Innovations in the space and satellites industry are happening at light speed. The low manufacturing cost of smallsats is paving the way for the mass production of satellites. Satellite Internet of Things (IoT) is another major trend enabling unprecedented connectivity across industries and empowering 5G and upcoming 6G capabilities. The most significant satellite technology trends include small satellites or smallsats that drive the next generation of satellite capabilities. Small satellites, flexible launch services, and advanced satellite payload systems will transform the sector as we know it today. Satellite avionics are advancing towards miniaturized and radiation tolerant systems. Smart avionic systems enable onboard equipment health and usage monitoring as well as precise guidance, navigation, and control. Satellite manufacturers and operators are bringing technological innovations to ground stations as well as orbital services. Digitized payloads, propulsion systems, and technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) enable satellites to perform more complex functions autonomously. Space tourism is also on the rise. New technologies and services will ultimately enable humans to explore deep space while improving the quality of life on earth. With increasing government and private investments, startups are working on satellite manufacturing, operations, and services and are laying the foundations for a new age of intelligent satellites. At Service Ventures, we think the following emerging space and satellite technologies have the potential to create large new markets that do not exist today. We categorize such technologies as disruptive technologies, and they reside in Horizon -3 of our technology radar.
Small Satellites and Low-Earth Orbit Satellites
Miniaturized satellites allow for cheaper designs and advancements in industrial technologies enable their mass production. Small satellites are well-suited for use in proprietary wireless communications networks and for scientific observation, data gathering, and monitoring the earth using the GPS. Equipped with smarter and compact subsystems, small satellites are replacing the need for large satellites and related infrastructure. Satellite operators for connectivity services deploy constellations of smallsats in LEO to provide global coverage with low latency, earth observation (EO) and remote sensing to generate superior insights. A low-earth orbit is relatively close to Earth’s surface and is normally at an altitude of less than 1000 km but could be as low as 160 km above Earth. Also, LEO satellites do not always follow a particular path around Earth. This means that there are more routes for satellites in the LEO. This makes it a feasible target for space companies. To this end, startups develop relevant solutions and techniques to deal with LEO-related challenges, including communication systems and data management. Satellite startups advance this trend through mass production, rocket ridesharing with other missions, modular commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, and standardized satellite buses. LEO satellites and multi-satellite constellations are increasingly in use for communication, spying, earth monitoring, and other imaging applications.
High Throughput Satellites
With high throughput satellites, connectivity over land, air, and sea for consumer, commercial, at military applications at unserved and under served locations can be possible. Demand for satellite-based mobile and broadband communications is surging and GEO satellite network providers responding by increasing their strength and throughput capabilities. GEO satellites utilize advanced transponders and software-defined radios to transmit data at several hundreds of gigabytes or even terabytes per second. Software-defined radio equips the satellites to cater to fluctuating demands by beam hopping, changing shape coverage, and specifically targeting high-capacity areas. Service providers opt for Ku- and Ka-frequency bands for communications as these bands provide greater signal capacity and frequency reuse efficiency. Increasing frequency in different frequency bands and using technologies like multi-spot beams allows service providers to cater to high demands.
Satellite IoT
The demand for satellite-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) is growing steadily due to extensive coverage provided by satellites compared to the existing terrestrial cellular communication infrastructure. Terrestrial communication networks suffer coverage limitations at extreme locations and often depend on land and sea cables. Some of the biggest advances in satellite IoT come from its application in the military and defense. Governments and private sector investment in satellite technology for connected solutions are driving the technological advancements in satellite IoT. Commercial solutions deploy IoT sensors and devices for satellite-based, precise, and real-time asset tracking, monitoring, and remote surveillance around the world. Advanced devices and sensor technologies in satellites also empower a new range of cloud and edge computing capabilities. Startups are providing hybrid services using satellite IoT as backhaul to existing terrestrial networks, improving the overall infrastructure.
Additive Manufacturing
Space manufacturing adopts innovative technologies to improve space products and services. With the advent of advanced robotics, 3D printing, and light-based manufacturing, innovations in the space industry are progressing. Large space structures, reusable launch vehicles, space shuttles, and satellite sensors have become a reality, owing to advancements in manufacturing processes. Additive manufacturing is a key trend but has been primarily limited to non-essential parts such as interior components where mechanical stresses are minimal. But smart material allows manufacturers to deliver stronger and lighter alternatives to parts sourced from conventional materials. With advances in metal 3D printing, additive manufacturing plays a significant role in critical components. Additive manufacturing and 3D printing lowers the production costs of satellites and their components and subsystems. 3D printing small parts of large space structures on the ground and assembling them in space significantly reduces the complexity of space manufacturing. In-space additive manufacturing facilitates the replacement of malfunctioned components and enhances in-orbit satellite upgrade missions. Satellite buses, customized payloads, and rocket engines in satellite launchers are now 3D printed by satellite manufacturers. Startups use 3D printing on a large scale to mass-produce satellites for LEO constellations. Digital twins of complex satellite parts are created, and 3D printed that speed up the prototyping and testing of satellites and their parts, in turn, reducing the manufacturing lead time and costs. This saves the cargo volume and fuel required to put large structures in space.
Spacecraft Propulsion
In-space propulsion is an important subsystem for satellite constellations. High-capacity power and propulsion systems that enable satellites to travel deep into space and perform complex maneuvers are becoming a staple in the industry. Given the costs and environmental impact that come with space missions, companies seek ways to ensure the sustainability of these missions. Innovations such as high-power solar arrays and miniaturization of traditional fuel sources, like battery improvements, are incorporated into new satellites. Startups are restructuring low-weight thrusters for optimized performance and make similar improvements in chemical propulsion for thrusters. Other solutions include electromagnetic-tethering, nuclear, solar, water, laser, and even Iodine-based propulsion.
