Paris, France – May 2026 – The 11th edition of Novaspace’s Prospects for the Small Satellite Market report forecasts 16,900 small satellites (under 500 kg) to be launched between 2026 and 2035. This equates to an average of 230 tons per year, or approximately 640 kg launched daily, driven by growing sovereign constellation demand.
Smallsats are expected to account for 33% of all satellites launched over the period, but only 6% of total mass, underscoring the continued dominance of larger systems in overall launch weight. While large-scale constellations such as Starlink continue to influence demand, market expansion is increasingly supported by a broader base of national and regional programs.
“The smallsat market is entering a more mature phase, where industrial maturity, production readiness, and secure access to demand will determine who succeeds,” said Julie Taillandier, Senior Consultant at Novaspace. “The key question is no longer who has a concept, but who can execute at scale.”
Investment remains strong. In 2025, smallsat-related private funding reached approximately $11.5 billion, supporting the transition from concept to deployment and reinforcing the scalability of next-generation constellations and missions.
