smallsats by the numbers 2021 - brycetech.com

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Smallsats by the Numbers 2021

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Introduction

Smaller satellites are of increasing interest; growing use in recent years

Bryce’s Smallsats by the Numbers presents historical information on smaller satellites launched 2011 – 2020 (regardless of operational status)

Definition used here, 600 kg and under, reflects the five smallest mass classes defined by the FAA

‘Smallsat’ or ‘very small satellite’ are often used to refer to smaller satellites

Due to the large quantity of LEO broadband telecommunications smallsats launched in 2020, this report provides data views that both exclude and include LEO broadband telecommunications smallsat systems that have launched operational satellites as of 2020 to provide insight into trends in other types of systems

Mass Class Name Kilograms (kg)

Femto 0.01 – 0.09

Pico 0.1 – 1

Nano 1.1 – 10

Micro 11 – 200

Mini 201 – 600

Small 601 – 1,200

Medium 1,201 – 2,500

Intermediate 2,501 – 4,200

Large 4,201 – 5,400

Heavy 5,401 – 7,000

Extra Heavy > 7,001

From FAA The Annual Compendium of Commercial

Space Transportation: 2018

Sm

alls

ats

3

2020 Smallsat Highlights

Remote

Sensing, 11%

Technology

Development, 3%

Communications,

83%

Scientific, 2%

Other, 1%

1,202 Smallsats

Launched

Micro

Mini

Nano

Micro

40% of all smallsats launched in last

10 years launched in 2020

43% of total upmass represented by

smallsats in 2020

68 launches in 2020 carried

smallsats

14%of smallsats launched on

small/micro launch vehicles in

2020

4

Smallsats in Context and Operator/Mission Type Trends

Smallsat Mass Trends

Smallsat Launch Trends

Looking Forward

5

Smallsats Launched and Total Spacecraft Upmass 2011 – 2020


3,968 Spacecraft

launched

~4,000 MTTotal upmass

6%

28%

12%28%

7%

5%

4%3%

3% 3%

8%

1%

6%

10%

12%

13%21%

29%

Mass ClassName

Kilograms (kg)

Femto 0.01 – 0.09

Pico 0.1 – 1

Nano 1.1 – 10

Micro 11 – 200

Mini 201 – 600

Small 601 – 1,200

Medium 1,201 – 2,500


Large 4,201 – 5,400

Heavy 5,401 – 7,000

Extra Heavy > 7,001

Femto, Pico each <0.1%

Nano 0.1%

1,282 Spacecraft

launched

~554 MTTotal upmass

4%

9%

14%

67%

1%2%

39%

4%

3%

6%7%

9%

11%

21%

Femto 0%

Pico and Nano 0.1%

2011 –

2020

2020 Smallsats represent 75% of

spacecraft launched 2011 – 2020, 9% of total upmass

Smallsats represent 94% of spacecraft launched in 2020, 43% of total upmass

Each 1%

6

Spacecraft Launched 2011 – 2020, by Mass Class


0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Small (601-1,200 kg) Medium (1,201-2,500 kg) Intermediate (2,501-4,200 kg)

Large (4,201-5,400 kg) Heavy (5,401-7000 kg) Extra Heavy (7,000+ kg)

Starlink

and

Oneweb

smallsats

All other

smallsats

Sm

alls

ats

(≤ 6

00kg

)

130 195 173 126

338 328263 265

937

126

52

Nu

mb

er

of

Sp

acecra

ft L

au

nch

ed

Starlink and OneWeb

smallsatsOther Smallsats

39

7

Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Mass Class


0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Femto (.01-.09 kg) Pico (.1-1 kg) Nano (1.1-10 kg) Micro (11-200 kg) Mini (201-600 kg)

Nu

mb

er

of

Sm

all

sa

tsL

au

nc

he

d

1,202

39 52

130195 173

126

338 328389

8

Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Mass Class, Starlink and OneWeb Breakout


Femto

(.01-.09 kg)

Pico

(.1-1 kg)

Nano

(1.1-10 kg)

Micro

(11-200 kg)

Mini

(201-600 kg)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

OneWeb

(~150kg)

Starlink

(~260kg)

Nu

mb

er

of

Sm

all

sa

tsL

au

nc

he

d

1,202

39 52

130195 173

126

338 328389

9

Share of Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Mass Class Including Starlink and OneWeb


