The commercial satellite industry is still growing and reaching new heights as we approach the halfway point of 2024. We have seen many exciting developments, including record breaking launches, innovative partnerships, and groundbreaking technological advancements, all part of an unprecedented surge with a record-breaking 20 percent increase in launches in 2023. In this summer news roundup, we will take a closer look at the several stories shaping the industry.
Extending Satellite Life with Intelsat and Starfish
Starfish Space has signed a contract with Intelsat to provide on-orbit life extension services to geostationary satellite using its Otter satellite servicing spacecraft, starting in 2026. Following Starfish’s $37.5 million contract with the U.S. Space Force, this will be Otter’s first commercial contract. It will dock with a retired Intelsat satellite before servicing an operational satellite and extending its life using its onboard propulsion system. This shows the industry’s commitment to innovation and to make on-orbit servicing a standard part of satellite operations.
Microsoft Outage Fails to Disrupt Global Satellite Operators
Satellite operators around the world were not affected by the Crowdstrike IT Update outage on July 19, which caused widespread outages on a global scale. A defective security update caused the outage, which affected many industries including banks, hospitals, and airlines but did not interfere with satellite operations. There was no impact on space systems, as confirmed by industry databases and satellite operators, guaranteeing service continuity. The issue was resolved with a fix issued by CrowdStrike on the same day.
Space Force Adapts to LEO Growth
The U.S. Space Force is preparing to deploy hundreds of satellites in low Earth orbit, known as the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), into its operations. Lt. Gen. David Miller, head of the Space Force’s Space Operations Command says the Space Force needs a shift in perspective on use of the new constellation for military space operations which has driven the Space Force to reevaluate its protocols and organizational structure.
Commerical Satellite Industry Sees Record Breaking Growth
In our previous article “Commercial Satellite Industry Leads Global Space Surge with Extraordinary Growth”, we discussed how the industry experienced extraordinary growth with a 20 percent increase in satellite launches and a record of 190 space launches. By the end of 2023, 9,691 satellites in orbit around the Earth were reported, up 361 percent in just five years. Revenue in the sector increased to $285 billion, or 71 percent of the $400 billion total revenue generated by the space industry worldwide. Eighty-five percent of the commercial satellites launched in 2023 were built by US companies.
