Analysis
Payload’s take on what you need to know about the news of the day.
US Space Companies Make a Run at Europe
After years of investor malaise and memes about the region’s lack of innovation, investing in the EU is suddenly back in vogue.
SDA’s Tranche 0 Satellites Criticized, Tranche 1 Delayed
The Space Development Agency (SDA) announced last week it is pushing the launch of its Tranche 1 satellites until late summer due to system readiness and supply chain issues.
New Satellite Constellation Companies are in Decline
The number of new satellite constellation businesses has sharply declined over the past decade as the space market matures and new startups struggle to find angles to differentiate.
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.