15%

29%32%

6%10% 9% 5%

13%9%

4%

18%

21%

37%

67%65%

58%

83%

60%

38%

9%

46%

33%

14%

21% 17%

25%

9%

18%

16%

15%

21%17% 17%

7% 8% 8%2%

9%

37%

72%

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020


Sh

are

of

Sm

all

sa

tsL

au

nc

he

d Nu

mb

er o

f Sm

alls

ats

La

un

ch

ed

Including heavier LEO broadband constellation smallsats, mini smallsats constitute the largest share of

smallsats in 2020

10

Share of Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Mass Class Excluding Starlink and OneWeb


15%

29%32%

6%10% 9% 5%

13% 14%18%

18%

21%

37%

67%65%

58%

83%

60%56%

43%

46%

33%

14%

21% 17%

25%

9%

18%22%

28%

21%17% 17%

7% 8% 8%2%

8% 9% 10%

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020


Sh

are

of

Sm

all

sa

tsL

au

nc

he

d E

xc

lud

ing

Sta

rlin

ka

nd

On

ew

eb

Nu

mb

er o

f Sm

alls

ats

La

un

ch

ed

Ex

clu

din

g

Sta

rlink

an

d O

ne

We

b

Excluding heavier LEO broadband constellation smallsats, nano smallsats constitute the largest share of

smallsats since 2013

11

41%

17%

8%

54%

39%

53%

66%

38%

25%

11%

13%

52%

61%

28%

43%

36%

30%

40%

33%

3%

10%

12% 11%

10% 10%0%

1%

11%

6%

5%

1%

32%

78%

36%

15% 17%

7% 6%10% 6%

3% 2%4% 3% 1% 2% 2% 1%5%

2% 1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Share of Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Application Including Starlink and OneWeb


Remote

Sensing

Technology

Development

Communications(Excluding Starlink +

OneWeb)

Scientific Other/Unknown

Sh

are

of

Sm

all

sa

tsL

au

nc

he

d

Relative share of remote sensing and technology development smallsats has decreased due to launch of LEO

communication smallsats

Communications(Starlink + OneWeb)

12

Smallsats 2011 – 2020 by Application Excluding OneWeb and Starlink


41%

17%

8%

54%

39%

53%

66%

38% 37%

49%

13%

52%

61%

28%

43%

36%

30%

40%49%

15%10%

12% 11%

10% 10%

1%

11%

9%

22%

36%

15% 17%

7% 6%10%

1%

6%4%

10%

3% 1% 2% 2% 1%5% 2% 3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Remote SensingTechnology

DevelopmentCommunications Scientific Other/Unknown

When excluding Starlink + OneWeb, remote sensing and technology demonstration smallsats historically

have largest shares

Sh

are

of

Sm

all

sa

tsL

au

nc

he

d E

xc

lud

ing

On

eW

eb

an

d S

tarl

ink

4%

13

Number of Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Operator Type


0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Nu

mb

er

of

Sm

all

sa

tsL

au

nc

he

d

174

937

42

25 24

All Other

SmallsatsNon-Profit Government Civil Government Military

1,202Smallsats

Launched

2020

Number of commercial smallsats launched increased from 3 smallsats in 2011 and 2012 to 1,111 in 2020

OneWeb +

Starlink

14

Commercial Smallsat Operators 2011 – 2020


17%

47%

22%

7%

5% 2%

Commercial

Operators124

2,013Commercial

Smallsats Launched

2011 – 2020

Operator # of Smallsats

SpaceX 955

Planet 437

Spire Global 131

OneWeb 110

Swarm Technologies 45

CGSTL 26

Satellogic 20

ORBCOMM 19

Spacety 12

Astro Digital 10

Zuhai Orbita 10

Guodian Gaoke 10

GeoOptics 8

BlackSky 7

Commsat Tech Dev Co. 7

ICEYE 6

Commercial Operators with more than 5 smallsats*83% of smallsats launched 2011 – 2020 are owned by 5

operators

*As of the end of 2020

Operators with

more than 5

smallsats (from

124 other

operators)

15

36%

32%

8%

4%

3%

3%2%

11%

Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Operator Country


Operator Country # of Smallsats

USA 2,027 (955 Starlink)

China 224

UK 129

Japan 82

Russia 83

Germany 49

Canada 29

Argentina 23

France 21

India 18

Australia 17

South Korea 17

Italy 16

Singapore 14

Spain 13

Israel 12

Finland 10

Operator

countries with 10

or more smallsats

(from 65 other

countries)

