Small satellites take big steps across Asia

摘要

Satellite manufacturing is big, expensive, business. Space mission costs, including satellite production, insurance and launch services, can easily exceed US$200m. These astronomical costs have traditionally kept many countries from investing in their own space programmes, meaning that only the richest nations like the USA, Russia and China have highly-developed space industries. However, with the advent of small satellites, it has become possible for smaller countries and commercial organizations to begin their own space programmes. Satellite Evolution takes a look at recent developments in the field of small satellites and some of the Asian countries currently taking major steps in space.