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Reusable Suborbital Market Characterization Reusable Suborbital Market Characterization Prepared by The Tauri Group for Space Florida March 2011 Introduction Purpose: Define and characterize the markets reusable suborbital vehicles will address Goals Define market categories Identify market drivers Characterize current activities Provide basis for future market forecasting (Note that this study is not a forecast) Benefits Shared understanding improves quality and productivity of industry discourse A consistent taxonomy enables communications across the community, with Congress, press, and investors Accessible information helps industry participants assess opportunities, plan and coordinate activities, seek funding, and budget Proprietary www.taurigroup.com 2 Agenda Methodology Suborbital spaceflight attributes and vehicles Value proposition Characterization and analysis of markets Commercial human spaceflight Basic and applied research Aerospace technology test and demonstration Remote sensing Education Media & PR Point-to-point transportation Conclusions Proprietary www.taurigroup.com 3 Methodology Literature review and data Analysis and findings collection Vehicles Articles, reports, and publications Payload types Available launch and research Markets datasets Opportunities Applicable payloads Challenges Initial customers Users Interviews Economic buyers Researchers Launch service providers Funding agencies Potential commercial customers Users Proprietary www.taurigroup.com 4 Reusable Suborbital Vehicles Industry catalyzed by Ansari X PRIZE, won in 2004 by SpaceShipOne Of vehicles under development, 5 vehicles submitted data to NASA Flight Opportunities program SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Galactic New Shepard, Blue Origin Xaero, Masten Space Systems Lynx, XCOR Aerospace SuperMod, Armadillo Aerospace Other vehicles have been announced, including those potentially in development by Sierra Nevada, EADS, Dassault Aviation, Rocketplane, Copenhagen Suborbitals Proprietary www.taurigroup.com 5 Reusable Suborbital Spaceflight Attributes Vehicles typically cross the threshold of space (~100km/~62 mi) Safe for human transportation 1 – 4 minutes of microgravity Traverses upper atmospheric regions Substantially reduces cost for space access Anticipation of frequent fights Opportunity for satellite launch Several companies have received deposits Virgin Galactic: 390 customers, $50 million XCOR: $50 million wet leases Proprietary www.taurigroup.com 6 Reusable Suborbital Value Proposition Least expensive access to Longer duration microgravity than space (potential order-of- Drop towers magnitude reduction per Parabolic flights unit mass) Larger payload capacity than Frequent flights Sounding rockets Can carry humans Drop towers Return capability Higher quality microgravity than Potential for launch on demand Parabolic flights Commercial providers Gentler ride than Customer oriented Sounding rockets Flexible Proprietary www.taurigroup.com 7 Defining Suborbital Spaceflight Markets MARKET NAME Market definition here. Markets are Submarket defined based on similar purpose, Submarket activities, and customers (both users Submarket and economic buyers) Each market characterized in terms of Opportunities provided to customers by reusable suborbital spaceflight Challenges to market growth Users of spaceflight Economic buyers of spaceflight Space agencies, military organizations, civil government agencies, colleges and universities, K-12 schools, grant-making foundations, commercial firms, space firms, not-for-profits / NGOs, individuals As markets evolve over time, users and economic buyers may change Suborbital Markets Proprietary www.taurigroup.com 9 PEOPLE CARGO ASSOCIATIONS Commercial Human Spaceflight Human spaceflight experiences for tourism or training Opportunities Users include New and unique offering Space tourists More affordable, easier access to Professional in-space personnel space (astronauts, crew) Networking / prestige for early Economic buyers customers Individuals (High and ultra-high net- May lead to long-term applications worth individuals, space enthusiasts) like adventure sports Space agencies Challenges Space firms High costs Commercial firms Real and perceived safety risks Uncertainty about regulatory requirements Proprietary www.taurigroup.com 11 Basic and Applied Research Challenges Duration is not suitable for all types of space research Frequency of flight opportunities not sufficient for all research objectives Still expensive, with limited access, compared to most non-space research environments Basic and applied research in a Users include number of disciplines, leveraging the Scientists and researchers (includes in-space