Commercial Space Industry Launches a New Phase

reportActive / Technical Report | Accesssion Number: AD1170026 | Open PDF

Abstract:

Rockets, satellites, and the services they provide, once the domain of governments, are increasingly launched and managed by privately owned companies. Until 1982, the U.S. government launched all civil and commercial payloads into orbit, and U.S. launch vehicle manufacturers produced vehicles only under contract to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) or the Department of Defense (DOD). Most of the satellites they carried into orbit were owned by U.S. or foreign government agencies. Now, commercial payloads are generally launched by private providers, and the payloads themselves are increasingly likely to be owned by private entities: Of the 576 U.S.-owned satellites currently in orbit, 286 were launched for commercial reasons and another 12 on behalf of academic users.

Author(s):
Canis, Bill
Author Organization(s):
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC
Funding Organization(s):
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC, WASHINGTON DC , DC
Document Type:
Technical Report/Research Report
Publication Date:
2016 Dec 12
Pagination:
23

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution Code:
A - Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement: Public Release

RECORD

Collection: TRECMS
Subject Terms
Communities of Interest:
Space
Descriptor(s):
space transportation, national security, spacecraft, spacecraft orbits, control systems, space systems, congress, small satellites, department of state, law, employment, geosynchronous orbits, low earth orbits, united states government, 5g wireless networks, artificial satellites, earth orbits
Keyword(s):
private companies, commercial space industry, Commercial Space Launch Act, launch services
Subject Categories:
Space Technology; Space Technology; Space Technology
Creation Date:
2022 May 27
Update Date:
2022 Jun 24