Media Platforms Design Team1990-1993: Post-ShuttleThe space shuttle carries commercial satellites until the 1986 Challenger disaster. Europe’s Ariane 4 fills the void by launching multiple sats at one time.1996-1998: A Bubble InflatesIridium, Globalstar, and Orbcomm constellations launch. But these firms go bankrupt and others dissolve, gut-punching launch providers planning for a boom.2002-2004: Telecom PopsThe U.S. launch industry retreats to the government market. Russia and Europe prepare to pick up the slack by making investments in spaceports and rockets. 2006-2008: Foreign SurgeRussia and Europe assert their dominance as commercial launchers. The U.S. position is worse than shown: The 2008 spike includes five tiny sats on one failed SpaceX launch.2011-2012 Game ChangersSpaceX contracts halt the U.S. decline. China reenters the market as more foreigners make sats, sidestepping U.S. export laws on spaceflight hardware.>«< Up And Down The CapeMedia Platforms Design TeamEight for Orbit »>Media Platforms Design TeamJoe PappalardoJoe Pappalardo is a contributing writer at Popular Mechanics and author of the new book, Spaceport Earth: The Reinvention of Spaceflight.
