Trends in the global small satellite ecosystem

Jonathan Behrens, Bhavya Lal

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Activity in the small satellite industry, especially since 2012, has grown as new organizations and nations have joined the evolving global market in both the private and public sector. Growth in the sector has been driven, in part, by growing capabilities and falling costs of smallsats, principally enabled by the miniaturization of technology for the small satellite platform, increased data processing capabilities, the ubiquitous presence of GPS enabling location and attitude determination, improvements in ground system costs and signal processing capabilities, and finally the deployment of inexpensive COTS parts. This study characterizes the growing global small satellite ecosystem and the drivers that currently are influencing its evolution, through a scenario based approach. A database was developed with nearly 600 global actors, to identify participation across the small satellite industry. After this initial survey of current activities in the sector, four scenarios were selected that could become reality 10-15 years from now. An analysis of the four scenarios led the identification of 62 drivers that were organized into four categories: demand for LEO-based services, that drives availability of funding, technology development, development of low-cost approaches, and infrastructure; access to space; competing alternatives; and government policies. Initial findings indicate that the smallsat sector has many different segments, and is becoming functionally disaggregated, while attracting new non-space downstream actors as a result of inexpensive satellite imagery, broadband, and derived insights. Investment is currently driven by both commercial and governmental entities, and operations (e.g. manufacturing, launch and operations) are globalized. As a result of rapid development cycles, attraction of private investors, and use of COTS parts, the industry mirrors many aspects of the IT/internet industry. Thus, as experienced in the IT sector, over the next decade rapid innovation may continue to occur and although specific organizations or ideas may fail, the attempts may be successful for the sector as infrastructure is developed, global workforces are trained and policy regimes are developed and deployed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication68th International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2017
Subtitle of host publicationUnlocking Imagination, Fostering Innovation and Strengthening Security
PublisherInternational Astronautical Federation, IAF
Pages11978-11986
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)9781510855373
StatePublished - 2017
Externally publishedYes
Event68th International Astronautical Congress: Unlocking Imagination, Fostering Innovation and Strengthening Security, IAC 2017 - Adelaide, Australia
Duration: Sep 25 2017Sep 29 2017

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
Volume18
ISSN (Print)0074-1795

Conference

Conference68th International Astronautical Congress: Unlocking Imagination, Fostering Innovation and Strengthening Security, IAC 2017
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CityAdelaide
Period09/25/1709/29/17

Keywords

  • Commercial space
  • CubeSat
  • Global trends
  • NewSpace
  • Small satellite

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