Flexible Satellite Launches
Flexible and on-demand launches are sought-after by satellite owners due to increasing smallsats and overall satellites launched into orbit. The size and number of satellites determine the requirement of launch vehicles. Air launch to orbit and launches using spacecraft, balloons, autonomous launch vehicles, or drones offer flexible satellite launch techniques that startups are innovating in. Containerization of smallsats for easy launch to LEO constellations is another innovation in ground-based launch services. The biggest advancement in-ground launch systems are the use of reusable rockets for positioning satellites in any orbit. It drastically lowers the launch costs of commercial satellites. As a result, startups developing large, small, and micro launch vehicles catering to all types of satellites.
Advanced Payload Systems
Payloads are the backbone of satellite missions, and their advancement is, therefore, a top satellite technology trend. Payloads now are made reconfigurable using installed software to perform custom functions other than the satellites’ original purpose. This way, old satellites in orbit are repurposed for new missions rather than be decommissioned and added to space debris. Startups find it profitable to use standard and modular payloads instead of custom-made ones. Besides cost consideration, startups use standardized payloads for enhancing satellite quality and capacity. Sophisticated COTS equipment such as high-resolution imaging and spectral sensors like synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and miniaturized transceivers such as foldable antennas are finding a place in standard satellite payloads. Technological advancements also enable startups to make autonomous satellite payloads that perform tasks such as frequency and power allocation to high-demand beams and important subsystems.
Space Mining
The mining of celestial bodies is shifting from science-fiction (Sci-Fi) to reality. Asteroid mining by private individuals and companies through advancements in space cameras and satellites aid in the precise location of asteroids. Once located, these celestial bodies can be used to extract minerals such as platinum, gold, iron, or even water. The economic incentive for space mining is evident and analysts predict that it could potentially translate to a billion-dollar industry.
Space Data Analytics
The large volumes of data collected by satellites pose challenges in data management, analysis, and timely resource management. With large volumes of data from these satellites, there is a need to process, treat, analyze, and manage the information. Startups are tapping into these vast amount of space data using AI, blockchain, and big data to offer data analytics and cyber solutions for the space industry. AI and Machine Learning (ML) are enabling the analysis of satellite data obtained from earth observation (EO), global navigation satellite system (GNSS), and remote sensing. AI-facilitated data analysis on the cloud is paving the way for Ground-Station-as-a-Service solutions. Big data and analytics empower onboard sensors with autonomous data processing capabilities in satellite subsystems, before initiating downstream data transfer.
Advanced Ground Systems
Ground stations use radiofrequency (RF) communication terminals, including electronically steered and phased-array antennas, to track satellites with minimal human intervention. Similarly, the rise of satellite constellations requires modern inter-satellite links for coordinated constellation movement. For this, startups operating earth stations utilize smart RF and optical communication for better in-orbit relays during upstream and downstream data transfer. In addition to existing stations, startups develop decentralized communications terminals for satellite connectivity in moving vehicles and remote locations. On the commercial end, ground stations are empowering software-defined satellites by enabling virtualized ground networks. These solutions enable satellites to autonomously reallocate, reconfigure, and handle massive bandwidth, as per demand, to support a growing number of end-users. Hence innovation in telemetry, tracking, and command-to-control satellites make next-generation ground systems a top satellite technology trend.
Orbital Services
Satellite technology companies are solving two key needs that impacts satellite performance in space - Servicing orbiting satellites and decluttering satellite waste from space. The rise in satellite launches has led operators to use space situational awareness technologies for detecting and cleaning such space debris. Self-destruction and other deorbiting technologies introduced by startups for decommissioning satellites are helping a sustainable space. Another satellite technology to declutter space is by increasing the lifespan of existing satellites. Startups are employing mission extension vehicles to service or upgrade orbiting satellites. Other in-orbit services include orbital transfer vehicles and payload and cargo delivery vehicles. Robotic technology further improves satellite maintenance efficiency by performing in-orbit satellite servicing and repairs.
Space Traffic Management
Activity management is an emerging SpaceTech trend that concerns the management of movement and activity in space. Space activities include tourism, industrial missions, satellite servicing, food production exploration, waste disposal, and space station improvement. Of the man-made LEO satellites, a vast majority of them are now space junk. This includes rocket thrusters, derelict satellites, and most of all, tiny fragments of debris from collisions and explosions. This debris threatens the future of space exploration and travel. To tackle this situation, startups are developing feasible solutions for debris retrieval and space traffic management.
AI in SpaceTech
The aim of the adoption of AI in aerospace is to automate manual processes and eliminate human errors. AI handles more complex problems than humans in a much shorter time and offers ideal outcomes. AI, machine learning, and computer vision, among other AI-related technologies, provide insights into the data by discovering new patterns and relations. AI based technologies aid in various operations like autonomous flights, optimizing routes, asset utilization, and improving fuel efficiency. Satellite ground stations can use AI to command satellites for course correction and resource optimization. AI can also assist human pilots to create an ideal environment with the benefits of having both manned and unmanned maneuverability. Additionally in space, AI can be used for real-time orbit prediction and satellite tracking for enhanced space traffic management. AI-enabled subsystems make autonomous satellite maneuvers such as relative navigation, pre-emptive communications correction, spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and satellite constellation operation possible.
/Service Ventures Team
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