Each 1%

2,972Smallsats

Launched

2011 – 2020

US

Operators*

*OneWeb smallsats included under United Kingdom

16

Number of Government Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Country


0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

USA China Russia Japan India Germany France Iran Europe Taiwan Israel

Five or Fewer Smallsats

Canada Norway

Vietnam United Kingdom

South Korea Algeria

UAE Italy

North Korea Ecuador

Poland The Philippines

Ethiopia Turkey

Indonesia Australia

Egypt Nigeria

Spain Ukraine

Belarus Colombia

Malaysia Kazakhstan

Brazil Thailand

Mexico Pakistan

Peru Belgium

Sweden Rwanda

Chile

Nu

mb

er

of

Go

ve

rnm

en

t S

ma

lls

ats

La

un

ch

ed

Countries with More than Five Government Smallsats

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Largest Government Smallsat Operators 2011 – 2020


Type 15 Largest Government OperatorsOpen-Source Data

Country# of Smallsats

Launched

Civil

National Aeronautics and Astronautics and Space Administration USA 56

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) USA 16

Roscosmos Russia 14

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Japan 12

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) India 9

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) Germany 7

European Space Agency (ESA) Europe 7

Chinese Academy of Sciences China 7

National Space Program Office (NSPO) Taiwan 7

Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) France 5

Military

US Department of Defense USA 77

Russia MoD/Aerospace Forces Russia 22

People’s Liberation Army China 16

National University of Defence Technology (NUDT) China 13

National Reconnaissance Office USA 9

18

Number of Academic Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Institution


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

KyushuInstitute ofTechnology

TechnicalUniversity of

Berlin

University ofColorado

BostonUniversity

San JoseState

University

NanyangTechnicalUniversity

CaliforniaPolytechnic

StateUniversity

MontanaState

University

TsinghuaUniversity

University ofToronto

NanjingUniversity

Nu

mb

er

of

Ac

ad

em

ic S

ma

lls

ats

La

un

ch

ed

Academic Institutions with More than Five Smallsats Launched

Nearly 210 academic operators

launched smallsats 2011 – 2020

19




Looking Forward

20

Spacecraft Upmass by Spacecraft Mass Class, 2011 – 2020


0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Small (601-1,200 kg)

Medium (1,201-2,500 kg) Intermediate (2,501-4,200 kg) Large (4,201-5,400 kg) Heavy (5,401-7000 kg) Extra Heavy (7,000+ kg)

Micro (11-200kg) Mini (201-600kg)Nano (1.1-10kg)Femto + Pico (.01-1kg)

To

tal

Mass L

au

nch

ed

by S

pacecra

ft

Ma

ss

Cla

ss

Sm

alls

ats

(≤ 6

00kg

)

21

Smallsats as a Share of Total Upmass 2011 – 2020


1% 1%2% 2% 2% 2% 2%

5%

11%

43%

5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Sh

are

of

To

tal M

as

s L

au

nc

he

d

Smallsats as a Share of Total Upmass

Smallsats as a Share of Total Upmass (Excluding

Starlink + OneWeb)

554,277 kg Total spacecraft upmass 2020

239,150 kg Total smallsat upmass 2020

22

4757

112

86

6241 48 56

17

55

109

199

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Average Mass, Smallsats 2011 – 2020


Avera

ge S

mallsat

Mass (

kg

)

Smallsats on average are increasing in mass

Average Smallsat Mass

Average Smallsat Mass

Excluding Starlink + OneWeb

23

2997

2581

1652

12241322

1669

815 807

1014957

815

432

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Average Mass, All Spacecraft 2011 – 2020


Avera

ge S

pacecra

ft M

ass (

kg

)

Average Spacecraft Mass

Average Spacecraft Mass

Excluding Starlink + OneWeb

Average spacecraft mass overall is decreasing, driven by deployment of large numbers of smallsats

24




Looking Forward

25

Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Country of Launch Provider


Other

Sh

are

of

Sm

all

sa

tsL

au

nc

he

d

41%

25%

42%

55% 58%

40%

27%

43%

57%

78%

23%

19%

39%

29%

5%

2% 28%

14%

10%

11%

13%

4%

5%3%

10%

22%

41%

20%

13%

1%

8%

12%

6%3%

16%

13%

4%

20% 14%

5%13%

17%

2%

7%

1%

3% 5%

13%

4%10% 10%

14%

1% 3% 3%3%

10%

1% 1% 1% 2% 1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

26

Number of Launches With Smallsats 2011 – 2020


16 19 22 23 21 21 22

48 46

68

68 5959

6965 64

68

66

56

46

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Nu

mb

er

of

La

un

ch

es

wit

h a

nd

wit

ho

ut

Sm

all

sa

ts

Launches with

smallsats

Launches without

smallsats

Number of launches per year with smallsats has generally increased over the 10-year period

