Space Sensors and Actuators Market

^{_{Update: 10/22/2024}}

The Space Sensors and Actuators Market is projected to grow from USD 2.7 Billion in 2022 to USD 4.9 Billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 12.7% from 2022 to 2027. Significant investments in the space industry by private players, such as SpaceX, Astrobotic Technology, Blue Origin, iSpace, and Northrop Grumman Corporation, are driving the Space Sensors and Actuators Industry. Factors such as advancements in robotic technology, efficient propulsion, lower mission costs, availability of commercial-off-the-shelf components, and other technological advancements have trimmed the costs of space launches. This has enabled the preparation and launch of space missions at affordable prices, thus attracting the interest of private companies. The development of cost-effective components using technologies such as additive manufacturing and the increasing space exploration budgets of emerging countries have also contributed to the growth of the space sensors and actuators market for planetary exploration.

Space Sensors and Actuators Market Forecast to 2027

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Space Sensors and Actuators  Market Dynamics

Driver: Increasing adoption of electro-hydrostatic actuators in space applications

Electrohydrostatic Actuators, often known as power by wire, are displacing hydraulic systems in favour of self-contained actuators that are powered only by electricity. Servomotors, hydraulic pumps, accumulators, and servo actuators are frequently found in them. Due to their built-in pump, EHAs eliminate the need for additional hydraulic pumps and tubing, simplifying system topologies and enhancing safety and dependability. Although it was initially created for the aerospace sector, this technology has subsequently been used to several other sectors, including space, where hydraulic power is widely employed. Solutions for two-fault tolerant, extremely dependable steering control are provided by electrohydrostatic (EHA) actuators. In EHA actuation, the motor operates through gears and a standard hydraulic piston is directly actuated by a pump's output.. On manned space launch vehicles, steering controls using EHA actuation are a possibility . The continued development of EHAs in space applications has put forward an increasing demand for EHA pumps for their high power density. In 2020, EHAs were used for primary flight control surfaces (Elevon, Body Flap, and Rudder) in the SL-12 reusable space shuttle.

Restraints: Sensor and actuator technology maturity for surface missions

Sending or launching manned and unmanned space exploration to destinations beyond GEO is a technologically, programmatically, and politically complicated attempt. NASA’s Mars 2020 rover mission is a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the Red Planet. The Mars 2020 mission addresses high-priority sensors and actuators technologies for Mars exploration, including key questions about the potential for life on Mars. The mission also provides opportunities to gather knowledge and demonstrate sensors and actuators technologies that address the challenges of future human expeditions to Mars.

Furthermore, the designing and integrating complex devices require special skillsets, robust methodology, and a particular toolset, which increase the overall cost of the devices. Consequently, the high cost of the devices is expected to hamper the switching process toward advanced technological devices. Subsequently, evolving technologies generate demand for more functionalities to be integrated into system-on-chips (SoCs), making devices smaller and more efficient. Sensor and actuator technology investments are addressing crucial issues for future outer space exploration architectures. A significant concern with the current planetary exploration technology program is the seeming lack of innovation in sensors and actuators at the front end of the development pipeline. Advances in this core technology will benefit almost all planetary missions. National aerospace agencies and trade organizations will expand their investment plans in these sensor and actuator technologies to reduce planetary mission costs and scientific capabilities as the dual goal of sensors.

Opportunities: Use of solar MEMS technology in new space projects

Solar MEMS leverage Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technologies applied to high-precision solar sensors for correct functioning and optimization of satellites. Solar sensors have many spatial applications such as light-source tracking, pointing systems, attitude control, sun radiation measurements, solar tracking platform controllers, and drone attitude determination, among many others. Solar MEMS technology is focused on the design, development, and commercialization of sun sensors for high technology applications, like research, satellites, or solar power generation. Solar MEMS has been established as one of the main sun sensor providers for nanosat and microsat missions in the space industry and maintains a consolidated position with customers all over the world, and more than 100 flight model sensors delivered. There are two new products under development like Star Tracker for Nanosatellites (STNS) and Horizon Sensor for Nanosatellites (HSNS).

