options for small-sat satellite operators to launch and rideshares on heavy launchers are gaining traction.
The dedicated smallsat launch market is still far from reaching maturity, with demand still overwhelming supply; however, all signs point to progress being made in the right direction.
The Smallsat Launch Vehicle Markets Shift from “Launcher Boom Era” to Long-Term Sustainability Focus as Market Matures CAMBRIDGE, MA – NSR’s Smallsat Launch Vehicle Markets, 2nd Edition report, released today, concludes the dedicated commercial small satellite launch market will see a rapid ramp-up period resulting in over $2.2B in revenue over the next 10 years, overcoming.
7,000 small satellites will be launched by 2027, with constellations expected to dominate the market which, in some cases, are planning to deploy unprecedented numbers at a record pace, according to NSR’s Small Satellite Markets, 5th Edition forecasts. Despite a 30% decline in launch rates in 2018, small satellites are expected to regain growth in the near terms and over the next decade.