6,500 Earth Observation Satellites Will Be Launched by 2035 and Generate $160B in Revenue. Why Countries are Investing in Space Defense

Published Aug 26, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT

Space defense and equipment can make or break military defense systems in years to come.

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Published Aug 26, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT

The jury is out on whether space is actually the final frontier. What we do know is that nations all over the globe are looking above when channeling the next generation of defense technology. More than 6,500 Earth observation (EO) satellites are expected to launch by 2035, generating roughly $160 billion in manufacturing revenues as governments expand sovereign intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, according to a new Earth Observation Satellite Systems report from Novaspace, a global consulting firm in the space sector. The EO market is entering what Novaspace describes as "a new phase of growth" that encapsulates governments, defense organizations and commercial operators that are seeking greater access in an era of swift change. Modified requirements are occurring in real time as past performance measures like image resolution have taken a backseat to revisit rates, persistence, wide-area coverage, interoperability, and access to multiple intelligence sources.