Cubesat Global Market Report 2025

A cubesat is a type of miniaturized satellite developed for space research and technology demonstration. It typically features a standardized cubic structure measuring 10 X 10 X 10 cm per unit, allowing multiple units to be combined to enhance functionality and capability. Designed to be low-cost and lightweight, cubesats are usually launched as secondary payloads alongside larger satellites, enabling quick deployment of experiments and technology validation in orbit.

The primary sizes of cubesats include 1U, 2U, 3U, 6U, and 12U. A 1U cubesat is a compact 10 X 10 X 10 cm satellite weighing approximately 1 kg, primarily designed for low-cost educational, experimental, or technology demonstration missions in space. They consist of several subsystems such as payloads, structures, electrical power systems, command and data handling, propulsion systems, attitude determination and control systems, and others. Cubesats are utilized for diverse applications including communication, earth observation, traffic monitoring, meteorology, science, technology, education, space observation, and other purposes. They are deployed by various end-users such as academic institutions, commercial organizations, defense agencies, government entities, non-profit organizations, and others.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

The cubesat market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides cubesat market statistics, including cubesat industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the cubesat market share, cubesat market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the cubesat industry. This cubesat market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The cubesat market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $0.56 billion in 2024 to $0.65 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising interest in space exploration and interplanetary missions, growing utilization of cubesats for communication and internet of things (IoT) applications, increasing number of commercial space launches, rising collaboration between universities and space agencies, and growing demand for real-time data and remote sensing solutions.

The cubesat market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.11 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing deployment of cubesat constellations for connectivity, growing demand for climate and environmental monitoring, rising investments in commercial space ventures, increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for satellite operations, and expanding use of cubesats for earth observation. Key trends in the forecast period include integration of cubesats with AI and IoT technologies, incorporation of modular satellite designs for enhanced flexibility, advancements in propulsion and communication systems, developments in miniaturized sensors and payloads, and integration of reusable launch technologies for improved cost efficiency.

The increasing demand for earth observation data is expected to drive the growth of the cubesat market in the coming years. Earth observation data refers to information gathered from satellites, airborne sensors, and ground-based systems that monitor and measure the Earth's physical, chemical, and biological systems, including land, oceans, and atmosphere. The demand for earth observation data is increasing due to the growing need for accurate, real-time insights to address climate change, natural disaster management, and sustainable resource planning, as governments, research institutions, and private organizations increasingly depend on satellite-based data to support informed decision-making and policy development. Cubesats support earth observation data collection by offering a cost-effective, flexible, and rapidly deployable platform equipped with advanced miniaturized sensors that enable frequent, high-resolution monitoring of the planet's surface, atmosphere, and oceans, thereby improving environmental analysis, disaster management, and global sustainability initiatives. For instance, in August 2023, according to Spire Global Inc., a US-based space-to-cloud data and analytics company, the company received a $6.5 million, 12-month contract renewal to continue its participation in NASA's commercial smallsat data acquisition (CSDA) program, marking a $500,000 increase over the previous $6 million contract awarded in June 2022. Therefore, the increasing demand for earth observation data is fueling the growth of the cubesat market.

Major companies operating in the cubesat market are focusing on developing innovative solutions such as miniaturized modular satellite systems to enhance mission flexibility, reduce launch costs, and accelerate space-based data collection. Miniaturized modular satellite systems are compact, standardized satellite units that can be easily assembled and customized for specific missions, helping reduce development time, lower launch costs, and increase flexibility in deploying space-based technologies. For instance, in March 2024, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a US-based space agency, launched four small satellites known as CubeSats to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of its Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa 51) mission. These CubeSats, named Big Red Sat-1, BurstCube, SNoOPI, and HyTI, were developed by NASA centers and partner universities to advance scientific research and technology demonstrations in space. Each satellite carries specific instruments and objectives. Big Red Sat-1, built by a student team from Nebraska, is designed to test the performance of next-generation perovskite solar cells. BurstCube, developed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, aims to detect high-energy phenomena such as gamma-ray bursts and solar flares. SNoOPI focuses on measuring root-zone soil moisture and snowpack water content to support agricultural and environmental monitoring. HyTI, developed by the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa, employs a hyperspectral thermal imager to map water resources and study crop water use across the globe.

In October 2024, Lockheed Martin Corporation, a US-based aerospace and defense technology company, acquired Terran Orbital Corporation for $450 million. Through this acquisition, Lockheed Martin aimed to strengthen its small satellite manufacturing capabilities and reinforce its position in next-generation space systems. Terran Orbital Corporation is a US-based satellite manufacturing company specializing in the design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and in-orbit support of small satellites and satellite buses.

Major companies operating in the cubesat market are The Boeing Company, Airbus S.A.S., Lockheed Martin Corporation, OHB SE, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Planet Labs Inc., EnduroSat Ltd., GomSpace Group AB, NanoAvionika UAB, AAC Clyde Space AB, Astrocast SA, Satellogic S.A., Busek Co. Inc., Berlin Space Technologies GmbH, CU Aerospace L.L.C., Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Inc., Interorbital Systems Inc., SERENUM a.s., Exobotics Inc., Pumpkin Inc.

North America was the largest region in the cubesat market in 2024. The regions covered in cubesat report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

The countries covered in the cubesat market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The cubesat market consists of sales of solar panels and batteries, propulsion systems, reaction wheels and magnetorquers, communication subsystems, telemetry software, mission control and satellite operations software, data processing and analytics tools, and environmental testing and integration equipment. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Cubesat Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses on cubesat market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for cubesat ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The cubesat market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include:

The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.

• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it emerges from the crisis and suggests how companies can grow as the market recovers.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Size: 1 U; 2 U; 3 U; 6 U; 12 U
• 2) By Subsystem: Payloads; Structures; Electrical Power Systems; Command And Data Handling; Propulsion Systems; Attitude Determination And Control System; Other Subsystems
• 3) By Application: Communication; Earth Observation; Traffic Monitoring; Meteorology; Science, Technology, and Education; Space Observation; Other Applications
• 4) By End-User: Academic; Commercial; Defense; Government; Non-profit Organizations; Other End-Users
• Companies Mentioned: The Boeing Company; Airbus S.A.S.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; OHB SE; Sierra Nevada Corporation; Planet Labs Inc.; EnduroSat Ltd.; GomSpace Group AB; NanoAvionika UAB; AAC Clyde Space AB; Astrocast SA; Satellogic S.A.; Busek Co. Inc.; Berlin Space Technologies GmbH; CU Aerospace L.L.C.; Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Inc.; Interorbital Systems Inc.; SERENUM a.s.; Exobotics Inc.; Pumpkin Inc.
• Countries: