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Government and commercial companies will launch an average of 140 satellites each year over the next decade at a total cost of $255bn, according to a report by consulting firm Euroconsult.

Around 75% of the launches will be initiated by the governments of 60 countries.

The report ‘Satellites to be Built and Launched by 2024’ stated that ten countries with established space industries, the US, Russia, China, Japan, India and Europe (France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Spain), will account for 90% of the future government market.

"Ten countries with established space industries…will account for 90% of the future government market."

The remaining 50 countries are expected to launch twice the number of satellites than those done over the past ten years, totalling around 200. Almost half of these satellites are expected to be procured from foreign manufacturers, as domestic industry capabilities will still be in development stages in these countries.

Euroconsult principal advisor and editor of the report Rachel Villain said: "The increase in satellite number would be significantly higher if two mega-constellation projects for small communications satellites were included in the forecast.

"The 1,400 satellite count over the decade already includes 350 satellites to be deployed by ten commercial constellations into low or medium-Earth orbits for communication or Earth observation."

Around 550 satellites will be launched by 40 companies in the commercial space sector. Most of them are expected to replace the communications capacity currently in orbit.

Image: Artist concept of Nasa’s Space Launch System. Photo: courtesy of Nasa / MSFC.