2008
2008 – U.S. Launch, Human
NASA plans to retire the Space Shuttle in 2010, though the agency has considered extending the vehicle’s life to support continued operation of the ISS. ## shuttle missions took place in 2008, all devoted to ISS assembly.
2008 – Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Services – Snapshot
The satellite positioning market is extremely large, with estimates of the total revenues from equipment and services ranging as high as $## billion a year, according to a 2008 study from ABI Research. Since there is no direct usage fee for the positioning signal provided by the GPS satellites, these revenues flow from user equipment, software applications, and secondary services related to such applications. The equipment market is discussed with other ground equipment and the associated revenues are included in the ground equipment revenues.
2008 – Earth Observation – Snapshot
Broadly defined, the Earth observation market includes revenues from applications as varied as weather forecasting, intelligence-gathering, highway inspections, climate change studies, and commercial uses in agriculture, fishing, mining, construction, and public health. Based on BCC Research revenue data, the estimated total global expenditure for this overall satellite-based Earth observation market in 2008 was $## billion, a #% increase from $## billion in 2007. Weather forecasting and intelligence-gathering applications experienced the highest growth rates, approximately #% and #%, respectively.
2008 – Satellite Communications – Snapshot
The key components of FSS revenues are video distribution and data communications, which include both private enterprise networks using VSATs and consumer broadband access. VSAT networks use FSS capacity, and the revenues from those services are captured in the FSS section. VSAT operators also provide hardware and network management services. The newest area of data communications, consumer broadband Internet access, is small but growing in importance. In 2008, the primary market for broadband to the home was in North America, where…
2008 – Satellite Television – Snapshot
FSS includes the provision of satellite capacity for a range of applications from video distribution to relaying telephone signals, and integrated voice/data services on private networks which often use very small aperture terminals (VSAT networks). Estimated 2008 revenue for FSS is $## billion. This value is based on actual data reported as of January 2009, and past years’ data from SIA.
2008 – U.S. Space Workforce – Snapshot
In 2007, nearly ## U.S. personnel were employed in the space industry. A 2008 U.S. government report estimated that approximately ## U.S. workers were indirectly employed in the provision of primary, secondary, and tertiary goods and services related to space.
2008 – Commercial Space Products and Services – Snapshot
Total revenue for space products and services in 2008 is estimated at $## billion, ##% more than the $## billion in 2007. This estimate takes into account the transition of GPS revenues to the ground equipment sector, as noted above. Space products and services encompass commercial satellite services and in-space activities such as orbital and suborbital commercial transportation services. The exhibit below shows 2008 revenue estimates for this sector.
2008 – Space Employment – Snapshot
The economic impacts and human capital effects of global space activity are mutually reinforcing. Worldwide space activity is a driver of industry and commerce, both in economic sectors with a primary space linkage and in secondary and tertiary supporting industries. As space-related economic activity stimulates economic growth, it employs individuals, shapes educational needs, and informs public policy priorities.
2008 – Space Insurance – Snapshot
The satellite insurance industry had a positive year in 2008 due to successful launch experience. Launch insurance prices increased for 2009, bringing rates from the ##-##% range back up to the ##-##% levels seen in the earlier part of the decade. According to XL Insurance, a space industry specialist, 2008 premiums were $## million, against $## million in claims. The upward pressure on premiums stemmed largely from events in 2007 when claims of $## million due to launch failures surpassed premiums of $## million.
2008 – Ground Stations and Receivers – Snapshot
The enhanced methodology employed this year eliminates potential double-counting of revenues that can occur because of separate, overlapping estimates for ground equipment and GPS equipment. Thus the total estimated 2008 revenue of $## billion appears lower than those reported as separate categories in The Space Report 2008.