Space Economy Value Chain - Australia

Table Of Contents

Australian Space Sector
Activities Included in the Space Sector

Manufacturing and Core Inputs
Space Operations
Space Applications
Enablers

Space Sector Activities Examples

The following definitions are taken from this Australian Space Agency document.

Australian Space Sector

The Australian space sector is defined as a set of space-related activities along the space value chain and is part of the broader space economy.

All actors (private, public and academic) participating in production, operation, supply and enablement activities that form the space value chain are part of the space sector.

Space value chain segments broadly include:

manufacturing and core inputs (Ground and Space segment manufacturing and services)
space operations
space applications
enablers (such as regulation and essential service delivery, infrastructure and capabilities, research, development and engineering, and specialised support services).

While the space sector captures the provision of space related goods, services and applications to broader industries, it does not include subsequent non-space (value adding) activities that are enabled by space activities (such as food grown using precision agriculture techniques). These flow-on activities are captured by the broader space economy.

The definition of the Australian space sector is based upon the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) definition for the space economy.

Activities Included in the Space Sector

Manufacturing and Core Inputs

Ground segment manufacturing and services:

The building and integration of ground-based facilities and equipment that perform space-related activities. Associated services, such as maintenance, are included within this category. For example, manufacturing a satellite dish and control facility that will receive data from, and transmit to, a satellite.

Space segment manufacturing and services:

The building and integration of items to go into space, including spacecraft, satellites, payloads and products to be used in space. For example, manufacturing a satellite that will perform earth observation.

Space Operations

Launch activities, the management of objects in space, and activities associated with using and managing satellites in space. It also includes operations and remote operations conducted in space. For example, launching the satellite into space, monitoring space debris, or providing instructions to a satellite for earth observation images to capture.

Space Applications

The use of space-derived resources to create usable and useful products and services, including software, hardware and publications, and services provided across the economy. Further, the application of space technologies and data to improve other areas of the economy. For example, producing the hardware and software to process earth observation imagery or direct to home television (DTH TV).

Enablers

Regulation and essential service delivery:

Policy and regulatory enablers of the space sector as a whole. For example, regulating launch safety.

Infrastructure and capabilities:

Infrastructure, both physical and intangible, that supports the space sector as a whole. It also includes the development of capabilities that are relevant to, and support, the development of the space sector. For example, roads and utilities that service a remote launch facility or education in engineering disciplines required to operate satellites.

Research, development and engineering:

Research, development and engineering that supports the activities of the space sector, including experimental and exploratory activities, and activities which test and refine technologies. For example, research into new extreme temperature resistant technologies or new data transfer processes.

Specialised support services:

The range of professional support services which directly contribute to, and enable, the activities that comprise the space sector. For example, a law firm that specialises in space law to help a launch operator manage their space-related activity and legal compliance.

Space Sector Activities Examples

Manufacturing and core inputs (ground segment manufacturing and services):

building of facilities and equipment on Earth for satellite and space craft operations (for example, control centres, telemetry and antennae)
integration of facilities and equipment on Earth for satellite and space craft operations (for example, control centres, telemetry and antennae)
building of launch vehicles and subsystems, scientific instruments, ground segment systems and equipment
integration of launch vehicles and subsystems, scientific instruments, ground segment systems and equipment
services associated with ground segments (for example, day-to-day professional and technical operations of ground segment systems).

Manufacturing and core inputs (space segment manufacturing and services):

building of spacecraft, and any components thereof including propulsion systems, rockets, space craft and satellites
integration of spacecraft, and any components thereof including propulsion systems, rockets, space craft and satellites
building of payloads and their components, including but not limited to satellites, subsystems, and scientific instruments
integration of payloads and their components, including but not limited to satellites, subsystems, and scientific instruments
manufacturing of products for use in-space (for example, space suits and flight suits)
services associated with space segment manufacturing (for example, day-to-day professional and technical operations of space segment systems).

Space operations:

launch activities and launch services (for example, launch of a rocket from within Australia)
space object tracking and mission planning, including day-to-day management of satellites and spacecraft once they are in space (for example, telemetry, tracking and control, satellite passes), and space situational awareness (for example, monitoring, recovery operations and collision avoidance)
lease or sale of satellite capacity
uplinks and downlinks for signal processing to reception facility
operations and remote operations in space (for example, robotics in orbit and on the surface of the Moon or other celestial bodies, experiments conducted in space relating to biology, effects of microgravity on the human body, microgravity manufacturing in space).

Space applications:

satellite communications and broadband products and services (for example, mobile satellite communications, satellite internet systems, satellite data, satellite imaging and all other non-television satellite broadcasting, Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) transponder leasing, FSS managed services, direct to node communications)
direct to home television products and services
earth observation and associated communication and data products and services for use in other areas of the economy (for example, in weather, surveillance, agriculture, transportation and mining)
global positioning, navigation and timing products and services, GNSS services
advanced manufacturing and/or development of hardware that enables the transformation of space-derived resources into a usable/useful format (for example, network ground equipment and antennae such as antennae for satellite direct to home television, earth observation equipment, laser communications, chipsets and applications, cyber security and secure communication hardware)
development of software that enables the transformation of space-derived resources into a usable/useful format (for example, Earth observation software, cyber security and secure communication software, artificial intelligence for on-board satellite data processing)
internet of Things services for sensors and sensor networks using satellites
functional publications, such as atlases and maps, that use space-based data.