Small-satellite Launch Service Market, By Payload (Satellite (Small (less than 1,000 kg) and Large (Above 1,000 kg), Human Spacecraft, Cargo, Testing Probes, and Stratollite), By Launch Platform (Land, Air, and Sea), By Orbit Type (LEO, MEO, GEO, and Beyond GEO), By Launch Vehicle (Small (less than 300tons) and Heavy (above 300 tons)), By End-user (Government & Military and Commercial), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa) - Market Trends, Analysis, and Forecast till 2029

Small satellites are satellites of low mass and size mainly below 500 kg. The space launch services market is related to the events carried out by space launch service workers. It includes a series of activities such as ordering, conversion, construction, stacking and assembly, integration of payload, and launch. The entry of private launch service providers has resulted in the introduction of new technologies and a reduction in the launch cost, thereby creating a new phase in the market. Small-satellite launch service market accounted for US$ 7.8 billion in 2019 and is estimated to be US$ 24.9 billion by 2029 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 12.4%.

Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on market

The outbreak of the coronavirus crisis has affected the space industry. In addition, global space associated events such as satellite 2020, sea air space, CABSAT, SMi Small Satellites Conference, and many others, have either been canceled or rescheduled. For example, Data. Space event in Scotland has been rescheduled to February 26, 2021. Further, AIxSPACE and space tech expo events that were planned in Montreal and California have also been rescheduled to November 2020 & July 2020 respectively. Nevertheless, despite the current situation, few companies are vigorously planning to launch their satellite. This report will quantify the impact of this pandemic on the small-satellite launch service market.

Rising deployment of small satellites to propel growth

SpaceX, a prominent aerospace company, recently declared that it has scheduled the launch of 30 rockets from the period of 2020 to 2021. Such an effort is estimated to drive the small-satellite industry. These launches are cost-operative and easier as compared to the earlier launches that were conventional. One of the key factors of launching small satellites is that they can carry out regular missions for the International Space Station (ISS) as well as for the U.S. military. Hence, the increasing deployment of small satellites, such as CubeSat, is expected to fuel the space launch services market growth in the coming years.

Scientific and programmatic risks involved in the production of small satellites

Growth in the number of private competitors in the small satellite market has resulted in a decline in dependence on governments for investments. Though this has opened numerous investment opportunities but has also increased the risk of failures due to negligence in the development process. These companies schedule shorter development span and low cost of production of small satellites without a detailed analysis. This results in a higher risk of launch failures. Satellite development requires a detailed understanding of practical analysis as well as numerical modeling, and any fault in the loop leads to failure of the launch mission. The speedy launch of the next mission is one way of justifying the failure.

Small-satellite launch service market is segmented based on payload, launch platform, orbit type, launch vehicle, end-user, and region.

On the basis of the payload, the small-satellite launch service market is segmented into satellite (small (less than 1,000 kg) and large (above 1,000 kg), human spacecraft, cargo, testing probes, and stratollite. Based on the launch platform, the target market is segmented into land, air, and sea. Based on the orbit type, the target market is segmented into LEO, MEO, GEO, and Beyond GEO. Based on the launch vehicle, the target market is segmented into small (less than 300tons) and heavy (above 300 tons). Based on the end-user, the target market is segmented into government & military and commercial.

 Regional Insights:

In the region, the small-satellite launch service market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America accounts for the largest market in the space launch services and is estimated to dominate over the forecast period. Increasing research and development activities along with growing space programs by NASA to launch technologically advanced space services is driving the growth of the target market in this region. Asia-pacific is also projected to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period, owing to the high demand for space launch services from countries including India, China, and Japan. Further, due to the increasing demand for space research programs, the space research budget of these countries is also increasing. In Europe, satellite launch services are the second-highest area of space-manufacturing activity, which is likely to propel the European space industry.

Segments Covered in the Report:

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2019 to 2029.  For the purpose of this study, has segmented the small-satellite launch service market report based on payload, orbit type, launch vehicle, end-user, and region.

Small-satellite Launch Service Market, By Payload:

• Satellite

• Small (less than 1,000 kg)
• Large (Above 1,000 kg)

• Human Spacecraft
• Cargo
• Testing Probes
• Stratollite

 Small-satellite Launch Service Market, By Launch Platform:

• Land
• Air
• Sea

 Small-satellite Launch Service Market, By Orbit Type:

• LEO
• MEO
• GEO
• Beyond GEO

Small-satellite Launch Service Market, By Launch Vehicle:

• Small (less than 300tons)
• Heavy (above 300 tons)

 Small-satellite Launch Service Market, By End-user:

• Government & Military
• Commercial

 Small-satellite Launch Service Market, By Region:

• North America
  • Middle East & Africa
    • • GCC
      • Israel
      • South Africa
      • Rest of Middle East & Africa
  • Latin America
    • • Brazil
      • Mexico
      • Rest of Latin America
  • Asia Pacific
    • • China
      • India
      • Japan
      • South Korea
      • Rest of Asia Pacific
  • Europe
    • • Germany
      • UK
      • France
      • Russia
      • Italy
      • Rest of Europe
  • • U.S.
    • Canada

The key players operating in the small-satellite launch service market includes Antrix Corporation Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SPACEX), The Boeing Company (United Launch Alliance), AIRBUS S.A.S (Arianespace), Safran (Arianespace), State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS, Lockheed Martin Corp. (United Launch Alliance), Rocket Lab USA, S7 Space (Sea Launch), and Starsem. The most implemented strategies by key market players are partnership, contracts, and joint ventures to stay competitive in the space launch services market. For instance, in May 2020, A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 501 rocket carrying the USSF-7 mission for the U.S. Space Force launched Complex-41. This marks the 84th successful launch of an Atlas V rocket, 139th launch for ULA, the second launch for the U.S. Space Force, and the sixth flight of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-6).

• Antrix Corporation, Ltd.
  • Company Overview
  • Product Portfolio
  • Key Highlights
  • Financial Overview
  • Business Strategies

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
• Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX)
• The Boeing Company (United Launch Alliance)
• AIRBUS S.A.S (Arianespace)
• Safran (Arianespace)
• State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS
• Lockheed Martin Corp. (United Launch Alliance)
• Rocket Lab USA
• S7 Space (Sea Launch)
• Starsem

“*” marked represents similar segmentation in other categories in the respective section