Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Offering (Services and Software), By Service (Space Weather Services, Near-Earth Object Detection Services, and Space Surveillance & Tracking Services), By Object (Mission Related Debris, Rocket Bodies, Fragmentation Debris, Non-Functional Spacecraft, and Functional Spacecraft), By End-User (Commercial and Military & Government), and Regional Forecast, 2023-2030

Rising National Security Concerns to Surge Market Growth

National security concerns coupled with increasing need to safeguard assets in Earth's orbit is becoming a driving force behind the expansion of SSA capabilities worldwide. As nations intensify their presence in space, the need to monitor, analyze, and predict the movements of satellites, space debris, and potential threats has never been more critical. This surge in demand for advanced SSA solutions is primarily fueled by the overarching goal of ensuring the security and functionality of vital space-based assets, including communication satellites, Earth observation platforms, and military surveillance systems.

Furthermore, governments and defense agencies are recognizing the strategic importance of maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the space environment. For instance, in September 2023, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Strategic Support Force (SSF) inaugurated a specialized base to cater to the military's requirements in space situational awareness. While Xi'an Satellite Tracking and Control Center (Base 26) and Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center will continue overseeing satellite telemetry, tracking, and control (TT&C) for China's national satellites, the newly established Base 37 will focus on identifying, tracking, and analyzing foreign space objects.

This includes enhancing the accuracy of China's domestic space object catalog. Base 37 shares similarities with a combination of the U.S. Space Force's Delta 4 and 6 and plays a role in determining whether PLA satellites supporting military operations are facing interference from natural or human-made sources in space. This new facility aims to enhance the PLA's capacity to provide early warnings to joint forces regarding incoming ballistic missiles and the location, maneuvers, and operating conditions of space objects.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Initial Investments Coupled with Operating Costs and Security Concerns May Hamper Market Growth

Establishing a robust SSA system involves substantial investments in infrastructure. This includes the deployment of ground-based sensors, construction of monitoring facilities, and development of satellite networks. The high capital expenditure poses a significant barrier to the space situational awareness market growth. SSA relies on cutting-edge technologies such as advanced sensors, data analytics, and artificial intelligence. The development and integration of these technologies require significant research and development investments.

For instance, a modern GEO communication satellite that has a lifespan of 15 years and covers 1/5th to 1/6th of Earth typically costs around USD 300 million. Moreover, the launch cost to put into its orbit is more than USD 80 million. In addition, operating a comprehensive SSA system often involves the deployment of satellites or dedicated spacecraft for monitoring and data collection. The procurement, launch, and maintenance of these systems contribute to the overall high initial investments in the market.

Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Market Segmentation Analysis

By Offering Analysis

Services Segment Dominates the Market Due to Rising Space Activities

By offering, the market is bifurcated into software and services.

Services include data analysis, information dissemination, and real-time monitoring to enhance situational awareness in space operations. The segment dominates and is estimated to be the fastest-growing during the forecast period due to rising space activities all around the globe.

Software comprises technological solutions and applications designed to process, analyze, and visualize data related to space situational awareness. This includes software tools for tracking space objects, predicting trajectories, and managing space assets efficiently. This segment is estimated to grow significantly during the forecast period due to the increasing demand for advanced space data analytics.

By Service Analysis

Space Surveillance & Tracking Services Segment Dominates Owing to Rising Threats to Space-based Assets

By service, the market is segmented into space weather services, near-earth object detection services, and space surveillance & tracking services.

Space surveillance & tracking services consist of monitoring and tracking of artificial objects in Earth's orbit. This includes the identification of satellites, debris, and other space objects to ensure collision avoidance, predict orbital trajectories, and maintain the overall safety and sustainability of space activities. This segment is the dominating one and is estimated to grow significantly during the forecast period due to the rising threats to space-based assets.

Near-earth object detection services offer solutions for identifying and tracking celestial bodies, such as asteroids and comets that come close to Earth's orbit. This segment is expected to be the fastest growing due to growing demand for preventive measures to mitigate the risk of collisions with artificial space objects.

By Object Analysis

Growing Demand to Track and Monitor Inactive Man-Made Objects to Spur the Non-Functional Spacecraft Segment Growth

By object, the market is classified into mission related debris, rocket bodies, fragmentation debris, non-functional spacecraft, and functional spacecraft.

Non-functional spacecraft include providing solutions to defunct or inactive satellites and space vehicles. Monitoring these objects is essential for collision avoidance and to prevent interference with active satellites and operational spacecraft. This segment dominates the market share and is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period due to growing demand to track and monitor inactive man-made objects.

Fragmentation debris includes solutions to track space debris that consists of smaller pieces resulting from the breakup of larger space objects. This can occur due to collisions, explosions, or intentional fragmentation. This segment is expected to grow significantly in the forecast period owing to rising government regulations for space traffic management.

By End-User Analysis

Military & Government Segment Dominates Owing to Increased Demand for Space-Based Surveillance and Geo-Political Tensions

By end-user, the market is bifurcated into commercial and military & government.

Military & government includes offering SSA services to defense organizations and government agencies which are responsible for national security and space exploration. The segment dominates and is estimated to grow significantly during the forecast period due to the increased demand for space-based surveillance coupled with geo-political tensions.

