spacetoday.net: Report predicts modest increase in commercial launches next year

Posted: Wed, Oct 3, 2001, 12:00 AM ET (0400 GMT)
Delta 4 illustration

A report published Monday by the Futron Corporation predicts that there will be a modest increase in the number of commercial satellites launched in 2002 after a precipitous drop this year. The report estimates that 20 commercial GEO satellites will be launched in 2002, compared with 16 the report estimates will be launched by the end of 2001, but still down from the 30 launched in 2000. The report calls 2001 "one of the worst years" in the history of the commercial space industry, but notes that the sharp drop in 2001 was simply the result of the cyclical nature of the satellite market, which should rebound in the next few years. American launch vehicles, forecast to launch just one commercial GEO satellite in 2001, should launch more in 2002 if the new generation of launch vehicles, the Atlas 5 and Delta 4, enter service successfully next year.