Europe Small Satellite Market Size

Europe Small Satellite Market Analysis

The Europe Small Satellite Market size is estimated at USD 3.60 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 6.03 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 10.87% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

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3.60 Billion

Market Size in 2024 (USD)

6.03 Billion

Market Size in 2029 (USD)

86.15 %

CAGR (2017-2023)

10.87 %

CAGR (2024-2029)

Largest Market by Satellite Subsystem

25 %

value share, Structures, Harness & Mechanisms, Harness & Mechanisms

The demand for these propulsion systems is driven by the launch of mass satellite constellations into space. They are used for transferring the spacecraft into orbit.

Largest Market by Application

95.62 %

value share, Communication, 2022

Governments, space agencies, defense agencies, private defense contractors, and private space industry players are emphasizing the enhancement of the communication network capabilities for various public and military reconnaissance applications.

Largest Market by Orbit Class

99.74 %

value share, LEO, 2022

LEO satellites are increasingly being adopted in modern communication technologies as they play an important role in Earth observation applications.

Leading Market Player

96.97 %

market share, Airbus SE, 2022

Airbus is the leading player in the European small satellite manufacturing market, with a robust distribution channel. Airbus has six major manufacturing sites in the region that help consolidate its market share.

Second Leading Market Player

2.36 %

market share, Thales, 2022

Thales is the second-leading player in the market. In Europe, the company has sales offices and customer centers in more than 15 countries. It has supplied 237 small satellites in the region.

LEO satellites occupies a major market share of 98.8% in 2029

Europe Small Satellite Industry Segmentation

Communication, Earth Observation, Navigation, Space Observation, Others are covered as segments by Application. GEO, LEO, MEO are covered as segments by Orbit Class. Commercial, Military & Government are covered as segments by End User. Electric, Gas based, Liquid Fuel are covered as segments by Propulsion Tech.

• Small satellites have revolutionized the space industry in recent years as they have enabled low-cost access to space for a wide range of applications, from scientific research to commercial and military applications. To fully realize the potential of small satellites, it is essential to understand the different types of orbits they can be launched into.
• For instance, LEO is the most common orbit for small satellites, as it provides a number of advantages, such as providing a low-latency communication link with the ground and making it ideal for applications that require real-time data transmissions, including telecommunication, remote sensing, or Earth observation. In the region, during 2017-2022, a total of 504 satellites were launched into LEO. Of these 531 satellites, nearly 443 satellites were launched for communication purposes.
• On the other hand, GEO is used primarily for communication and broadcast applications, as satellites in GEO orbit appear stationary from the ground. This allows continuous coverage of a specific area, such as a continent or ocean region. In Europe, companies such as Intelsat have launched a constellation of small satellites to provide telecommunication services to their customers.
• MEO is a less frequently used orbit for small satellites. It offers some unique advantages as the higher altitude of MEO facilitates a larger coverage area compared to LEO, which is important for applications like technology demonstration and navigation/GPS that require global coverage. These advancements are projected to result in a 88% growth rate for this segment by 2029, surpassing the figures in 2023.