Commercial satellites - statistics and facts
Satellites, specifically artificial satellites, are objects intentionally placed into orbit for several applications. Commonly, the satellites orbit our planet as platforms for Earth surface observation with military and civilian applications, communications, navigation, weather observation, and as telescopes for space observation. Many of these satellites are placed in Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), geostationary orbit (GEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and low Earth orbit (LEO) based on their distance from the Earth and their application. These satellites either work as a standalone platform or as a part of a larger constellation – such as the GPS (global positioning system) for navigation systems or the more recent Starlink constellation for providing broadband internet connection from space.
Some of the notable launches are Starlink - by SpaceX for high-speed satellite internet; Micius - by China for data encryption experiments for secure communication using quantum entanglement; Artemis - by ESA (European space agency) using laser link as a communication method for communication between satellites and ground stations, and finally the Iridium-NEXT -by Iridium, a multi-role satellite with payloads for communications and Earth observation.
Global space market – Navigation, Communication, and Observation
Satellites are an integral part of the global space market, with commercial clients generating the most revenue. This commercial market can be further divided into navigation, communication, and Earth observation services. The latter two account for most of the market, with Earth observation still gaining momentum with the demand for sustainable development rising.Navigation
The most demanded application in the global commercial sector is navigation. There are four major global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) – GPS (global positioning system) by the United States, GLONASS (global navigation satellite system) by Russia, Galileo by the European Union, and BeiDou by China. Previously, these systems were limited to large navigational devices onboard vehicles with a high cost of ownership. Thanks to the very-large-scale integration (VLSI) of chips, they have now become a standard smartphone or smartwatch feature. Currently, these systems are being used every day, whether on Google or Apple maps, either for directions on smartphones or as navigation devices on cars.Communication
Then comes the communications satellite, which provides telecommunication, broadcasting, and data communication services. Historically, intercontinental telephony was first achieved with the help of the Testar-I satellite backed by AT&T that NASA launched in 1962. The most recent influential communication satellites have been designed with various applications to improve space-based communication systems.Some of the notable launches are Starlink - by SpaceX for high-speed satellite internet; Micius - by China for data encryption experiments for secure communication using quantum entanglement; Artemis - by ESA (European space agency) using laser link as a communication method for communication between satellites and ground stations, and finally the Iridium-NEXT -by Iridium, a multi-role satellite with payloads for communications and Earth observation.