Star Tracker for Nanosatellites (STNS) is a low-cost star tracker based on a CMOS image sensor for accurate satellite attitude determination. The device determines the orientation of the satellite in an absolute reference frame, providing high sensitivity. STNS has minimum size, weight, and power consumption to be the perfect ADCS solution for nanosatellite platforms like Cubesats. STNS has been selected to be launched in 2021 for an ESA mission.

Horizon Sensor for Nanosatellites (HSNS) is a two-axis, low-cost Earth sensor for accurate nadir-tracking and attitude determination. The device measures the nadir position in both azimuth and elevation, using its four optic heads in a differential processing method.

Challenges: Hazard posed due to radiation damage and corrosive atmospheres

The spacecraft when leaves the earth atmosphere there are many environment changes such as change in temperature, pressure which needs to be handled by electronics, sensors, and actuators. Electrostatic discharge can be caused by heavily contaminated surfaces. Charging and discharging can damage satellites. A change in a satellite's electrostatic potential with regard to the low-density plasma around it is referred to as satellite charging. The satellite's design and orbit determine the scope of the charging. The two main charging techniques are photoelectric effects and plasma bombardment.. Satellites in geosynchronous orbit have been observed to experience discharges of up to 20,000 volts. About 96% of the atmosphere in LEO is made up of atomic oxygen. Organic compounds on the outside of spacecraft can react with atomic oxygen and deteriorate over time. On NASA's initial space shuttle flights, when the presence of atomic oxygen caused issues, material deterioration by atomic oxygen was detected.

Temperatures in space can range from extremely cold, hundreds of degrees below freezing, to many hundreds of degrees above, especially if spacecraft ventures close to the Sun. Although there is no air in space, energy is carried by radiation, usually coming from the Sun, which causes heating when absorbed by spacecraft, planets, or other celestial bodies. Depending on where in space the sensors and actuators are intended to operate, engineers build in either cooling systems or insulators. Radiation in space can be split into 'trapped' and 'transient' types. The trapped particles are the subatomic particles, mainly protons and electrons, trapped by the Earth's magnetic field. Transient radiation is mainly composed of protons and cosmic rays that constantly stream through space and are enhanced during the magnetic storms on the Sun. With increase in temperature or radiation, sensor performance gets damped due to corrosion or damaged chip. When this radiation collides with sensors and actuators, it can change the contents of memory cells or destroy the actuators. The effect of radiation on sensors may cause spurious currents to flow around the craft or even burn out computer chips that handle sensors as well as actuators. It can be avoided by radiation-hardening the IC or sensors. Many agencies and private entities are investing heavily in R&D of space-hardening or radiation-hardening of space sensors so that radiation will not damp or affect the performance of space sensors.

Sensors segment of the space sensors and actuators market by product type is projected to witness the highest CAGR during forecast period.

Based on product type, the studied market is segmented into sensors and actuators. Space sensors and actuators are complicated in comparison to other spacecraft and rover APPLICATIONs. They are used based on specific technology for each mission. For example, weather monitoring small satellites have sensors that can measure wind speed and direction, changes in temperature, the amount of oxygen available, the effect of UV rays and actuators are used for calibrating the position of satellite for taking pictures or for getting maximum power generation through sun using solar panels by positing the satellite at a particular direction/position. Space observation satellites have MEMS-based actuators and radiation-hardened sensors to measure the effect of radiation on end users, electro-optical sensors for imaging, and solar cells to charge the battery, along with a Geiger counter to measure the amount of radiation reaching the satellite. Space sensors are playing a vital role in ensuring spacecraft, launch vehicles, interplanetary probes, and lander or rover APPLICATIONs perform as intended, with maximum reliability and at the lowest possible cost for commercial and environmental missions. The ESA Copernicus program uses Teledyne e2v’s sensors for constellations that require high-resolution detectors.

The sensors segment is divided into various types includes pressure sensors, attitude measurement, humidity/temperature sensors, image sensors, position and velocity sensors, GPS sensors, vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) photodetectors, spectrometers, vibration sensors, proximity sensors, gravity sensors, flow sensors, and others (proprioceptive, piezoelectric, force sensors.

