Browse Resources by Year

2009 – Orbital Launch Reports and Forecasts – Snapshot

In 2009, a total of ## orbital launches took place from ## spaceports around the world. These launches carried ## payloads for militaries, civil government organizations, commercial entities, and universities into Earth orbit and destinations beyond.

2009 – Government Space Budgets – Snapshot

Government space budgets are estimated at $## billion for 2009, comprising ##% of the global space economy. This funding supports military, civilian, and commercial space programs covering a broad variety of activities such as national security, scientific research, technology development, and social welfare that target health, rural communications, and emergency services. The U.S. government accounted for ##% of the global space economy in 2009, a slight increase from ##% of the total in 2008. International space budgets tracked in 2008 and 2009 increased by ##%.

2009 – Earth Observation – Snapshot

Earth observation systems provide a diverse array of satellite data and value-added imagery products to government and industry. This information helps organizations understand climate change, promote national security, assist in the management of natural resources, and support infrastructure construction and maintenance. As the cost of land imagery decreases, satellite operators are increasingly shifting toward integrated imagery and data services to differentiate and add value for clients. This trend is expected to continue as new satellite operators enter the market and as automated data interpretation, integration, and web-based hosting systems mature.

2009 – Satellite Radio – Snapshot

The digital audio radio services sector, known as satellite radio, experienced a slight decline in 2009 due to the sluggish economy and a poor year for the auto industry. Satellite radio revenue decreased to an estimated $## billion in 2009 compared to $## billion in 2008. It is expected that growth in the satellite radio market will continue to be closely tied to the economic situation in the United States, particularly to the negative impact of declining sales in the…

2009 – Satellite Television – Snapshot

DTH television’s $## billion in estimated 2009 revenue constitutes ##% of the commercial satellite services sector. North American DTH companies DIRECTV and DISH Network continue to lead the marketplace with combined estimated total revenues of $## billion in 2009. The remaining $## billion comes from revenue of non-U.S. DTH providers. Analysts predict that the number of worldwide DTH subscribers will exceed ## million by 2018.

2009 – Commercial Space Products and Services – Snapshot

The total revenue for commercial satellite services in 2009 is estimated at $## billion, #% more than the $## billion figure in 2008. Commercial satellite services continue to drive growth in the satellite industry due to increasing demand for satellite capacity despite global economic challenges. This calculation does not include GPS-related revenue, which is counted in the ground equipment sector.

2009 – NASA Workforce – Snapshot

In addition to U.S. private sector employment, the U.S. government employs a substantial base of civilian space workers. NASA is the primary government agency responsible for civil space activity, including human spaceflight. As of November 2009, NASA directly employed ## people, referred to as “civil servants.”

2009 – QZSS – Snapshot

The complete constellation is planned to be in place by 2011, though no launches had been conducted by the end of 2009. Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) will consist of ## GEO satellites operating over Japan and surrounding areas. While these satellites are geosynchronous, orbiting the Earth once per day, they are not stationary as are FSS satellites. They are inclined-GEO satellites, meaning that they move in a north-south “figure eight” pattern as observed from a single point on the Earth.

2009 – Space Insurance – Snapshot

The satellite insurance industry saw profits decline in 2009 compared to 2008. XL Insurance, a space industry specialist, estimates that 2009 premiums totaled $## million, while 2009 insurance claims totaled $## million. Aon/ISB, an insurance brokerage, reported that 2009 premiums totaled approximately $## million and claims amounted to $## million. These estimates indicate that 2009 was a slightly more challenging year than 2008, when XL Insurance reported premiums of $## million, against $## million in claims.

2009 – Ground Stations and Receivers – Snapshot

Ground equipment encompasses all the Earth-based infrastructure and technology necessary to communicate with and manage satellites, a market that totaled an estimated $## billion in 2009, slightly less than the $## billion total for 2008.