Browse Resources by Year

2013 – Perspective

The evolution of the space sector is reflected in changes within the industry in response to new challenges and opportunities. As certain elements of the space economy become established economic goods, the ways customers buy—and companies sell—those space products and services evolves.

2013 – Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Services

Geo-location and navigation equipment and services continue to be the space industry’s largest and fastest-growing sector. Total global revenues for this market, estimated based on data published by the European GNSS Agency (GSA), were $## billion in 2013, compared to $## in 2012.

2013 – Earth Observation

Earth observation (EO) and imaging services enabled by satellites remain a small but vital part of the global space economy. Earth observation revenues in 2013 are estimated to total $## billion, #% more than the $## billion generated in 2012. According to the space industry consultancy Northern Sky Research, growth in 2013 slowed, dropping below the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ##% achieved by the EO market from 2007 to 2012.

2013 – Satellite Communications

Estimated 2013 revenue for the satellite communications segment reached $## billion, #% higher than the $## billion identified in 2012. The market is composed of satellite operators, which own satellites and lease the transmission capacity of these satellites to private and government clients in need of transmission capability. Traditionally, these satellites were used to transmit voice and television signals. As technology has developed to allow…

2013 – Satellite Radio

The estimated revenue for satellite radio increased ##% from $## billion in 2012 to $## billion in 2013. Sirius XM continues to be the sole revenue contributor to this industry sector. The company derived subscriber growth from installations in vehicles and homes and businesses. In Europe, France-based Onde Numerique last reported in November 2012 that it will launch its new satellite radio service in 2014 in about 140 cities.

2013 – Satellite Television

DTH television’s estimated revenue comprised ##% of the commercial space products and services sector, growing from $## billion in 2012 to $## billion in 2013. North American DTH providers DIRECTV and DISH Network continue to be the largest contributors, with combined estimated revenues of $## billion in 2013. The companies reached a combined total of ## million subscribers as of September 2013. DTH providers in other regions generated the remaining revenue of $## billion.

2013 – Commercial Space Products and Services Overview

The commercial space products and services sector continued to lead the space economy in 2013. Total revenue for the sector in 2013 was estimated at $## billion—#% more than the $## billion total in 2012. This total includes revenues from satellite broadcasting, communications, and Earth observation. Market revenue for the geo-location and navigation industries is reported in the ground equipment sector, as the assessment focuses primarily on the value of GNSS equipment and secondarily on products and services. However, the discussion of the GNSS market is included in this section as trends in GNSS space products and services drive equipment sales.

2013 – Space Insurance

Infrastructure support industries include services such as space insurance and space-related research and development funded by private organizations. The global space insurance industry saw continued profitability in 2013. Aon ISB, a risk management and insurance brokerage firm, estimated that space insurance premiums at the end of 2013 totaled approximately $## million compared to approximately $## million paid out in claims during the same period, including an estimate of $## million for an expected claim on Koreasat-5.

2013 – Commercial Human Spaceflight

The retirement of the Space Shuttle created an impetus for the development of commercial cargo and crew transportation services. Several corporations are taking advantage of this space transportation capacity vacuum to speed development of new spacecraft and rockets. The milestone-driven Commercial Crew Program, based in part on COTS, was put in place in 2010 with the goal of advancing development of a commercially operated crew transportation system capable of ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS. NASA has awarded more than $## billion toward the development of commercially operated manned space vehicles through a series of phases identified in the NASA Commercial Crew Funding exhibit. In November 2013, NASA issued the final Request for Proposals for Phase 2 of the Commercial Crew Program, called the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCTCap) contract. The aim of the new funding is to ensure that commercial operators meet NASA’s safety requirements and will include at least one crewed demonstration mission to the space station before 2017. CCTCap Phase 2 awards are scheduled to be announced in mid-2014.

2013 – Ground Stations and Receivers

The total market for ground stations and equipment was estimated at $## billion in 2013, a ##% increase compared to $## billion in 2012. The term “ground equipment” refers to Earth-based infrastructure and technology used to guide and communicate with satellites, networks of ground control stations, vehicle-mounted and portable satellite terminals such as very small aperture terminals (VSATs), video broadcast distribution stations, and end-user consumer equipment.