Commercial segment of the space sensors and actuators market by end user is projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The space sensors and actuators market is segmented by end user into commercial and government and defense, the commercial segment is expected to grow at a higher rate from 2022 to 2027. The commercial segment has been further classified into the NewSpace industry, satellite operators & owners, space robotic solution providers, space exploration companies, and satellite and launch vehicle manufacturers. The increased privatization of space activities has brought into foray a new generation of space companies. The most successful of these private companies are a result of consistent cooperation with and support from national space agencies. With advancements in a variety of space sensors and actuators technologies, the New Space industry and its associated companies promise to bring down the cost of access to space, allowing for lower-risk, faster-moving business models that will allow for iterative improvements and, ultimately, a more prosperous space economy for all.

The North America market is projected to contribute the largest share from 2022 to 2027 in the space sensors and actuators  market

North America is expected to lead the space sensors and actuators market in 2022. The US accounted for a share of 98.0% of the Space sensors and actuators market in North America in 2022. The growth of the market in the US can be attributed to the presence of key manufacturers of space sensors and actuators systems in the US. The rise in space launches from NASA is also anticipated to drive the US space sensors and actuators market for planetary exploration during the forecast period. For instance, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), a super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle, is planned for its first launch in late 2021. The SLS is being designed to be the launch platform that sends humans to the Moon and deeper into the solar system using the Orion spacecraft as well as the ground operation and launch facilities of its Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The use of space sensors and actuators is expected to grow due to increasing development of radiation-hardened electro-optical space sensors and miniaturization of space sensors and actuators for satellites, capsules\cargos, interplanetary spacecraft & probes, rovers/spacecraft landers, launch vehicles, and space stations. Some key US-based Space sensors and actuators companies are Texas Instruments Incorporated (US), Sierra Nevada Corporation (US), Honeywell International Inc. (US), Moog Inc. (US), and Bradford Space (US).

Space Sensors and Actuators Market by Region

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Space Sensors and Actuators Industry Companies: Top Key Market Players

The Space Sensors and Actuators Companies is dominated by globally established players such as Honeywell International Inc. (US), TE Connectivity (Switzerland), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (US), Moog Inc. (US), and AMETEK Inc. (US) TE Connectivity (Switzerland), Texas Instruments Incorporated (US),  RUAG Group (Switzerland), among others, are the key manufacturers that secured space sensors and actuators contracts in the last few years. Major focus was given to the contracts and new product development due to the changing requirements of commercial, government and defense users across the world.

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Scope of the Report

Space Sensors and Actuators Market Highlights

The study categorizes the space sensors and actuators market based on product type, platform, end user, application and region

Recent Developments

• In November 2022, Moog Inc. announced today that the company’s space products played a critical role in successfully launching Artemis 1, which is the first uncrewed test flight of NASA’s mission to return to the Moon. Moog thrust vector control actuators and controllers steer each stage to ensure Artemis mission success.
• In July 2022, Teledyne e2v in the UK are collaborating with STFC RAL Space and University of Birmingham in the development of CASPA, an instrument to measure the tiny forces exerted on a spacecraft in very low Earth orbit, which can over a long time period cause the spacecraft to de-orbit due to atmospheric drag.
• In May 2022, Raytheon Technologies received a contract from US Space Force to create digital models of sensor technology for future missile warning satellite constellations.
• In March 2022, Honeywell has unveiled a new accelerometer that delivers high performance and reliability in a small, rugged, and low-cost package. The MV60 micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer is designed for aerospace and defense but also has potential uses for industrial and marine applications that require high-precision, navigation-grade accelerometers that are small, lightweight and require little power to operate.
• In February 2022, STMicroelectronics launched Intelligent Sensor Processing Unit (ISPU) that combines a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) suited to run AI algorithms and MEMS sensor on the same silicon. In addition to reducing size over system-in-package devices and cutting power by up to 80%, merging sensor and AI puts electronic decision-making in the application Edge.

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