2016
2016 – Bigelow Space Stations – Snapshot
In April 2016, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) was launched and attached to the International Space Station (ISS). During transport, the module was…
2016 – China Space Stations – Snapshot
China launched a new space station laboratory in the middle of September 2016, making China the only nation to have two space stations in orbit, although one appears to no longer be…
2016 – Earth Observation – Snapshot
The commercial remote sensing industry was estimated at $## billion in 2016, up ##% from $## billion in 2015. Market research firm Northern Sky Research expects the sector to generate an aggregate $## billion over the decade leading up to 2025. Much of this growth…
2016 – PNT Ground Networks – Snapshot
In 2016, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) continued to operate and maintain a large, combined-services ground network for its positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) fleet, the Global Positioning System (GPS). Consisting of 15 monitoring stations and 11 command and control antennas, the network was commanded through the USAF’s
2016 – International Space Station – Snapshot
During 2016, the International Space Station (ISS) continued to be the primary inhabited space laboratory orbiting the Earth. An international contingent of scientists, engineers, and researchers used the ISS for various microgravity-based experiments.
One ISS program, NASA’s human research One-Year Mission, required astronaut…
2016 – GPS – Snapshot
While the U.S. Air Force (USAF) maintained ## operational satellites in its Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) fleet, the U.S. share of overall global operational PNT satellites ## from ##% in 2015 to ##% in 2016. This was due to other nations, such as…
2016 – Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Services – Snapshot
The geolocation and navigation sector makes up the largest portion of commercial space products and services, with estimated 2016 revenues of €## billion (US$## billion), according the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA). As calculated in…
2016 – GLONASS- Snapshot
Although Russia increased the overall number of its Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellites, the number of operational GLONASS satellites decreased by ## during 2016. The country’s share of the world’s operational PNT satellites shrank to ##% in 2016, falling behind…
2016 – Satellite Communications – Snapshot
Communications satellites have traditionally been divided into two types: fixed satellite services (FSS) and mobile satellite services (MSS).
2016 – QZSS – Snapshot
In 2010, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched a single positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite as a start for its Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). Japan has not launched other satellites into the QZSS constellation since. Japan’s 2016 share of the world’s operational PNT satellites was ##%. The country plans to…