North America Small Satellite Market Size
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Study Period | 2017 - 2029 |
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Market Size (2024) | USD 147.25 Billion |
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Market Size (2029) | USD 222.08 Billion |
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Largest Share by Orbit Class | LEO |
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CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 8.57 % |
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Largest Share by Country | United States |
Major Players |
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*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
North America Small Satellite Market Analysis
The North America Small Satellite Market size is estimated at USD 147.25 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 222.08 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 8.57% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
147.25 Billion
Market Size in 2024 (USD)
222.08 Billion
Market Size in 2029 (USD)
146.61 %
CAGR (2017-2023)
8.57 %
CAGR (2024-2029)
Largest Market by Satellite Subsystem
25 %
value share, Solar Array & Power Hardware, 2022
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
99.15 %
market share, Space Exploration Technologies Corp, 2022
SpaceX is the leading player in the global satellite manufacturing market and maintains its market share globally through its Starlink project in over 53 countries. The company produces 120 satellites per month.
Second Leading Market Player
0.17 %
market share, Capella Space Corp., 2022
Capella Space is the second-leading company in the market. It is developing space-based radar Earth observation satellites equipped with synthetic-aperture radar that can penetrate clouds and work at night.
LEO satellites are driving the demand for small satellites
- During launch, a satellite or spacecraft is usually placed into one of many special orbits around the Earth, or it can be launched into an interplanetary journey. There are three types of Earth orbits, namely, geostationary orbit (GEO), medium Earth orbit, and low Earth orbit. Many weather and communication satellites tend to have high Earth orbits farthest from the surface. Satellites in medium Earth orbit include navigational and specialized satellites designed to monitor a specific area. Most science satellites, including NASA's Earth Observation System, are in low Earth orbit.
- The small satellite market is experiencing strong growth, driven by the increasing demand for LEO satellites, which are used for communication, navigation, Earth observation, military reconnaissance, and scientific missions. Between 2017 and 2022, around 2,900 small LEO satellites were manufactured and launched in North America alone, primarily for communication purposes. This has led companies such as SpaceX, OneWeb, and Amazon to plan the launch of thousands of satellites into LEO. With the rising demand for low Earth orbit from various sectors like Earth observation, navigation, meteorology, and military communications, the region has witnessed an increase in the number of LEO satellite launches.
- The military's use of MEO and GEO satellites has grown in recent years due to their advantages, including increased signal strength, improved communications and data transfer capabilities, and greater coverage area. For instance, Raytheon Technologies’ and Boeing's Millennium Space Systems are developing the first prototype Missile Track Custody (MTC) MEO OPIR payloads to detect and track hypersonic missiles for the US Space Force.
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North America Small Satellite Market Trends
A trend of using better fuel and operational efficiency has been witnessed
- Satellites are getting smaller nowadays. A small satellite can do almost everything as a conventional satellite at a fraction of the cost, thus making the building, launching, and operation of the small satellite constellations increasingly viable. The reliance on small satellites has also been growing exponentially. Small satellites typically have shorter development cycles, smaller development teams, and cost much lesser 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.
- Satellites are classified according to mass. The satellites with a mass of less than 500 kg are considered small satellites, and around 2,900+ small satellites were launched in the region during the historical period. There is a growing trend toward small satellites in the region due to their shorter development time, which can reduce overall mission costs. They have significantly reduced the time required to obtain scientific and technological results. Small spacecraft missions tend to be flexible and more responsive to new technological opportunities or needs. The small satellite industry in the United States is supported by the presence of a robust framework for designing and manufacturing small satellites tailored to serve specific application profiles. The number of small satellite operators in North America is expected to surge during 2023-2029 due to the growing demand in the commercial and military space sectors.
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The increasing space expenditures of different space agencies are expected to impact the North American small satellite market positively
- In North America, government expenditure for space programs hit a record of approximately USD 103 billion in 2021. The region is the epicenter of space innovation and research, with the presence of the world's biggest space agency, NASA. In 2022, the US government spent nearly USD 62 billion on its space programs, making it the highest spender on space in the world.
