The commercial communications satellite industry was on track for continued growth this year, with companies focused on innovative systems with greater effective capacity and lower on-orbit costs. Investments increased in flexible payloads capable of allocating bandwidth and power across multiple beams in response to dynamic service demands. There is also growing interest in all-electric and hybrid propulsion systems that will lower launch costs. Through August, 18 geosynchronous communications satellite contracts were awarded: six to Space Systems/Loral, five to Thales Ale-nia Space, three (including two with all-electric propulsion) to Airbus Defence & Space, two to Dauria Aerospace and one each to Orbital Sciences and Boeing. This pace suggests 27 satellite awards by year's end, indicating continued expansion over the 25 awards in 2013 and 16 in 2012. A mid-year Satellite Industry Association report confirmed industry expansion outpacing global economic growth.
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