An ESA Swarm satellite at IABG Space Test Center. Photo: Airbus Defence and Space

[Via Satellite 08-26-2015] An average of 140 satellites with launch masses greater than 50 kg will enter orbit by 2024, according to Euroconsult’s new “Satellites to be Built & Launched by 2024,” report. Of the 1,400 satellites over the next decade, the research firm expects governments from 60 countries will be responsible for 75 percent of the $255 billion in revenues from manufacture and launch. In comparison with last year’s forecast, the number of satellites is due to grow more than the market value over the decade.

Euroconsult expects nearly 90 percent of the government market will remain concentrated in the 10 countries with an established space industry: the U.S., Russia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, China, Japan and India. The other 50 countries engaged in space activities will launch twice the number of satellites that they did in the past 10 years, i.e. about 200 satellites. More than half of these spacecraft will be procured from foreign manufacturers as domestic industry capabilities mature.

In the commercial space sector, Euroconsult anticipates 40 companies will launch a total of 550 satellites through the decade. Most of these satellites constitute replacements of the communications capacity currently in orbit.

“The increase in satellite number would be significantly higher if two mega-constellation projects for small communications satellites were included in the forecast,” said Rachel Villain, principal advisor at Euroconsult and editor of the report. “The 1,400 satellite count over the decade already includes 350 satellites to be deployed by 10 commercial constellations into low or medium Earth orbits for communication or Earth observation.”

Euroconsult estimates 80 percent of the commercial space market remains concentrated in geostationary orbit.