Analysis
Payload’s take on what you need to know about the news of the day.
BlackSky’s Gen-3 Sat Enters Orbit, Company Lands String of Contracts
BlackSky launched its first Gen-3 Earth observation satellites aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket yesterday, adding higher-resolution imaging to its data offerings.
Direct-to-Cell Pricing Revealed, Market Impact: Analysis
The most exciting moment of Sunday’s Super Bowl was finally getting concrete direct-to-cell pricing numbers.
Tracking US Mobile Satellite Service Spectrum
The MSS landscape is about to evolve rapidly as incumbents form new partnerships to ride the D2D wave while new entrants work to get access to the valuable MSS spectrum.
Report Argues For More Competition In Launch Sector
America’s success is SpaceX’s success. More than five out of every six US launches is a SpaceX mission, according to the report.
Estimating SpaceX’s 2024 Revenue
Payload is back with our SpaceX revenue breakdown. In 2024, we estimate SpaceX’s revenue reached $13.1B in 2024, up from $8.7B in 2023. Business line estimates:
US Launches 122 Defense Payloads in 2024, Europe Launches 1
The US launched 122 defense payloads in 2024, surging 184% YoY, according to data compiled by astronomer Jonathan McDowell. The upswing was driven by the National Reconnaissance Office’s deployment of 106 SpaceX and Northrop-built Starshield remote sensing recon satellites.
Underutilized Capacity on Dedicated Customer Falcon 9 Rides: Payload Research
Based on publicly available data from 20 launches with published payload mass numbers over the past three years, dedicated customer LEO launches have averaged just 3,370 kg of payload, just 19% of total capacity.
2024 Orbital Launch Attempts by Country
In 2024, US (*ahem, SpaceX*) launch numbers grew, while China, Russia, and Europe plateaued.
Tracking Cash Flow Through the 2024 Space Stocks Rally
Hockeystick SPAC charts. Wallstreetbets Reddit page buzz. Short squeezes. Everything to the Moon euphoria.
Three VC Investors Weigh in on the State of Investing in Space
Space is a nascent market with vast, unbounded potential, where an early-stage startup can become a dominant business integral to the very infrastructure of the space economy for decades to come.
SpaceX Leadership Map Out the Future of the Starship Program
Over the past few weeks—with growing confidence in the Starship program—SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and Starbase General Manager Kathy Lueders have been publicly mapping out what to expect from SpaceX and Starship in the coming years.
The Starliner Investment Case and Potential Buyers: Payload Research
First, a ULA sale process, now Starliner.