- The United States is one of the leading countries globally in terms of satellite development and launches. Owing to the immense potential in several aspects of commercial and defense applications, the use of satellites has gained substantial acceptance in the country. The country has many satellites orbiting in space to serve its commercial and defense needs. In December 2022, Planet Labs announced that it had manufactured 36 SuperDove satellites, scheduled for launch using SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket. Each SuperDove satellite weighs approximately 6 kg, and the data collected by these satellites are expected to provide organizations in agriculture, government, civilian agencies, and other industries to make informed decisions.
- In November 2022, NASA announced that it is planning to launch four CubeSats under the TROPICS mission. These satellites weigh approximately 5.3 kg and are developed to provide rapidly updating observations of storm intensity, as well as the horizontal and vertical structures of temperature and humidity within the storms and in their surrounding environment. The data collected is expected to help scientists better understand the processes that affect these high-impact storms, ultimately leading to improved modeling and prediction.
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North America Small Satellite Industry Overview
The North America Small Satellite Market is fairly consolidated, with the top five companies occupying 99.57%. The major players in this market are Ball Corporation, Capella Space Corp., LeoStella, Planet Labs Inc. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp (sorted alphabetically).
North America Small Satellite Market Leaders
Ball Corporation
Capella Space Corp.
LeoStella
Planet Labs Inc.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp
Other important companies include National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), SpaceQuest Ltd, Spire Global, Inc., Swarm Technologies, Inc..
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in alphabetical order.
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North America Small Satellite Market News
- April 2022: The company expanded its constellation from 12 to 14 high-resolution satellites following the successful RocketLab launch. The rocket launched BlackSky 16, and 17 satellites.
- April 2022: Swarm Technologies 12 'picosatellites' on the Transporter 4 mission for low-data-rate communications network have been launched.
- February 2022: In February 2022, 49 more Starlink internet satellites are launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.
Free with this Report
We offer a comprehensive set of global and local metrics that illustrate the fundamentals of the satellites industry. Clients can access in-depth market analysis of various satellites and launch vehicles through granular level segmental information supported by a repository of market data, trends, and expert analysis. Data and analysis on satellite launches, satellite mass, application of satellites, spending on space programs, propulsion systems, end users, etc., are available in the form of comprehensive reports as well as excel based data worksheets.
North America Small Satellite Market Report - Table of Contents
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & KEY FINDINGS
2. REPORT OFFERS
3. INTRODUCTION
- 3.1 Study Assumptions & Market Definition
- 3.2 Scope of the Study
- 3.3 Research Methodology
4. KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS
- 4.1 Satellite Mass
- 4.2 Spending On Space Programs
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4.3 Regulatory Framework
- 4.3.1 Canada
- 4.3.2 United States
- 4.4 Value Chain & Distribution Channel Analysis
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION (includes market size in Value in USD, Forecasts up to 2029 and analysis of growth prospects)
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5.1 Application
- 5.1.1 Communication
- 5.1.2 Earth Observation
- 5.1.3 Navigation
- 5.1.4 Space Observation
- 5.1.5 Others
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5.2 Orbit Class
- 5.2.1 GEO
- 5.2.2 LEO
- 5.2.3 MEO
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5.3 End User
- 5.3.1 Commercial
- 5.3.2 Military & Government
- 5.3.3 Other
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5.4 Propulsion Tech
- 5.4.1 Electric
- 5.4.2 Gas based
- 5.4.3 Liquid Fuel
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
- 6.1 Key Strategic Moves
- 6.2 Market Share Analysis
- 6.3 Company Landscape
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6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global Level Overview, Market Level Overview, Core Business Segments, Financials, Headcount, Key Information, Market Rank, Market Share, Products and Services, and Analysis of Recent Developments).
- 6.4.1 Ball Corporation
- 6.4.2 Capella Space Corp.
- 6.4.3 LeoStella
- 6.4.4 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- 6.4.5 Planet Labs Inc.
- 6.4.6 Space Exploration Technologies Corp
- 6.4.7 SpaceQuest Ltd
- 6.4.8 Spire Global, Inc.
- 6.4.9 Swarm Technologies, Inc.
