A batch of 60 Starlink satellites in space, which is launched and made by SpaceX

Space industry refers to economic activities related to manufacturing components that go into outer space (Earth's orbit or beyond), delivering them to those regions, and related services.[1][2] Owing to the prominence of the satellite-related activities, some sources use the term satellite industry interchangeably with the term space industry.[3] The term space business has also been used.[4] A narrow definition encompasses only hardware providers (primarily related to launch vehicles and satellites).[2] This definition does not exclude certain activities, such as space tourism.[5] Thus more broadly, space industry can be described as the companies involved in the space economy, and providing goods and services related to space.[2] Space economy has been defined as "all public and private actors involved in developing and providing space-enabled products and services. It comprises a long value-added chaining, starting with research and development actors and manufacturers of space hardware and ending with the providers of space-enabled products and services to final users."[6]

Segments and revenues

The three major sectors of the space industry are: satellite manufacturing, support ground equipment manufacturing, and the launch industry. The satellite manufacturing sector is composed of satellite and their subsystems manufacturers. The ground equipment sector is composed of manufacturing items like mobile terminals, gateways, control stations, VSATs, direct broadcast satellite dishes, and other specialized equipment. The launch sector is composed of launch services, vehicle manufacturing and subsystem manufacturing.[3] Every euro spent in the space industry returns around six euros to the economy, according to the European Space Agency. This makes it a critical sector for economic development, competitiveness, and high-tech jobs.[7][8]

With regards to the worldwide satellite industry revenues, in the period 2002 to 2005 those remained at the 35–36 billion USD level.[3] In that, majority of revenue was generated by the ground equipment sector, with the least amount by the launch sector.[9] Space-related services are estimated at about US$100 billion.[10] The industry and related sectors employ about 120,000 people in the OECD countries,[10] while the space industry of Russia employs around 250,000 people.[11] Capital stocks estimated the worth of 937 satellites in Earth's orbit in 2005 at around 170 to US$230 billion.[10] In 2005, OECD countries budgeted around US$45 billion for space-related activities; income from space-derived products and services has been estimated at US$110–120 billion in 2006 (worldwide).[12]

History and trends

The space industry began to develop after World War II, as rockets and then satellites entered into military arsenals, and later found civilian applications.[1] It retains significant ties to the government. In particular, the launch industry features a significant government involvement, with some launch platforms (like the Space Shuttle) being operated by governments.[3][13][14] In recent years, however, private spaceflight is becoming realistic, and even major government agencies, such as NASA, have begun relying on privately operated launch services.[15][16] Some future developments of the space industry that are increasingly being considered include new services such as space tourism.[5]

From 2004–2013, total orbital launches by country/region were: Russia: 270, US: 181, China: 108, Europe: 59, Japan: 24, India: 19 and Brazil: 1.[17]

Relevant trends in the 2008–2009 for the space industry have been described as:

The 2019 Space Report estimates that in 2018 total global space activity was $414.75 Billion. Of that, the report estimates that 21%, or $87.09 Billion, was from U.S. Government Space Budgets.[18]

A report discussing global space spending in 2021 estimated global spending at approximately $92 billion.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Joan Lisa Bromberg (October 2000). NASA and the Space Industry. JHU Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-8018-6532-9. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Kai-Uwe Schrogl (2 August 2010). Yearbook on Space Policy 2008/2009: Setting New Trends. Springer. p. 49. ISBN 978-3-7091-0317-3. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d Claire Jolly; Gohar Razi; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2007). The space economy at a glance: 2007. OECD Publishing. p. 48. ISBN 978-92-64-03109-8. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  4. ^ Joan Lisa Bromberg (October 2000). NASA and the Space Industry. JHU Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-8018-6532-9. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  5. ^ a b Dimitrios Buhalis; Carlos Costa (2006). Tourism business frontiers: consumers, products and industry. Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-7506-6377-9. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  6. ^ Claire Jolly; Gohar Razi; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2007). The space economy at a glance: 2007. OECD Publishing. p. 13. ISBN 978-92-64-03109-8. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  7. ^ Bank, European Investment (27 January 2022). EIB Activity Report 2021. European Investment Bank. ISBN 978-92-861-5108-8. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  8. ^ "CREATING VALUE FOR EUROPE" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  9. ^ Claire Jolly; Gohar Razi; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2007). The space economy at a glance: 2007. OECD Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 978-92-64-03109-8. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  10. ^ a b c Claire Jolly; Gohar Razi; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2007). The space economy at a glance: 2007. OECD Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 978-92-64-03109-8. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  11. ^ Ionin, Andrey. "Russia's Space Program in 2006: Some Progress but No Clear Direction". Moscow Defense Brief. Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (2(#8)). Archived from the original on 27 August 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  12. ^ Claire Jolly; Gohar Razi; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2007). The space economy at a glance: 2007. OECD Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 978-92-64-03109-8. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  13. ^ Joan Lisa Bromberg (October 2000). NASA and the Space Industry. JHU Press. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-8018-6532-9. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  14. ^ Walter Edward Hammond (1999). Space transportation: a systems approach to analysis and design. AIAA. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-56347-032-5. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  15. ^ Chris Dubbs; Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom; Charles D. Walker (1 June 2011). Realizing Tomorrow: The Path to Private Spaceflight. U of Nebraska Press. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-8032-1610-5. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  16. ^ Chris Dubbs; Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom; Charles D. Walker (1 June 2011). Realizing Tomorrow: The Path to Private Spaceflight. U of Nebraska Press. p. 249. ISBN 978-0-8032-1610-5. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  17. ^ Pasztor, Andy (17 September 2015). "U.S. Rocket Supplier Looks to Break 'Short Leash'". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2017. Mr. Musk's closely held company has changed the equation, partly by pressuring its rival by charging about a quarter of United Launch's average price of $220 million per launch. In May, the U.S. Air Force formally cleared SpaceX to vie for national-security launches.
  18. ^ "The Space Report 2015" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  19. ^ Berger, Eric (6 January 2022). "Report finds that US accounts for more than half of global space spending". arstechnica.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2022.

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