The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2016

Executive Summary

The size of the global space industry, which combines satellite services and ground equipment, government space budgets, and global navigation satellite services (GNSS) equipment, is estimated to be about $324 billion. At $95 billion in revenues, or about 29 percent, satellite television represents the largest segment of activity. Following this is government space budgets at $76 billion, or 24 percent, and services enabled by GNSS represent, about $76 billion in revenues. Commercial satellite remote sensing companies generated on $1.6 billion in revenues, but the value added services enabled by these companies is believed to be magnitudes larger. Because remote sensing value added services includes imagery and data analytics from other sources beyond space-based platforms, only the satellite remote sensing component is included in the global space industry total.

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NASA’s Office of Inspector General has issued a report saying the space agency has taken on too much financial risk in Orbital Sciences Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract by funding future missions before the company has demonstrated the capacity to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.

Although we do not second guess NASA’s decision to concurrently fund up to three rocket systems given the critical need for additional ISS resupply capabilities, in the case of Orbital, NASA will fully or partially fund six rocket systems under the CRS contract before Orbital has fully demonstrated its spaceflight system.

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SPACEX PR — Hawthorne, CA — Today Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) welcomed the release of the detailed criteria the U.S. Air Force will use to certify new companies to provide launches for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. “We very much appreciate the steps the Air Force is taking to ensure fair and open competition,” said Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. “This is a complex process and the Air […]

DARPA Falcon hypersonic technology vehicle (HTV)

DARPA PRESS RELEASE

Following an extensive six-month review, the independent Engineering Review Board (ERB) chartered to examine data collected during the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle’s (HTV-2) first flight has completed its review. The ERB concluded that the anomaly resulted from flight control authority limitations to operate at the angle of attack the vehicle was programmed to fly for the speed and altitude of the flight.

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SpaceX's Falcon 9 on the pad at Cape Canaveral. (Credit: Chris Thompson/SpaceX)

Experimental Falcon proposed to Azerbaijan for launch of first national satellite
Azerbaijan Business Center

A government source says that within the relevant tender U.S. company SpaceX has suggested Falcon missile carrier for launch of the first satellite of Azerbaijan.

“This carrier rocket has not carried out any commercial launch of satellites, and in case of its victory in the tender the cost of a contract with insurance company can be incredible,” the source said….

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SPACEX PRESS RELEASE

McGregor, Texas (October 21, 2009) – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) successfully conducted two static firings of the first stage, nine engine cluster for its Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The firings took place at SpaceX’s Texas Test Site, a 300-acre structural and propulsion testing facility just outside of Waco, Texas. With completion of these tests, the first stage has now passed both structural and propulsion acceptance testing and will ship to Cape Canaveral in preparation for the first flight of Falcon 9.

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SpaceX says that it is no threat to NASA’s Constellation program.

Falcon hypersonic technology vehicle (HTV)

PRATT & WHITNEY ROCKETDYNE PRESS RELEASE

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has been awarded a 10-month contract by Lockheed Martin for preliminary design of the high speed accelerator for a turbine-based combined-cycle (TBCC) propulsion system, which could support flight up to Mach 6. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

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SpaceX's Falcon 1 rocket

Lift off for SpaceX: Commercial deals show it can compete internationally
Florida Today

It’s too early to say if this success means the California company better known as SpaceX is NASA’s best hope for the commercial development of space, which appears to be the approach set for the future direction of the U.S. space effort.

However, the contract awards for the 7-year-old SpaceX show that a U.S. launch enterprise can compete in the international launch market.

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SpaceX's Falcon 1 rocket

SPACEX PRESS RELEASE

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Astrium announce a contract for a SpaceX Falcon 1e to launch an Earth observation satellite designed by Astrium or its recently acquired subsidiary Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL).

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