7. KEY STRATEGIC QUESTIONS FOR SATELLITE CEOS
8. APPENDIX
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8.1 Global Overview
- 8.1.1 Overview
- 8.1.2 Porter's Five Forces Framework
- 8.1.3 Global Value Chain Analysis
- 8.1.4 Market Dynamics (DROs)
- 8.2 Sources & References
- 8.3 List of Tables & Figures
- 8.4 Primary Insights
- 8.5 Data Pack
- 8.6 Glossary of Terms
List of Tables & Figures
- Figure 1:
- SATELLITE MASS (ABOVE 10KG) BY REGION, NUMBER OF SATELLITES LAUNCHED, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2022
- Figure 2:
- SPENDING ON SPACE PROGRAMS BY REGION, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2022
- Figure 3:
- NORTH AMERICA SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, VALUE, USD, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 4:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY APPLICATION, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 5:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY APPLICATION, %, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 VS 2023 VS 2029
- Figure 6:
- VALUE OF COMMUNICATION MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 7:
- VALUE OF EARTH OBSERVATION MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 8:
- VALUE OF NAVIGATION MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 9:
- VALUE OF SPACE OBSERVATION MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 10:
- VALUE OF OTHERS MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 11:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY ORBIT CLASS, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 12:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY ORBIT CLASS, %, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 VS 2023 VS 2029
- Figure 13:
- VALUE OF GEO MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 14:
- VALUE OF LEO MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 15:
- VALUE OF MEO MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 16:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY END USER, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 17:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY END USER, %, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 VS 2023 VS 2029
- Figure 18:
- VALUE OF COMMERCIAL MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 19:
- VALUE OF MILITARY & GOVERNMENT MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 20:
- VALUE OF OTHER MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 21:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY PROPULSION TECH, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 22:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY PROPULSION TECH, %, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 VS 2023 VS 2029
- Figure 23:
- VALUE OF ELECTRIC MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 24:
- VALUE OF GAS BASED MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 25:
- VALUE OF LIQUID FUEL MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 26:
- NUMBER OF STRATEGIC MOVES OF MOST ACTIVE COMPANIES, NORTH AMERICA SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 27:
- TOTAL NUMBER OF STRATEGIC MOVES OF COMPANIES, NORTH AMERICA SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 28:
- MARKET SHARE OF NORTH AMERICA SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, %, NORTH AMERICA, 2022
North America 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.
- During launch, a satellite or spacecraft is usually placed into one of many special orbits around the Earth, or it can be launched into an interplanetary journey. There are three types of Earth orbits, namely, geostationary orbit (GEO), medium Earth orbit, and low Earth orbit. Many weather and communication satellites tend to have high Earth orbits farthest from the surface. Satellites in medium Earth orbit include navigational and specialized satellites designed to monitor a specific area. Most science satellites, including NASA's Earth Observation System, are in low Earth orbit.
- The small satellite market is experiencing strong growth, driven by the increasing demand for LEO satellites, which are used for communication, navigation, Earth observation, military reconnaissance, and scientific missions. Between 2017 and 2022, around 2,900 small LEO satellites were manufactured and launched in North America alone, primarily for communication purposes. This has led companies such as SpaceX, OneWeb, and Amazon to plan the launch of thousands of satellites into LEO. With the rising demand for low Earth orbit from various sectors like Earth observation, navigation, meteorology, and military communications, the region has witnessed an increase in the number of LEO satellite launches.
- The military's use of MEO and GEO satellites has grown in recent years due to their advantages, including increased signal strength, improved communications and data transfer capabilities, and greater coverage area. For instance, Raytheon Technologies’ and Boeing's Millennium Space Systems are developing the first prototype Missile Track Custody (MTC) MEO OPIR payloads to detect and track hypersonic missiles for the US Space Force.
| Application | Communication |
| Earth Observation | |
| Navigation | |
| Space Observation | |
| Others | |
| Orbit Class | GEO |
| LEO | |
| MEO | |
| End User | Commercial |
| Military & Government | |
| Other | |
| Propulsion Tech | Electric |
| Gas based | |
| Liquid Fuel |
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Market Definition
- Application - Various applications or purposes of the satellites are classified into communication, earth observation, space observation, navigation, and others. The purposes listed are those self-reported by the satellite’s operator.
