Cubesat Market Report 2026

The cubesat market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $0.65 billion in 2025 to $0.74 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of academic and commercial research missions driving low-cost cubesat deployments, increasing adoption of standardized propulsion and attitude control systems, early investment in cubesat communication subsystems enabling deep-space experimentation, growth in environmental testing infrastructure to support rapid satellite integration, rising use of cubesats for technology demonstration and sensor validation.

The cubesat market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.27 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing deployment of cubesat constellations for earth observation and communication services, adoption of advanced onboard data processing tools to support real-time analytics, rising demand for high-efficiency solar panels and next-gen batteries for extended missions, expansion of cubesat launch opportunities through rideshare and dedicated small-launch vehicles, growth in autonomous mission control software enabling minimal-human-intervention satellite operations. Major trends in the forecast period include growth in multi-payload cubesat configurations, increasing demand for rapid-orbit deployment, expansion of commercial earth-imaging constellations, advancement in miniaturized propulsion technologies, rising adoption of cubesats for academic and research missions.

The increasing demand for earth observation data is expected to drive the growth of the cubesat market in the coming years. Earth observation data refers to information gathered from satellites, airborne sensors, and ground-based systems that monitor and measure the Earth’s physical, chemical, and biological systems, including land, oceans, and atmosphere. The demand for earth observation data is increasing due to the growing need for accurate, real-time insights to address climate change, natural disaster management, and sustainable resource planning, as governments, research institutions, and private organizations increasingly depend on satellite-based data to support informed decision-making and policy development. Cubesats support earth observation data collection by offering a cost-effective, flexible, and rapidly deployable platform equipped with advanced miniaturized sensors that enable frequent, high-resolution monitoring of the planet’s surface, atmosphere, and oceans, thereby improving environmental analysis, disaster management, and global sustainability initiatives. For instance, in August 2023, according to Spire Global Inc., a US-based space-to-cloud data and analytics company, the company received a $6.5 million, 12-month contract renewal to continue its participation in NASA’s commercial smallsat data acquisition (CSDA) program, marking a $500,000 increase over the previous $6 million contract awarded in June 2022. Therefore, the increasing demand for earth observation data is fueling the growth of the cubesat market.

Major companies operating in the cubesat market are focusing on developing innovative solutions such as miniaturized modular satellite systems to enhance mission flexibility, reduce launch costs, and accelerate space-based data collection. Miniaturized modular satellite systems are compact, standardized satellite units that can be easily assembled and customized for specific missions, helping reduce development time, lower launch costs, and increase flexibility in deploying space-based technologies. For instance, in March 2024, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a US-based space agency, launched four small satellites known as CubeSats to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of its Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa 51) mission. These CubeSats, named Big Red Sat-1, BurstCube, SNoOPI, and HyTI, were developed by NASA centers and partner universities to advance scientific research and technology demonstrations in space. Each satellite carries specific instruments and objectives. Big Red Sat-1, built by a student team from Nebraska, is designed to test the performance of next-generation perovskite solar cells. BurstCube, developed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, aims to detect high-energy phenomena such as gamma-ray bursts and solar flares. SNoOPI focuses on measuring root-zone soil moisture and snowpack water content to support agricultural and environmental monitoring. HyTI, developed by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, employs a hyperspectral thermal imager to map water resources and study crop water use across the globe.

In October 2024, Lockheed Martin Corporation, a US-based aerospace and defense technology company, acquired Terran Orbital Corporation for $450 million. Through this acquisition, Lockheed Martin aimed to strengthen its small satellite manufacturing capabilities and reinforce its position in next-generation space systems. Terran Orbital Corporation is a US-based satellite manufacturing company specializing in the design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and in-orbit support of small satellites and satellite buses.

Major companies operating in the cubesat market are The Boeing Company; Airbus S.A.S.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; OHB SE; Sierra Nevada Corporation; Planet Labs Inc.; EnduroSat Ltd.; GomSpace Group AB; NanoAvionika UAB; AAC Clyde Space AB; Astrocast SA; Satellogic S.A.; Busek Co. Inc.; Berlin Space Technologies GmbH; CU Aerospace L.L.C.; Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Inc.; Interorbital Systems Inc.; SERENUM a.s.; Exobotics Inc.; Pumpkin Inc.

North America was the largest region in the cubesat market in 2025. The regions covered in the cubesat market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on satellite components, electronic subsystems, and specialty materials have increased manufacturing costs in the CubeSat market, particularly affecting propulsion systems, solar panels, and communication modules sourced from Asia-Pacific and European suppliers. These tariffs disrupt supply chains, extend integration timelines, and raise deployment expenses for commercial and academic customers. However, they also encourage the development of domestic production capabilities, stimulate local innovation in miniaturized satellite technologies, and reduce long-term dependence on foreign suppliers.

The cubesat market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides cubesat market statistics, including cubesat industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the cubesat market share, cubesat market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the cubesat industry. This cubesat market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

A cubesat is a type of miniaturized satellite developed for space research and technology demonstration. It typically features a standardized cubic structure measuring 10 × 10 × 10 cm per unit, allowing multiple units to be combined to enhance functionality and capability. Designed to be low-cost and lightweight, cubesats are usually launched as secondary payloads alongside larger satellites, enabling quick deployment of experiments and technology validation in orbit.

The primary sizes of cubesats include 1U, 2U, 3U, 6U, and 12U. A 1U cubesat is a compact 10 × 10 × 10 cm satellite weighing approximately 1 kg, primarily designed for low-cost educational, experimental, or technology demonstration missions in space. They consist of several subsystems such as payloads, structures, electrical power systems, command and data handling, propulsion systems, attitude determination and control systems, and others. Cubesats are utilized for diverse applications including communication, earth observation, traffic monitoring, meteorology, science, technology, education, space observation, and other purposes. They are deployed by various end-users such as academic institutions, commercial organizations, defense agencies, government entities, non-profit organizations, and others.

The countries covered in the cubesat market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The cubesat market consists of sales of solar panels and batteries, propulsion systems, reaction wheels and magnetorquers, communication subsystems, telemetry software, mission control and satellite operations software, data processing and analytics tools, and environmental testing and integration equipment. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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