2016
TH E AUTH O R ITATI V E G U I D E
TO GLOBAL SPACE ACTIVIT Y
2016
T H E AU T H O R I TAT I V E G U I D E
TO G LOBA L SPACE AC TI V IT Y
Table of Contents
Overview....................................................................................................................... 1
1.0 | Space Products and Services.................................................................. 4
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................... 5
1.1 The Benefits of Space Products and Services.......................................... 5
2.0 | The Space Economy...................................................................................15
2.0 Introduction..................................................................................................16
2.1 Commercial Infrastructure and Support Industries............................16
2.2 Commercial Space Products and Services..............................................20
2.3 Government Space Budgets.......................................................................24
2.4 Summary of Data.........................................................................................36
A Snapshot: The Global Space Economy in 2015.........................................38
Background:
The newest Hubble Space Telescope image of the Pillars of
Creation. A mosaic of different exposures give greater detail
of this part of the Eagle Nebula, located 6,500 light years from
Earth. Credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team
(STScI/AURA)
Left to right, top to bottom:
Blue Origin's team and founder celebrate the company's first
successful landing of a New Shepard rocket from a suborbital
launch. Credit: Blue Origin
European students create simulated satellites in a soda can in
an ESA-sponsored competition. Winners will see their cans
launched on very small rockets. Credit: D. Sors/ESA
3.0 | Space Infrastructure...................................................................................39
3.0 Introduction..................................................................................................40
3.1 Orbital Human Spaceflight Systems........................................................40
3.2 Launch Vehicles............................................................................................41
3.3 Space Stations................................................................................................48
3.4 Satellites..........................................................................................................49
3.5 Spaceports......................................................................................................59
LifeWrap, a NASA spinoff technology, helps reduce blood loss
in women who have just gone through a difficult childbirth.
Credit: NASA Spinoff
4.0 | Workforce.......................................................................................................63
4.0 Introduction..................................................................................................64
4.1 U.S. Space Workforce...................................................................................64
4.2 European Space Workforce........................................................................69
4.3 Japanese Space Workforce..........................................................................70
4.4 Other Space Employment..........................................................................70
Cameras aboard NASA's New Horizons probe show some of the
first detailed images of Pluto. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins
University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest
Research Institute
Authors and Contributors...............................................................................................71
Endnotes..............................................................................................................................72
Index of Exhibits................................................................................................................78
Copyright 2016 Space Foundation. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of
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All images used in this publication are property of their respective owners.
10 milliseconds of a star's collapse, showing the rotation of its
magnetic field and answering questions about the creation
of certain universal elements. Credit: Robert R. Sisneros
(NCSA)/Philipp Msta
SpaceX's first attempt to land a Falcon 9 rocket's first stage on
land is a success, as the stage comes to rest on a Florida launch
pad after flying back from an orbital mission. Credit: SpaceX
Americans and Russians aboard the International Space Station
commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Soviet/American
joint Apollo-Soyuz mission. Credit: NASA
Visitors at the Space Foundation Discovery Center exit the
Science On a Sphere teaching facility and enter a gallery of
historical space artifacts. Credit: Space Foundation
Aalborg University students' AAUSAT4, an Automatic
Identification System 1U cubesat. The cubesat was deployed
from a Soyuz-ST launch from Kourou in 2016. Credit: Rasmus
G. Sderup AAUSAT Team
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Overview
Introduction |
The global space industry appears to be going through a period of reinvention, as
evidenced by a variety of changes in the way it conducts operations. Efforts to reuse launch vehicles are
beginning to bear fruit, and more efficient launch vehicles are being designed and developed, all of which may
help to bring launch costs down. The satellite industry is seeing rapid growth in the number of small satellites,
as vast constellations consisting of hundreds of satellites for Earth observation and telecommunications are
being ordered and built. Large satellites are taking advantage of more efficient propulsion systems that may
help increase their usable lifespan. These are but a few examples of how the industry is making space more
affordable and consequently more accessible to a broad swath of public agencies, industries, and individuals.
