Atlas IIAS

The International Space Business Council today announced the release of the commercial for-fee publication 2005 State of the Space Industry. This is the 9th issue of the SBC’s report.

The report’s press release & highlights [PDF format] notes their findings that world turnover generated from commercial services and government programs reached $103 billion in 2004, and is forecast to exceed $158 billion in 2010. U.S. Defense spending on space has grown from around $15 billion in 2000 to more than $22 billion today and is forecast to reach $28 billion by 2010, though ITAR export restrictions are also cited as a serious competitive problem for U.S. industry. Meanwhile…

• India and China have joined the U.S., Europe, Russia, and Japan as having fully independent capabilities (a factor http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/innovation/new-systems-tech/india-building-a-military-satellite-reconnaissance-system-0996/index.php
  ”>DID covered very recently re: India’s military satellite program).

• Markets like consumer television, broadband services, satellite radio and GPS positioning and tracking are being validated with growth measured in the billions.

Overall, the SBC sees government funding for space on the rise, while commercial orders for satellites and launches have rebounded and stabilized, new exploration initiatives are being pursued, and entrepreneurial efforts related to radio, broadband, and space tourism are creating new niches.

Note that some of these conclusions are worth deeper examination in light of a recent GAO report re: the USA’s military satellite programs. In particular, note that some of the problems the GAO cited concern the lower than expected business demand, creating a dearth of expertise and resources to leverage for military programs.