Euroconsult Study Says SmallSat Market Could be Worth $22 Billion Over Next 10 Years

Artist rendering of the Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) SmallSat. Photo: NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center

[Via Satellite 07-07-2016] Counting more than 3,600 SmallSats expected to launch over the next 10 years, research firm Euroconsult anticipates the manufacturing and launch market value of SmallSats will total $22 billion from now until 2025. This value constitutes a 76 percent increase over that of the 2006 to 2015 time frame, according to the firm’s “Prospects for the Small Satellite Market” report.

“Earth observation is expected to exhibit the strongest growth in terms of units launched; over 2,100 satellites are anticipated from 2016 to 2025. Four companies plan to launch more than 1,400 satellites during this period alone: Planet, Spire Global, BlackSky and Satellogic,” said Adam Keith, managing director of Euroconsult Canada and editor of the report. “Satellite communication SmallSats will also increase significantly to nearly 800 during the same period of time (discounting SpaceX‘s Steam constellation). There are six constellations foreseen, however OneWeb makes up the bulk of these units.”

In the next decade, Euroconsult expects launch services to generate $5.3 billion. Small-lift vehicles in development will add further specialized supply. Prices from Firefly, Rocket Lab and Virgin Galactic are not expected to undercut existing supply prices. However, with SmallSat operators impacted by the launch bottleneck and affected by delays in ridesharing and the like, the report finds that the benefit of quicker and dedicated access to space could be attractive for operators despite the higher price per kg.