Market Trends of asia-pacific small satellite Industry
The trends for better fuel and operational efficiency are expected to be major drivers of growth
- Satellites are getting smaller nowadays. The fact that the small-sized satellite does almost everything that a conventional satellite does at a fraction of the cost of the conventional satellite made the building, launching, and operation of the small satellite constellations increasingly viable. Correspondingly, our reliance on them has been growing exponentially.
- Small satellites typically have shorter development cycles, smaller development teams, and cost much less for launch. Revolutionary technological advancements facilitated the miniaturization of electronics, which pushed the invention of smart materials, reducing the satellite bus size and mass over time for manufacturers.
- The mass of a satellite has a significant impact on the launch of the satellite, and this is because the heavier the satellite, the more fuel and energy are required to launch it into space. Launching a satellite involves accelerating it to a very high speed, typically around 28,000 km per hour, to place it in orbit around the Earth.
- A heavier satellite requires a larger rocket and more fuel to launch it into space, which increases the cost of the launch and limits the types of launch vehicles that can be used. Similarly, satellites with less than 500 kg are considered small satellites, and around 200+ small satellites were launched in this region. Overall, the mass of a satellite significantly impacts its launch, requiring more energy and fuel to launch a heavier satellite, which increases the cost and can limit the launch options available. The number of operating satellites in the Asia-Pacific region is projected to surge during 2023-2029 due to growing demand in the commercial and military space sector.
Increasing space expenditures of different space agencies are expected to impact the Asia-Pacific small satellite market positively
- The Asia-Pacific small satellite market has grown rapidly in recent years, owing to technological advancements, increased investment, and growing demand for small satellite services. Nano and microsatellites are smaller and more cost-effective than traditional satellites, making them more accessible to a broader range of organizations
- China, India, and Japan have complete end-to-end space capacity and complete space infrastructure, space technology satellite manufacturing, rockets, and spaceports. Other regions' countries must rely on international cooperation to carry out their respective space programs, which is expected to change to some extent in the coming years. However, many countries in the region are developing indigenous space capabilities as part of their latest agile strategies. In June 2022, South Korea launched the Nuri rocket, putting six satellites into orbit, making it the seventh country in the world to successfully launch a wholly indigenous payload.
- In 2022, according to the draft budget of Japan, the space budget of the country was over USD 1.4 billion. It included investment in space activities of 11 government ministries, such as the development of the H3 rocket, Engineering Test Satellite-9, and the country’s Information Gathering Satellite program.
- Considering the increase in space-related activities in the Asia-Pacific region, satellite manufacturers are enhancing their satellite production capabilities to tap into the rapidly emerging market potentials. The prominent Asia-Pacific countries that possess robust space infrastructure are China, India, Japan, and South Korea. China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced space exploration priorities during 2021–2025, including enhancing national civil space infrastructure.