1.0 | Space Products and Services
Space technology, combined with communication
networks, is displacing traditional ways of monitoring
infrastructure and providing services. The Flanders region
of Belgium is using geo-fencing and communications
to replace underground sensors on its tram networks.
In other parts of the world where buildings do not
always have an address, or road networks are confusing,
smartphones with positioning, navigation, and timing
(PNT) chips are facilitating delivery services for mail
and packages. In war zones, drones equipped with PNT
guidance systems are being used to supply refugees with
life-saving supplies.
EXHIBIT 1. Global Space Activity, 2015
$31.95 B
(10%)
$44.57 B
(14%)
Commercial Infrastructure
and Support Industries
Commercial Space Products
and Services
$120.09 B
(37%)
U.S. Government Space
Budgets
Non-U.S. Government
Space Budgets
$126.33 B
(39%)
Total: $322.94 Billion
Space Foundation
On the consumer side, there are space-enabled systems to
assist with finding prime locations for sport fishing and to help coaches improve the performance of soccer players. With
the ongoing globalization of food production, space systems are helping the shipping industry better monitor the condition
of food in transit across the ocean to ensure that freshness is maintained all the way to the grocery store. The abundance
of satellite imagery has led to increasing numbers of space data analysis companies that help people understand their
surroundings, whether for business or recreational purposes. The global demand for space data and applications is driving
many of the recent investments in space.
2.0 | The Space Economy
The global space industry grew in 2015, although currency fluctuations caused the appearance of a decline from $329 billion
in 2014 to $323 billion in 2015. Due to the strong U.S. dollar and the ever-increasing levels of activity outside the United
States, these fluctuations have a more noticeable impact than would have been the case in previous decades when the U.S.
share of the commercial space industry was larger.
In 2015, revenues from commercial sectors continued to represent slightly more than three-quarters of all global economic
activity in space. Commercial space products and servicesincluding telecommunications, broadcasting, and Earth
observationconstituted the largest sector, growing by 3.7% to reach $126.33 billion in 2015. Commercial infrastructure
and support industriesincluding the manufacture of spacecraft, in-space platforms, and ground equipment, as well as
launch services, independent research and development, and insurancetotaled $120.88 billion in 2015, a 5.2% decrease.
The majority of this decline is attributable to global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, whose revenues are
benchmarked in euros and were subject to the change in currency exchange rates.
1
The Space Report 2016 | The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity | www.TheSpaceReport.org
Overview
Global government space budgets declined by 4.8% in 2015, as spending totaled $76.52 billion. Government spending
accounted for 24% of the global space economy, remaining unchanged from 2014. The U.S. government spent $44.57
billion on defense and non-defense space efforts in 2015, a 3.2% increase from 2014. Non-U.S. government space investment
declined by 14.2% in dollar terms, primarily due to exchange rates, to a total of $31.95 billion in 2015. In reality, most
countries increased their budgets for space activities.
3.0 | Space Infrastructure
Governments and companies around the world continue to invest in new space infrastructure. At least 19 countries have,
are developing, or are planning to host spaceports for orbital or suborbital launches. In spite of several launch failures and
delays due to subsequent investigations in Russia and the United States, 86 orbital launches were attempted around the
world in 2015the third highest number of launches in two decades. China conducted the maiden flights of two new space
launch vehicles in 2015, the Long March 6 and Long March 11. There are plans to launch a third new vehicle in 2016, the
Long March 5. The United States saw the unsuccessful launch of a new small-satellite launch vehicle, the Super Strypi.
In perhaps the most significant development for the launch industry, two U.S. companies successfully landed rockets that
returned from space. Blue Origins launch vehicle landed after a suborbital flight and subsequently flew to space and back on
two occasions (as of May 2016). SpaceX returned the first stage of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle after an orbital launch, initially
to a launch pad at Cape Canaveral. In later launches, the first stage landed on an oceangoing platform. Although none of
the returned hardware has yet been flown again, the company hopes to reduce its operational costs by reusing the rockets.
Reusability has long been discussed as a way to lower the cost of launching payloads to space, but it remains to be seen how
much of an impact these developments will have on pricing and reliability.
Even at current prices, the number of large spacecraft being sent to orbit each year remains steady, and interest in small
satellites continues to grow unabated. With a mass of 10 kilograms (22 pounds) or less, nanosatellites constituted 48% of the
262 spacecraft launched in 2015. Looking at the past decade, the sudden rise of nanosatellites in 2013 means that the average
number of spacecraft launched during the past three years is approximately double the average rate for the previous seven
years. Despite their numbers, nanosatellites constituted less than 1% of the total mass sent to orbit in 2015. At the other
end of the scale, telecommunications satellites launched to geosynchronous orbit made up 41% of the total mass, with an
average mass of approximately 4,500 kilograms (9,920 pounds) per satellite. These satellites form the backbone for satellite
communications and broadcasting services that generate more than $100 billion each year.
4.0 | Workforce
The space industry operates at the cutting edge and requires a highly skilled, highly trained workforce to build, launch,
and utilize space assets. Trends in the size and composition of this workforce provide insight into ongoing dynamics and
future health of the sector. In 2014, the U.S. civil and commercial space workforce remained one of the largest in the world,
with 221,585 workers, but continued to contract, while employment in Europe and Japan grew. In the United States, the
outlook for industry is mixed, with growth projected for scientific disciplines such as astronomy, but declining demand for
aerospace engineers. However, the ongoing process of integrating space technology into all aspects of life means that other
jobs are being created that do not fall into the traditional aerospace categories. Programmers, computer scientists, and big
data wranglers are all likely to find increasing demand for their skills as companies seek to monetize the growing torrent of
information flowing from and through space systems.
The Space Report 2016 | The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity | www.TheSpaceReport.org
Overview
An invitation from the Space Foundation
Since the first edition of The Space Report was published in 2006, the Space Foundation research team has gathered an everexpanding collection of information about the space industry, government policies and priorities, and the evolving trends
that influence space activity. Each year, we present the highlights in The Space Report, focusing on the points that we believe
are of greatest interest to a broad audience. To further address our readers research needs, we introduced a new format in
2015an online service that provides subscribers with access to all the research conducted for The Space Report throughout
its existence, as well as new data sets that have never appeared in the report. We appreciate the positive response to this
valuable resource, and we are expanding the types of data we offer in response to requests from our readers. To view more
information about this new service, please visit www.TheSpaceReport.org.
An artist's idea of Kepler-452b's appearance. The planet is the first found that is nearly the Earth's size, in a zone that is considered ideal for habitation around a star similar to the Sun. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle
The Space Report 2016 | The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity | www.TheSpaceReport.org
Index of Exhibits
Overview
1
EXHIBIT 1. Global Space Activity, 2015
1.0 | Space Products and Services
5
EXHIBIT 1a. Topics Covered in Space Products and Services
2.0 | The Space Economy
EXHIBIT 3h. Mass Launched by Intended Orbit, 19962015
50
