AM for Satellites: a 3D Printing Market Opportunity

Built on proprietary AM Research market data, this report analyzes the rapid expansion in satellite launches and the AM industry's potential to penetrate that market.

The satellite industry has seen remarkable growth over the last decade, with a realistic possibility for even more significant growth in the decade ahead. Strategic competition between the world's most industrialized nations - "the new space race" - has led to drastic changes in how satellites are manufactured, driven to no small degree by the AM industry. Still, for the satellite industry to meet its increasingly ambitious output goals, it will have to match and exceed its demonstrated willingness to constantly innovate.

This report forecasts that by 2033 at least half of the parts on launched satellites could be produced with AM. In step, AM Research sees the market for metal AM hardware dedicated to satellite industry production growing than more than four times its current size during the same period.

Market data, penetration rates, and forecasting are built using proprietary modeling and existing AM Research market data and deepened and contextualized by exhaustive research and direct interviews with several industry players. The written report comes along with a companion Excel market data file.

Companies and organizations mentioned or profiled include but are not limited to: SpaceX, SWISSto12, NASA, the Department of Defense, Sidus Space, Markforged, Thales Alenia Space, Velo3D, and Maxar Technologies.

AM Research's reports are intended as key strategic inputs for all senior executives planning 3D printing product/market strategies and for investors who are looking to take equity positions in 3D printing firms. AM Research also offers customized consulting and due diligence analysis.