A recent report by the International Space Business Council - 2002 State of the Space Industry - says overall revenues from the space industry dipped to $82.8 Billion in 2001 as the effects of the ongoing downturn in the investment market affected several proposed commercial systems, reducing near-term demand for satellites and their launch.

Limiting the effect were strong forecasts for military systems for communications and imagery and commercial services targeting consumers and business enterprises.

According to Scott Sacknoff, president of the ISBC, a Bethesda, MD-based research and consulting group, "Satellites are a mechanism for solutions. Given their 40-year track record as a cost-effective means to provide communications services, to distribute media and broadcast content, to penetrate into new markets, and serve hard to reach/remote areas, the space industry is well-positioned to provide services to a wide range of customers and consumers."

Relied upon by industry executives, government officials and financiers around the world, the State of the Space Industry is a top-level overview and forecast that covers the trends which influence the industry and affects its future growth.

Among the trends cited in the 2002 report are:

• The military's growing reliance on space;
• The end of the late 1990s boom market for commercial satellites and launchers;
• Consolidation and privatization of satellite operators;
• Anticipated changes and an expected strategy shift by NASA as it undergoes new leadership;
• U.S. export licensing issues and concerns; and,
• New business opportunities that are emerging such as real-time monitoring of flight data from aircraft, reusing satellites that have been abandoned, and the expanding use of imagery and GIS for disaster management, planning, and recovery.

In its companion report, Space Finance 2001, also released today, deal flow in 2001 was much greater than anticipated as 92 transactions valued at $42.8 Billion were identified. Firms involved with space and satellites raised more than $11.4 billion in debt, $1.5 billion in private equity, and almost $1 billion in secondary stock offerings. The report also provides details on 61 M&A transactions that totaled more than $29 billion.

Statistical Information:

• 2001 Global Revenues: $82.8 Billion
• 2001-2007 Total Global Revenues: $763.1 Billion
• 2001 Satellite Manufacturing Revenues: $12.,37 Billion
• 2001 Launch Vehicle Revenues: $4.98 Billion
• 2001 Commercial Services: $27.45 Billion (FSS, MSS, DTH, DARS, Broadband)

Satellite Reliability over a 24-hour period: Better than 99.99%
U.S. Companies with Stock Gains of 20% or more in 2001: Eleven

Related Links
Space Business Council
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express