The commercial segment involves satellite operators, telecommunications companies, and other commercial ventures utilizing space assets for various purposes. This segment is expected to be the fastest-growing during the forecast period due to increasing space commercialization.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

In terms of geography, the market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world.

North America, valued at USD 678.6 million, dominated the market in 2022. This growth is attributed to the presence of major service providers in this region. In October 2023, the U.S. Space Force awarded Riverside Research a USD 1.45 million contract to develop software that automates data analysis of space objects. The one-year contract is for the development of software tools to help Space Force units characterize and detect objects in crowded low-Earth orbit for the DEEP-SDA Project, Data Exploitation and Enhanced Processing for Space Domain Affairs.

Europe’s market for space situational awareness captured the second largest share in 2022. The market’s growth is credited to the increasing regulations for space traffic management.  For instance, in December 2023, the Council of the European Union (EU Council) adopted conclusions on ‘Space traffic management: state of play’. This conclusion addresses the challenges of an increasingly crowded orbital space and the need for a common approach to ensure a safe and sustainable European space policy. This conclusion, therefore, underlines the urgency of developing an EU approach to space traffic management (STM) that contributes to safety, sustainability, and security in space and welcomes the progress made so far.

Asia Pacific held a significant share in 2022 and is expected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. The increase in growth of this region is due to growing government initiatives to strengthen SSA capabilities. In April 2022, the U.S. and South Korea agreed to cooperate on space situational awareness for military purposes.  Under the agreement, Washington and Seoul will share space information, advance space experts through training and exercises, and improve the interoperability of joint space operations.

The rest of the world is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to growing investment in space-based technologies. For instance, in October 2023, the U.S. space com signed an agreement with Qatar armed forces based on space situational awareness. The agreement deals with the provision of authorization and exchange of information and enhances the safety, stability, security, and sustainability of space.

List of Key Companies in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Market

Key Companies Focus on Technological Advancements and Product Innovations to Boost their Share

The global space situational awareness market is consolidated with key players such as Lockheed Martin Corporation, L3 Harris Technologies Inc., Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., Parsons Corporation, Safran Data Systems, Inc., and others. Major players focus on technological advancements, product innovations and emerging markets to increase their share. For instance, in December 2022, NASA's Near Earth Object Explorer (NEO Surveyor), is a space telescope designed to search for the most elusive asteroids and comets that enter Earth's orbit. The mission is now moving into the final design and manufacturing phase, establishing the technical, cost and schedule basis. NEO Surveyor observes the solar system in infrared wavelengths that are invisible to the human eye.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.)


• L3 Harris Technologies Inc. (U.S.)


• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (U.S.)


• Parsons Corporation (U.S.)


• Safran Data Systems, Inc. (U.S.)


• Raytheon Technologies Corporation (U.S.)


• Atlas Space Operations Inc. (U.S.)


• CACI International Inc. (U.S.)


• AstronetX PBC (U.S.)


• Slingshot Aerospace (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• October 2023: SRI International announced its selection of defense technology company Leidos and start-up Scout Space as subcontractors for a space debris tracking project funded by the U.S. intelligence community. SRI, a nonprofit research institute based in Menlo Park, California, was awarded the contract for its Intelligence Advanced Research Project activity to detect small debris objects in orbit that are currently undetectable by ground-based sensors.


• September 2023: The U.S. defense contractor SAIC and space surveillance company LeoLabs signed an agreement to jointly develop a space tracking software platform. Both companies are working on a prototype that they hope to bring to market. SAIC and LeoLabs will develop space tracking tools on the Koverse data management platform. This tool is used by defense agencies and financial services companies due to its advanced zero trust security features.


• August 2023: The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity selected four vendors to develop technologies and new approaches to tracking small debris objects in space. A-Tech, Advanced Space, SRI International, and West Virginia University Research Corporation bagged a four-year contract for an undisclosed amount for the Space Debris Identification and Tracking Program (SINTRA).


• April 2023: Ariane Group, Eutelsat and Magellium received contracts from the French Space Agency (CNES) as part of the space component of France 2030. The consortium will provide space situational awareness (SSA) data services to CNES through the deployment of multi-orbit optical sensors, as well as complement and enhance performance through the development and implementation of optical space segments in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and improve the performance of Ariane Group's existing terrestrial network.


• January 2023 - The Space Force disclosed the delivery of the initial space surveillance payload, out of two planned, intended for integration with Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). The launch is scheduled for 2024 on Tokyo's sixth QZSS. Developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory, these two hosted payloads are designed to monitor spacecraft and potentially hazardous debris situated in geosynchronous orbit (GEO).

REPORT COVERAGE

The space situational awareness market research report provides a detailed analysis. It comprises all major aspects, such as R&D capabilities and optimization of the operating services. Moreover, the market report offers insights into the market share, trends, regional analysis, Porter’s five forces analysis, and competitive landscape of various companies profiled with market competition and primarily highlights key industry developments. In addition to the above-mentioned factors, it mainly focuses on several factors that have contributed to the global market growth over recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation