Tags: Satellite Launch, Euroconsult, Earth Observation
Publication: PopSci.com
Publication Date: 03/04/2013

Gokturk-1 is one of the satellites currently under development expected to launch within the next 10 years from Turkey’s space program . Image credit: Turkish Aerospace Industries

Approximately 30 percent of the more than 280 new observational satellites expected to launch over the next decade, will probably come from countries with developing space programs, such as Kazakhstan and Vietnam.

According to Euroconsult, the satellites will most likely be used to provide their countries with images for weather forecasting, crop monitoring, urban planning, and military observation.

They will also present competition for satellite imagery companies. In 2011, governments and other groups that don’t have their own satellite spent around $1.4 billion in satellite images. Euroconsult expects the satellite-image industry to generate $4 billion in revenue by 2020.

Some examples of satellites from developing space programs that are currently in the works are the Gokturk-1 from Turkey; two satellites from Kazakhstan; four satellites from Vietnam (the VNREDSat-1A is expected to launch this April); the Formosat-5 from Taiwan; and the Kompsat-3 from South Korea (scheduled for launch in September).

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