unique properties of and access to the researchers) space environment and microgravity Engineers and technologists Graduate students Opportunities Students and teachers Access to space Economic buyers Quality microgravity of meaningful duration Space agencies Frequent flight opportunities Civil government agencies (R&D agencies) Within important funding thresholds Colleges and universities Broad range of feasible experiments Not-for-profits / NGOs Payload recovery Grant-making foundations Large payloads Commercial firms Humans and equipment together Military organizations Sensitive equipment and instrumentation Proprietary K-12 schools www.taurigroup.com 12 Basic and Applied Research Biological and Space Science Earth Science Human Research Physical R&D • Heliophysics • Atmospheric science • Large population • Biotechnology • Astrophysics • Weather medical research • Animal biology • Planetary science • Climate variability and change • Space radiation • Carbon cycle and ecosystems • Human health • Cellular biology • Microbiology • Water and energy cycles countermeasures • Plant biology • Earth surface and interior • Exploration medical • Fluid physics • Oceanography capability • Fundamental physics • Behavioral health and performance • Particle conglomeration • Combustion science • Space human factors • Macromolecular crystal growth and habitability • Plasma physics • Materials science and research Basic and Applied Research Submarkets Opportunities: Earth Science Unique and repeated access to mesosphere, thermosphere • Atmospheric composition • Weather and lower ionosphere • Climate variability and change Resolution / field of view niche between aerial and satellite • Carbon cycle and ecosystems Challenges • Water and energy cycles • Earth surface and interior Limited locations Capabilities of existing aerial, space systems Biological and Opportunities Physical R&D Removal of gravity from complex systems • Biotechnology Exposure to vacuum and radiation • Animal biology Challenges • Cellular biology Limited timeline, frequency for some experiments • Microbiology • Plant biology • Fluid physics • Fundamental physics • Particle conglomeration • Combustion science • Macromolecular crystal growth • Plasma physics • MaterialsProprietary science and research www.taurigroup.com 14 Basic and Applied Research Submarkets Opportunities Space Science Access to observations uncompromised by atmospheric disturbance • Heliophysics Space weather measurements • Astrophysics Access to particular wavelengths • Planetary science Challenges Short timeframe for observation Precise pointing required Relatively expensive compared to terrestrial options Opportunities Human Research Sufficient time to practice / demonstrate in-space life saving procedures Easy measurement of physiological mechanisms • Large population medical research Hyper / micro gravity transition • Space radiation Large population datasets (better reflecting general population) • Human health Repeated measurements of the same individual countermeasures Capacity for large imaging equipment • Exploration medical Challenges capability • Behavioral health and Relatively few experiments designed that focus on general human performance health, rather than astronaut health • Space human factors Participation of spaceflight customers, crew, and providers and habitability Proprietary www.taurigroup.com 15 Aerospace Technology Test and Demonstration Aerospace engineering to advance technology maturity or achieve space demonstration, qualification, or certification Opportunities Users include: Suborbital space qualification and testing Engineers and technologists can reduce cost and accelerate TRL Scientists and researchers advancement Graduate students Overcomes “chicken and egg” problem of being demonstrated in space Economic buyers Space agencies Potential value to all space organizations Military organizations Micro / nano satellite launch Space firms More hands-on space project management Colleges and universities Challenges Suborbital provides important, but limited analog to orbital environment Extensive terrestrial test facilities exist Proprietary www.taurigroup.com 16 Remote Sensing REMOTE SENSING Acquisition of imagery of the Earth and Commercial earth imagery Civil earth imagery Earth systems for commercial, civil Military surveillance government, or military applications Opportunities Users include Resolution / field of view niche Current users of aerial / satellite remote between aerial and satellite sensing Safe and responsive intelligence, Warfighters surveillance, and reconnaissance Economic buyers Micro / nano satellite launch Space agencies Challenges Civil government agencies (NOAA, Limited locations USGS,
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