Space Foundation Press Releases

Report reveals space industry at $180 billion, index shows space companies out perform S&P 500 and NASDAQ

Written by: Space Foundation Editorial Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 14, 2006) — Today the Space Foundation publicly released The Space Report: The Guide to Global Space Activity, a new and definitive source for data and analysis about the global space industry, space products, and space services. The book was released in a series of briefings held today in Washington, D.C., and continuing this week in New York City. Among its revelations: the space industry now tops $180 billion in global revenues, and a newly created index of space equities has outperformed both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. “We saw a need for one source for credible and comprehensive information about the space industry worldwide,” said Space Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Elliot G. Pulham. “The Space Foundation’s Research and Analysis enterprise produced The Space Report to bring together that data and provide a useful tool for analysis and forecasting.” The Tauri Group, known for its objective, credible and in-depth research, served as technical lead, providing research, data and analysis for this definitive report. The Space Report identifies nine distinct sectors for global space activities and describes the full range of space activities: space infrastructure, space products and services, space revenues and government budgets, how space products and services are used, their impact, and the outlook for the future. Among its key findings, The Space Reportconcludes that space activities accounted for about $180 billion in government budgets and industry revenues worldwide in 2005.

  • $110 billion comes from global commercial space revenue, from infrastructure, infrastructure support services, satellite services and transportation-based services
  • $70 billion is from international government expenditures from civilian and military agencies
  • $57 billion or about one-third is attributable to U.S. government expenditures
  • $80 billion or nearly half is attributable to satellite-based products and services
  • Commercial transportation services (space tourism) accounts only for less than one percent

More than 50 industry leaders interviewed for The Space Report identified trends in technology, policy and business that make up the outlook for the global space industry. Additionally, The Space Report introduces the Space Foundation Space Index, which follows 30 companies that derive a significant portion of revenue from space activities through the same approach that Wall Street and investors use to track companies. The Space Foundation Space Index increased by more than eight percent and outperformed the NASDAQ and S&P 500 indices by two to three percent during a 12 month period from June 2005 to June 2006. The Space Report includes more than 150 pages of authoritative content, rich with tables, charts, graphs, photographs, and more than 450 detailed citations and endnotes. Peer reviewers were Dr. Henry R. Hertzfeld, research professor of Space Policy and International Affairs, Space Policy Institute, The Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University; Kevin W. Leclaire, managing partner, ISDR Consulting; Dr. Scott Pace, associate administrator for Program and Analysis Evaluation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and Damon R. Wells, senior policy analyst, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “The broad range of participation and interest from leaders across the space industry demonstrates that people understand the need for and the value of The Space Report,” said Tauri Group Managing Partner Carissa Christensen. Copies of The Space Report can be ordered online from www.theSpaceReport.org. The printed book or searchable CD-ROM is available for $35; the e-book is available for $25. The Executive Summary of The Space Report is available free of charge online as a PDF. About the Space Foundation Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that vigorously advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and inspires, enables, and propels tomorrow’s explorers. The Space Foundation has offices in Washington, D.C., and Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Space Foundation’s signature event, the National Space Symposium, is scheduled for April 9-12, 2007, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. Along with partnering organizations, the Space Foundation also conducts Strategic Space and Defense, Oct. 9-11, 2007, in Omaha, Neb. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.


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