Rapp, Lucien and Dos Santos, Victor (2015) Satellite Miniaturization are new entrants about to threaten existing space industry ? In: Global Space Governance Mc Gill University Press Centre for Research in Air and Space Law. Series “Monograph series (Institute of Air and Space Law) ; 3” Montréal

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Abstract

Over the past few years, a large number of companies have entered the space sector. Their activities are based on the use of relatively inexpensive small satellites, which enable these companies to provide services equivalent to those of companies that traditionally serve government agencies or public sector industries.These new entrants have started to conquer significant market shares to the detriment of existing operators, but their definitive position on the space industry market depends largely on the innovative character of their technologies. It does not seem that small satellites can be considered a disruptive innovation. At least not in terms of the characteristics they currently offer. On the other hand, the generalized use of small satellites could potentially lead to two equally plausible scenarios: the progressive obsolescence of existing operators' economic models could in time lead to their disappearance and trigger a speculative bubble that could cause more damage than the one observed during the course of the 1990s.