Page 63 - SAMENA Trends - August 2019

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

NSR Covers the “New Normal” in Satellite Manufacturing & Launch

Satellite manufacturing and launch markets are evolving at rates to this fast changing environment, through M&A’s, cost efficient
never seen before. With a bevy of actors entering the satellite processes and flexible product offerings, will determine success
market at different levels of the value chain, the new dynamic of the players and the overall market. The satellite launch market
is changing the way this industry measures growth – with the is at the same time going through a period of transition and will
number of satellite orders and price/ kg losing relevance as experience more competition and diversity over the next decade.
market indicators. In this market dynamics where customer Depending on the diverse customer priorities, such as the target
preference and priorities vary greatly, from time to orbit to low orbit, altitude, time to orbit and cost, the launch service providers
cost, quick adaptability and prudent pricing strategies by the are offering different options from dedicated launch to rideshare
players may be the key to future market success. Declining to dedicate rideshare. In addition, launch providers are adopting
capacity prices seen in the past years and uncertainty around the different approaches including reusability, sea launches and
long-term success of LEO constellations has resulted in declining partnerships with companies offering last mile delivery to lower
number of GEO satellite orders in the recent years. As the the internal costs and offer better services to the customers.
industry looks for a new normal, different operators are adopting
different strategies, ranging from high cost, and high throughput
satellites to generic, software-defined and small GEO satellites.
The ability of satellite manufacturers to meet the tailored needs
of the market has certainly increased the demand to an average
of 13 – 15 GEO communication satellite orders per year, as
NSR reported in its recently released Satellite Manufacturing
and Launch Services, 9th Edition report. While demand for GEO
orders over the next decade is expected to remain stable, overall
market revenues will continue to experience an overall decline
as manufacturers aim to lower their efficiency ratio by adopting
more cost-efficient processes. As such, satellite order numbers
are no longer a relevant market indicator, and revenues only tell
one side of the story. The ease and speed at which players adapt

KSF Space Foundation Launches First IoT Small Satellite Mission from

Mexico

KSF Space Foundation and Edison effects UK) and schools with the ability to transmit will focus on stratospheric studies across
Mexico has recently launched a successful IoT command from Earth to space, and the ozone layer and beyond to conduct
near space mission from Mexico carrying a vice versa. This mission is considered the scientific experiments to collect data on
platform consisting of small satellites from world’s first near space mission of its kind. the effects of global warming. Additionally,
different universities (Morocco, Mexico & The Stratos Satellite CubeSat experiment KSF Space is preparing to launch a new near
space small satellite mission supporting
microbiology testing in microgravity on
the 19th of October 2019. The mission will
offer medicine and biotechnology students
the opportunity to send their experiments
to outer space to be observed in micro-
gravity aboard KSF’s “Space Capsule”. Dr.
Kayyali Says “We welcome experiments
and nanosatellites from universities and
schools to join our future missions; we are
always open to help and guide academic
research all over the world”.

63 AUGUST 2019