EXHIBIT 3i. Number of Spacecraft and Total Mass For Each Mass
Class, 2015
50
EXHIBIT 3j. Total Available Geosynchronous Communications
Capacity Per Year and Per Band, 20062015
51
EXHIBIT 3k. Civil Government and Commercial Satellite
Communications Contracts By Contractor Country, 20062015
51
EXHIBIT 3l. Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Systems,
December 2015
61
EXHIBIT 3m. Spaceports in Operation or Development, 2015
16
EXHIBIT 2a. Topics Covered in The Space Economy
16
EXHIBIT 2b. Global Space Activity, 2015
16
EXHIBIT 2c. Revenues for Commercial Space Infrastructure
and Support Industries, 2015
4.0 | Workforce
17
EXHIBIT 2d. Orbital Launch Attempts, 2015
64
EXHIBIT 4a. Topics Covered in Workforce
17
EXHIBIT 2e. Launch Services Value by Market, 20122015
64
17
EXHIBIT 2f. Spacecraft Value by Market, 20122015
EXHIBIT 4b. Space Workforce Trends in the United States,
Europe, and Japan
17
EXHIBIT 2g. Spacecraft Value by Manufacturing Country,
20122015
65
EXHIBIT 4c. U.S. Space Industry Employment by Sector, 2004,
2009, 2013, and 2014
20
EXHIBIT 2h. Space Insurance Industry Estimates, 19952015
65
EXHIBIT 4d. U.S. Space Industry Core Employment, 20042015
20
EXHIBIT 2i. Revenues for Commercial Space Products and
Services, 2015
65
EXHIBIT 4e. U.S. Space Industry Employment and U.S. Total
Employment, 20042015
22
EXHIBIT 2j. Earth Observation Revenue Estimates, 20072015
66
24
EXHIBIT 2k. Government Space Budgets, 2015
EXHIBIT 4f. U.S. Space Industry Salaries and Real Salary Growth
by Sector, 20092014
24
EXHIBIT 2l. Government Space Budget Growth, 20132015
66
EXHIBIT 4g. NASA Civil Servant Workforce, FY 20062016
25
EXHIBIT 2m. U.S. Government Agency Space Budgets, 2015
66
EXHIBIT 4h. NASA Civil Servant Workforce Age Profiles Over
Time
25
EXHIBIT 2n. NASA Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request
67
26
EXHIBIT 2o. Funding for Major U.S. National Security Space
Programs, Fiscal Years 20122017
EXHIBIT 4i. NASA Civil Servant Workforce Demographics, Start
of FY 2016
67
EXHIBIT 4j. U.S. Air Force Space Workforce, FY 2005FY 2015
28
EXHIBIT 2p. Canadian Space Agency Spending Profile by
Program Activity
67
EXHIBIT 4k. U.S. Air Force Space Workforce Demographics, FY
2015
29
EXHIBIT 2q. Space Spending as a Percentage of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP), Selected Countries
67
EXHIBIT 4l. U.S. Army Space Workforce, FY 20112016
29
EXHIBIT 2r. ESA Member Contributions to 2015 Budget
68
EXHIBIT 4m. U.S. Space-Related Occupations and Projected
Growth Rates
30
EXHIBIT 2s. ESAs 2015 Budget by Program and Funding
Source
69
EXHIBIT 4n. European Space Industry Employment, 20042014
34
EXHIBIT 2t. Indian Space Budgets
69
EXHIBIT 4o. European Space Industry Employment by Country,
20092014
35
EXHIBIT 2u. Japanese Space Spending by Agency, 2015
69
EXHIBIT 4p. European Space Workforce Demographics, 2014
36
EXHIBIT 2v. Space Budgets of Selected Additional Countries,
2015
69
EXHIBIT 4q. ESA Workforce Demographics, 2015
EXHIBIT 2w. Summary of Global Space Activity Revenues and
Budgets, 20132015
69
EXHIBIT 4r. Japanese Space Industry Employment, 20042014
70
EXHIBIT 4s. Japanese Space Industry Employment by Sector,
20092014
70
EXHIBIT 4t. JAXA Workforce, 20042015
70
EXHIBIT 4u. JAXA Workforce Demographics, 2015
70
EXHIBIT 4v. Global Space Agency Employment, 2015
37
3.0 | Space Infrastructure
78
49
40
EXHIBIT 3a. Topics Covered in Space Infrastructure
41
EXHIBIT 3b. Number of Launches Attempted and Payload
Mass Aboard Attempted Launches, 1996-2015
42
EXHIBIT 3c. U.S. Orbital Launches, 2015
44
EXHIBIT 3d. Russian Orbital Launches, 2015
45
EXHIBIT 3e. Chinese Orbital Launches, 2015
46
EXHIBIT 3f. Other Orbital Launches, 2015
49
EXHIBIT 3g. Spacecraft Launched by Mission, 2015
The Space Report 2016 | The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity | www.TheSpaceReport.org
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