Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) Market

A rocket called a Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) is made to carry payloads weighing no more than a few hundred kilograms into Earth's orbit. Rocket Lab, Virgin Orbit, and Astra Space are significant market participants in the SLV sector.

Arianespace, Astra Space, Inc., Galactic Energy (Beijing) Space Technology Co., Ltd., China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), IHI Aerospace Co., Ltd., Interorbital System, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

A significant market for SLVs is the Asia-Pacific region, where nations like China, Japan, and India have made significant investments in the growth of their SLV capacities.

Small satellites are becoming more popular due to their low cost and the ease with which they can be launched and deployed. Improvements in rocket propulsion systems, avionics, and materials have made it possible to build and run smaller, more efficient satellites.

The SLV market is highly regulated, which can result in additional costs and delays to the development and launch processes. SLVs compete with other launch solutions like small CubeSats standardized satellites that can be launched as secondary payloads on bigger rockets. Developing and launching SLVs is an expensive endeavor, making it difficult for smaller companies and organizations to enter the market.