Satellite Industry Sectors
Communications
Broadband internet, TV broadcast, enterprise connectivity, maritime, aviation
Key players: Starlink (SpaceX), OneWeb (Eutelsat), Amazon Kuiper, SES, Intelsat, Viasat
Earth Observation
Optical, SAR, and multispectral imaging for agriculture, defense, insurance, climate
Key players: Planet Labs, Maxar, BlackSky, Capella Space, ICEYE, Satellogic
Navigation
Positioning, navigation, and timing services for billions of devices
Key players: GPS (US Space Force), Galileo (EU), GLONASS (Russia), BeiDou (China)
Manufacturing
GEO comm sats, LEO constellation buses, small sats, and cubesats
Key players: Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Maxar, Thales, York Space, Terran Orbital
Launch Services
Getting satellites from ground to orbit — the transportation layer
Key players: SpaceX, Rocket Lab, ULA, Arianespace, ISRO, Blue Origin
Ground Systems
Antennas, terminals, ground stations, and ground-as-a-service
Key players: Hughes, Kymeta, Intellian, ATLAS Space Operations, AWS Ground Station
Frequently Asked Questions
How many satellites are in orbit?
As of 2026, there are over 13,000 active satellites in orbit, with SpaceX's Starlink constellation accounting for more than 6,500. The total number of tracked objects (including debris) exceeds 48,000.
What companies make satellites?
Major satellite manufacturers include Airbus Defence and Space, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Maxar Technologies, Thales Alenia Space, Northrop Grumman, and Ball Aerospace. For small satellites, companies like York Space Systems, Rocket Lab (Photon), and Terran Orbital lead the market.
What is the satellite industry worth?
The global satellite industry generates approximately $280 billion annually, including satellite services ($130B), ground equipment ($150B), satellite manufacturing ($15B), and launch services ($8B). The fastest-growing segment is LEO broadband (Starlink, Kuiper).
What do earth observation satellites do?
Earth observation (EO) satellites capture images and data about Earth's surface, atmosphere, and oceans. Applications include agriculture (crop monitoring), insurance (damage assessment), defense (intelligence), climate monitoring, urban planning, and disaster response.