Small Satellite Market Size
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Study Period | 2017 - 2029 |
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Market Size (2024) | USD 166.40 Billion |
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Market Size (2029) | USD 260.56 Billion |
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Largest Share by Orbit Class | LEO |
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CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 9.38 % |
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Largest Share by Region | North America |
Major Players |
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*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Small Satellite Market Analysis
The Small Satellite Market size is estimated at USD 166.40 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 260.56 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 9.38% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
166.40 Billion
Market Size in 2024 (USD)
260.56 Billion
Market Size in 2029 (USD)
118.39 %
CAGR (2017-2023)
9.38 %
CAGR (2024-2029)
Largest Market by Satellite Subsystem
80.28 %
value share, Propulsion Hardware and Propellant, 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.
Largest Market by Region
91.16 %
value share, North America, 2022
The increasing investments in satellite equipment to enhance the defense and surveillance capabilities the construction of critical infrastructure, and the rise in law enforcement agencies using satellite systems are key factors driving the market in North America.
Leading Market Player
85.79 %
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.
LEO satellites dominate the market's growth by occupying majority of the market share
- A satellite or spacecraft is usually placed into one of many special orbits around the Earth or launched into an interplanetary journey. Small satellites 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. Most science satellites, including NASA's Earth Observation System, are in low Earth orbit.
- The small satellite market continues to experience strong growth, driven by the increasing demand for LEO satellites used for communication, navigation, Earth observation, military reconnaissance, and scientific missions. Between 2017 and 2022, around 2900 small LEO satellites were manufactured and launched, primarily used for communication purposes. This 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 market has witnessed a rise in the number of launches of LEO satellites.
- Though the launch of small satellites into GEO and MEO is very few in recent years, despite this fact, the military's use of MEO and GEO satellites has grown. It is also expected to increase, owing to the advantages, such as 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 for the US Space Force.
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North America may witness significant growth during the forecast period
- The global small satellite market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by increasing demand for high-speed internet, communication services, and data transfer across different industries. The market is analyzed with respect to North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, which are the major regions in terms of market share and revenue generation.
- North America is expected to dominate the global small satellite market during the forecast period due to the presence of several leading players, such as Swarm Technologies, Planet Labs, and SpaceX. The US government has also been investing heavily in developing advanced satellite technology, which is expected to drive the North American small satellite market. During 2017-2022*, the region accounted for 75% of the total small satellites manufactured.
- The small satellite market in Europe is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period due to the rising demand for high-speed internet and communication services. The European Space Agency (ESA) has been investing heavily in developing advanced satellite technology, which is expected to drive the growth of the European small satellite market. During 2017-2022*, the region accounted for 13% of the total small satellites manufactured.
- Asia-Pacific is expected to witness significant growth in the small satellite market during the forecast period due to the increasing demand for satellite-based communication services and navigation systems in countries such as China, India, and Japan. During 2017-2022*, the region accounted for 6% of the total small satellites manufactured.
Global Small Satellite Market Trends
The trend of for better fuel and operational efficiency is expected to positively impact the market
- Satellites continue to be small-sized nowadays. They are capable of almost every task a conventional satellite does at a fraction of the cost of the conventional satellite, thereby making the building, launching, and operation of small satellite constellations increasingly viable. Correspondingly, our reliance on them continues to grow 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, leading to a push for the invention of smart materials and reducing satellite bus size and mass over time for manufacturers.
- Satellites are classified according to mass. Those with a mass of less than 500 kg are considered small satellites. Globally, around 3800+ small satellites were launched. There has been a growing trend for small satellites worldwide owing to their shorter development time, which could reduce overall mission costs. They significantly reduce the time required to obtain scientific and technological results. Small spacecraft missions tend to be flexible and can, therefore, be 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 the design and manufacture of small satellites tailored to serve specific application profiles. Owing to the growing demand in the commercial and military space sector, a rise in the number of small satellites is expected during 2023-2030.
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Increasing space expenditures of different space agencies are expected to positively impact the small satellites industry
- According to the Canadian government, the space sector adds USD 2.3 billion to the Canadian GDP. The government reports that 90% of Canadian space firms are small- and medium-sized businesses. The Canadian Space Agency budget is modest, and the estimated budgetary spending for 2022-2023 is USD 329 million. In November 2022, as per the announcement that was made by ESA, a 25% boost was proposed in space funding over the next three years, which was designed to maintain Europe's lead in Earth observation, expand navigation services, and remain a partner in exploration with the United States
- For instance, in December 2020, IABG and BMWi signed a EUR 230 million contract to create satellites with high-resolution cameras, image sensors, and image converters. The new technology began mass production in Munich by the end of 2022 and will be used to install satellites needed for mapping and navigation around the world. Germany is also gradually developing its satellite observation capabilities. New observation satellite technologies were launched into orbit in a significant effort to reduce the environmental impact across the nation.
- In terms of research and investment grants, governments globally governments and the private sector have dedicated funds for research and innovation in the space sector. For instance, till February 2023, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) distributed USD 333 million as research grants. Small satellites are increasingly being preferred for scientific research, military, and defense sectors, compared to commercial applications. The demand for small satellites reached a new high owing to the increasing requirements of data-intense applications like Earth and celestial observation, space research, and communication,
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Small Satellite Industry Overview
The Small Satellite Market is fairly consolidated, with the top five companies occupying 98.09%. The major players in this market are Airbus SE, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), ICEYE Ltd., Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and Thales (sorted alphabetically).
Small Satellite Market Leaders
Airbus SE
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
ICEYE Ltd.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
Thales
Other important companies include Astrocast, Axelspace Corporation, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd, German Orbital Systems, GomSpaceApS, Planet Labs Inc., Satellogic, SpaceQuest Ltd, Spire Global, Inc., Swarm Technologies, Inc..
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in alphabetical order.
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Small Satellite Market News
- June 2022: Falcon 9 launched Globalstar FM15 to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
- May 2022: As part of the Transporter-5 mission another five satellitesnamely ICEYE-X17, -X18, -X19, -X20 and -X24 were launched.
- April 2022: Swarm Technologies 12 'picosatellites' on the Transporter 4 mission for low-data-rate communications network have been launched.
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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 Global
- 4.3.2 Australia
- 4.3.3 Brazil
- 4.3.4 Canada
- 4.3.5 China
- 4.3.6 France
- 4.3.7 Germany
- 4.3.8 India
- 4.3.9 Iran
- 4.3.10 Japan
- 4.3.11 New Zealand
- 4.3.12 Russia
- 4.3.13 Singapore
- 4.3.14 South Korea
- 4.3.15 United Arab Emirates
- 4.3.16 United Kingdom
- 4.3.17 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
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5.5 Region
- 5.5.1 Asia-Pacific
- 5.5.2 Europe
- 5.5.3 North America
- 5.5.4 Rest of World
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 Airbus SE
- 6.4.2 Astrocast
- 6.4.3 Axelspace Corporation
- 6.4.4 Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd
- 6.4.5 China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
- 6.4.6 German Orbital Systems
- 6.4.7 GomSpaceApS
- 6.4.8 ICEYE Ltd.
- 6.4.9 Planet Labs Inc.
- 6.4.10 Satellogic
- 6.4.11 Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
- 6.4.12 SpaceQuest Ltd
- 6.4.13 Spire Global, Inc.
- 6.4.14 Swarm Technologies, Inc.
- 6.4.15 Thales
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) GLOBALLY, NUMBER OF SATELLITES LAUNCHED, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2022
- Figure 2:
- SPENDING ON SPACE PROGRAMS GLOBALLY, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2022
- Figure 3:
- GLOBAL SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, VALUE, USD, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 4:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY APPLICATION, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 5:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY APPLICATION, %, GLOBAL, 2017 VS 2023 VS 2029
- Figure 6:
- VALUE OF COMMUNICATION MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 7:
- VALUE OF EARTH OBSERVATION MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 8:
- VALUE OF NAVIGATION MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 9:
- VALUE OF SPACE OBSERVATION MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 10:
- VALUE OF OTHERS MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 11:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY ORBIT CLASS, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 12:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY ORBIT CLASS, %, GLOBAL, 2017 VS 2023 VS 2029
- Figure 13:
- VALUE OF GEO MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 14:
- VALUE OF LEO MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 15:
- VALUE OF MEO MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 16:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY END USER, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 17:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY END USER, %, GLOBAL, 2017 VS 2023 VS 2029
- Figure 18:
- VALUE OF COMMERCIAL MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 19:
- VALUE OF MILITARY & GOVERNMENT MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 20:
- VALUE OF OTHER MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 21:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY PROPULSION TECH, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 22:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY PROPULSION TECH, %, GLOBAL, 2017 VS 2023 VS 2029
- Figure 23:
- VALUE OF ELECTRIC MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 24:
- VALUE OF GAS BASED MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 25:
- VALUE OF LIQUID FUEL MARKET, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 26:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY REGION, USD, GLOBAL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 27:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY REGION, %, GLOBAL, 2017 VS 2023 VS 2029
- Figure 28:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, USD, ASIA-PACIFIC, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 29:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY APPLICATION, %, ASIA-PACIFIC, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 30:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, USD, EUROPE, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 31:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY APPLICATION, %, EUROPE, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 32:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, USD, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 33:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY APPLICATION, %, NORTH AMERICA, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 34:
- VALUE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, USD, REST OF WORLD, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 35:
- VALUE SHARE OF SMALL SATELLITE MARKET BY APPLICATION, %, REST OF WORLD, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 36:
- NUMBER OF STRATEGIC MOVES OF MOST ACTIVE COMPANIES, GLOBAL SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, ALL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 37:
- TOTAL NUMBER OF STRATEGIC MOVES OF COMPANIES, GLOBAL SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, ALL, 2017 - 2029
- Figure 38:
- MARKET SHARE OF GLOBAL SMALL SATELLITE MARKET, %, ALL, 2022
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. Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America are covered as segments by Region.
- A satellite or spacecraft is usually placed into one of many special orbits around the Earth or launched into an interplanetary journey. Small satellites 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. Most science satellites, including NASA's Earth Observation System, are in low Earth orbit.
- The small satellite market continues to experience strong growth, driven by the increasing demand for LEO satellites used for communication, navigation, Earth observation, military reconnaissance, and scientific missions. Between 2017 and 2022, around 2900 small LEO satellites were manufactured and launched, primarily used for communication purposes. This 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 market has witnessed a rise in the number of launches of LEO satellites.
- Though the launch of small satellites into GEO and MEO is very few in recent years, despite this fact, the military's use of MEO and GEO satellites has grown. It is also expected to increase, owing to the advantages, such as 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 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 | |
| Region | Asia-Pacific |
| Europe | |
| North America | |
| Rest of World |
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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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