The Evolution of Medium/Heavy-Lift and Reusable Launch Vehicles and Its Implications for Smallsat Access to Space

Mowry, Clay; Grasso, Michael

The advent of reusable commercial medium−/heavy-lift launch vehicles will drive growth in the small satellite (smallsat) industry by enabling low-cost access to space for constellation operators in geosynchronous orbits (GEO) and non-geosynchronous orbits (NGSO). Innovations in reusability, high-performance engines, and larger payload fairings are changing the economics of launch, providing significant value to smallsat operators. Reusable, medium−/heavy-lift launch vehicles like Blue Origin’s New Glenn and SpaceX’s Falcon offerings offer smallsat operators affordable access to space and significant value in the form of decreasing time to market, rapid fleet refresh, and solution scalability. This article describes how the evolution of space launch capabilities will impact the smallsat industry. Specifically, it describes the developments in the launch services market, smallsat operator launch preferences, and the enabling role played by heavy-lift vehicles.