Economy
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 – 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.
2009 – Space Stations – Snapshot
The largest in-space platform is the International Space Station. NASA, the main contributor to the ISS, received $## billion for the station in fiscal year (FY) 2010 compared to $## billion approved by Congress in FY 2009. This funding does not include flight or ground operations costs of shuttle flights to and from the ISS. During 2009, two major modules were added: the final truss segment and a section of the solar array. The truss acts as the junction through which external utilities, such as power, communications, and ammonia for thermal control systems, are routed to the pressurized modules.
2009 – Satellite Manufacturing – Snapshot
In 2009, governments, companies, and organizations launched ## satellites, compared to ## satellites launched in 2008. This total includes all payloads except for missions to the ISS and Hubble. The ## satellites generated $## billion in manufacturing revenue, an increase of ##% from the $## billion value of satellites manufactured in 2008. The $## billion change in total value from 2008 to 2009 stems primarily from the deployment of high-value defense satellites, such as the U.S. Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) ballistic missile warning satellites.
2009 – Launch Industry – Snapshot
In 2009, ## orbital launches were conducted, carrying ## payloads into space, including cargo, satellites, and other types of spacecraft. This marked a notable increase from the 2008 total of ## launches carrying 106 payloads, and continued a five-year trend of annual increases in launch activity. The 2005 total of ## launches and ## payloads began a period of #% average annual increase in launches. Of the ## launches in 2009, ## were conducted by commercial launch providers and ## were non-commercial.
2009 – Commercial Infrastructure and Support Industries – Snapshot
Aggregate 2009 revenue for commercial space infrastructure totaled $## billion. This figure includes revenue from satellite manufacturing, launch, and ground stations and equipment. Information regarding government infrastructure expenditures can be found in Government Space Budgets.
2009 – Economy – Snapshot
In the midst of the worst economic meltdown in decades, the global space industry experienced steady growth in 2009. Commercial space revenue and government budgets reached a combined total of $## billion in 2009, representing a #% increase from 2008. The 2009 total continued a four-year trend of expansion in the global space economy, demonstrating growth of ##% from $## billion in 2005. Global space activity figures from previous years have been adjusted due to methodology changes and new data, as described in the Summary of Data.