SECTOR GROWTH
14x Increase 2020 – 20291
38,000+ satellites to be built and launched over the next decade.
5,710 cumulative satellites launched since 20101
~90% of satellites to be launched over the next decade weigh 300kg or less2
$100B+ in launch revenue over the next decade3
Projected satellite launches
1. Based on Euroconsult and Starfighters estimated 2. Euroconsult derived estimates based on 7,015 satellites with a known mass 3. Based on Euroconsult and Starfighters estimate
DILEMMA FOR SMALLSAT OPERATORS: COST vs PAYLOAD
(Click titles below to select launch method)
Purchase of available or underutilized space on larger launch vehicles.
A dedicated launch vehicle to lift the payload.
A dedicated launch vehicle to lift the payload – multiple times.
BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER: SCALE IMPACTS SERVICE PRICE
Payload – Cost/KG*
Company | Vehicle | Cost / kg (US$) |
Rocket Lab | Electron | $24,000 |
Virgin Galactic | LauncherOne | $24,000 |
Firefly | Alpha | $15,000 |
Russia | Soyuz-2.1a | $19,900 |
ArianeSpace* | Ariane 5 | $10,200 |
SpaceX* | Falcon 9 | ¢16,093 |
SpaceX* | Falcon Heavy | $18,500 |
Starfighters | STARLAUNCH II (initial) | $22,000 |
Starfighters | STARLAUNCH II (scale) | $15,000 |
*Subsidized
*All cost calculations are estimated from publicly available online data such as company websites and independent reporting compiled by Starfighters Space
https://aerospace.csis.org/data/space-launch-to-low-earth-orbit-how-much-does-it-cost/
https://www.newspace.im/assets/fig/Newspace_launchers_costsperkgperf_2022-01-01.pdf
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55606.msg2331202#msg2331202
LAUNCH VEHICLE STAGE ANALYSIS
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