- End User - The primary users or end users of the satellite is described as civil (academic, amateur), commercial, government (meteorological, scientific, etc.), military. Satellites can be multi-use, for both commercial and military applications.
- Launch Vehicle MTOW - The launch vehicle MTOW (maximum take-off weight) means the maximum weight of the launch vehicle during take-off, including the weight of payload, equipment and fuel.
- Orbit Class - The satellite orbits are divided into three broad classes namely GEO, LEO, and MEO. Satellites in elliptical orbits have apogees and perigees that differ significantly from each other and categorized satellite orbits with eccentricity 0.14 and higher as elliptical.
- Propulsion tech - Under this segment, different types of satellite propulsion systems have been classified as electric, liquid-fuel and gas-based propulsion systems.
- Satellite Mass - Under this segment, different types of satellite propulsion systems have been classified as electric, liquid-fuel and gas-based propulsion systems.
- Satellite Subsystem - All the components and subsystems which includes propellants, buses, solar panels, other hardware of satellites are included under this segment.
| Keyword | Definition |
|---|---|
| Attitude Control | The orientation of the satellite relative to the Earth and the sun. |
| INTELSAT | The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization operates a network of satellites for international transmission. |
| Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) | Geostationary satellites in Earth orbit 35,786 km (22,282 mi) above the equator in the same direction and at the same speed as the earth rotates on its axis, making them appear fixed in the sky. |
| Low Earth Orbit (LEO) | Low Earth Orbit satellites orbit from 160-2000km above the earth, take approximately 1.5 hours for a full orbit and only cover a portion of the earth’s surface. |
| Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) | MEO satellites are located above LEO and below GEO satellites and typically travel in an elliptical orbit over the North and South Pole or in an equatorial orbit. |
| Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) | Very Small Aperture Terminal is an antenna that is typically less than 3 meters in diameter |
| CubeSat | CubeSat is a class of miniature satellites based on a form factor consisting of 10 cm cubes. CubeSats weigh no more than 2 kg per unit and typically use commercially available components for their construction and electronics. |
| Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs) | Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is a three-stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages and a liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage |
| Space Mining | Asteroid mining is the hypothesis of extracting material from asteroids and other asteroids, including near-Earth objects. |
| Nano Satellites | Nanosatellites are loosely defined as any satellite weighing less than 10 kilograms. |
| Automatic Identification System (AIS) | Automatic identification system (AIS) is an automatic tracking system used to identify and locate ships by exchanging electronic data with other nearby ships, AIS base stations, and satellites. Satellite AIS (S-AIS) is the term used to describe when a satellite is used to detect AIS signatures. |
| Reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) | Reusable launch vehicle (RLV) means a launch vehicle that is designed to return to Earth substantially intact and therefore may be launched more than one time or that contains vehicle stages that may be recovered by a launch operator for future use in the operation of a substantially similar launch vehicle. |
| Apogee | The point in an elliptical satellite orbit which is farthest from the surface of the earth. Geosynchronous satellites which maintain circular orbits around the earth are first launched into highly elliptical orbits with apogees of 22,237 miles. |
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Research Methodology
Mordor Intelligence follows a four-step methodology in all our reports.
- Step-1: Identify Key Variables: In order to build a robust forecasting methodology, the variables and factors identified in Step-1 are tested against available historical market numbers. Through an iterative process, the variables required for market forecast are set and the model is built on the basis of these variables.
- Step-2: Build a Market Model: Market-size estimations for the historical and forecast years have been provided in revenue and volume terms. For sales conversion to volume, the average selling price (ASP) is kept constant throughout the forecast period for each country, and inflation is not a part of the pricing.
- Step-3: Validate and Finalize: In this important step, all market numbers, variables and analyst calls are validated through an extensive network of primary research experts from the market studied. The respondents are selected across levels and functions to generate a holistic picture of the market studied.
- Step-4: Research Outputs: Syndicated Reports, Custom Consulting Assignments, Databases & Subscription Platforms.
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