27

Number of Launches with Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Launch Vehicle Category


58

11

4 6 6 811

23 2511

11

11

19 15 1514

37

23

43

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Nu

mb

er

of

La

un

ch

es

wit

h S

ma

lls

ats

Launches of Micro – Small Launch

Vehicles with Smallsats

Launches of Medium – Super Heavy Vehicles

with Smallsats

Launch Vehicle

CategoryCapacity (kg) to LEO

Micro ≤500

Small 500 – 2,268

Medium 2,269 – 5,443


Heavy 11,341 – 30,000

Super Heavy >30,000

28

Share of Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Launch Vehicle Category


21%

37% 39%

5%

26%

16%8%

13%20%

14%

79%

63% 61%

95%

74%

84%92%

87%80%

86%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Sh

are

of

Sm

all

sa

tsL

au

nc

he

d

Smallsats on Micro – Small Launch

VehiclesSmallsats on Medium – Super Heavy Vehicles

Launch Vehicle


Micro ≤500

Small 500 – 2,268

Medium 2,269 – 5,443


Heavy 11,341 – 30,000

Super Heavy >30,000

29

Number of Smallsats 2011 – 2020, by Launch Vehicle Category


Nu

mb

er

of

Sm

all

sa

tsL

au

nc

he

d

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Smallsats on Micro – Small Launch Vehicles

Smallsats on Medium – Super Heavy Vehicles

Smallsats on Medium – Super Heavy Vehicles

Excluding Starlink and OneWeb

Launch Vehicle


Micro ≤500

Small 500 – 2,268

Medium 2,269 – 5,443


Heavy 11,341 – 30,000

Super Heavy >30,000

30

Smallsats 2016 – 2020, by Launch Vehicle


Fa

lcon

9

PS

LV

So

yu

z 2

.1a

/b

Ele

ctr

on

An

tare

s 2

30

Atla

s V

Ve

ga

42 other vehicles

(<70 smallsats

launched)

Nu

mb

er

of

Sm

all

sa

tsL

au

nc

he

d b

y L

au

nc

h V

eh

icle

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Starlink OneWeb

31




Looking Forward

32

Number of Spacecraft Launched 2011 – First Half 2021

Looking Forward

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Sm

alls

ats

(≤ 6

00kg

)

# of spacecraft launched in first 6 months of 2021 (97% smallsats) already surpasses 2020 record

Nu

mb

er

of

Sp

ac

ec

raft

La

un

ch

ed

Spacecraft (>600kg) launched

Smallsats (≤ 600kg) launched

H12021

33

100+ Smallsats Launched 10+ Smallsats Launched 3+ Smallsats Launched

Commercial Smallsat Operators with the Largest Deployments First Half 2021

Looking Forward

785 satellites

108 satellites

76 sats

48 sats

16 sats

10 sats

10 sats

6 satellites each

4 satellites each

3 satellites each

Commercial smallsat operators made significant deployments in first half of 2021

34

Looking Forward: Areas To Watch

Looking Forward

Smallsat Launch Options Smallsat operators have an increasing number of launch options including small launch and rideshare. Dozens of new small launch

vehicles (many <500kg capacity) are in development to launch smallsats. Launch providers, especially medium – super heavy are

increasing rideshare opportunities/initiatives to capture demand from smallsat customers

Business OutcomesSmallsat business ventures of all types continue efforts to prove both their business models and their ability to generate significant

revenue. Financial outcomes of today’s smallsat companies will impact the long-term smallsat market

Communications Constellations Smallsat telecommunications operators dominated smallsat activity in 2020 and are continuing deployments in 2021. Launch of these large

constellations will influence smallsat activity in the next few years

Government use of SmallsatsGovernments are increasingly seeking to leverage smallsats/including in architecture planning to augment existing capabilities

• Space Development Agency deployed first smallsats in 2021, preparing

tranches of smallsats in support of National Defense Space Architecture

• DARPA continuing development of Blackjack constellation to demonstrate

network of smallsats for military comms, missile warning, and navigation

• NASA supporting smallsat launch through ELaNa, other initiatives

• NOAA exploring use of smallsats for weather forecast modeling

• France launching Composante Optique 3D (CO3D) system for civil and

government remote sensing applications

• JAXA RAPIS/RAISE technology demonstration systems

• Several Chinese smallsat systems, various stages development/operation

smallsats by the numbers 2021 - brycetech.com

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