Bulk-buy practices by satellite operators foster further commercialization of launch services industry : Quarterly Launch Report : special report

PDFResearch PaperCommercial space transportationArtificial satellitesLaunchingFederal governmentMarket shareBulk cargoProcurementProduct developmentUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Aviation AdministrationUnited States. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space TransportationNTL-AVIATION-Aviation Economics and FinanceNTL-AVIATION-Aviation - Newsletters & JournalsUS Transportation CollectionThe satellite launch industry has steadily grown and matured to take on the features of a truly commercial industry. This year, commercial launches outnumber government launches for the first time. New launch systems, such as the Delta 3, Sea Launch, and H2A, are in development, supported almost entirely by commercial launch demand. An emergingdevelopment in the launch services business is the commercial bulk buy of launch vehicle services (that is, the commercial purchase of several launch opportunities through a single procurement, even when specific payloads may not have been selected for those launches). In the past, launch services were arranged for one or two satellites at a time, sometimes with options for more launches to be provided to thesatellite operator at a later date