The price of orbit: Hedonic estimates from the satellite launch market

Sebastien Rouillon () and Marc-Alexandre Senegas
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Sebastien Rouillon: Department of Economics, University of Bordeaux

No 10-2026, Space Economics Working Papers from Institute for Space Economics

Abstract: We analyse the determinants of commercial satellite launch prices and the structure of the global launch market over 1996–2025 using a new database combining launch records, expert cost estimates, and regional industry revenue data. This approach provides more granular launch price estimates than previous studies. Econometric results show that payload mass and target altitude are the main determinants of launch prices, while real prices declined by 3.3% annually, reflecting technological progress. Market segmentation identifies three distinct service categories with differentiated price tiers, suggesting that competition is driven by provider specialisation across market segments rather than within a single global market.

Keywords: Economics of space; Launch market; Hedonic regression. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 L11 L93 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 26 pages
Date: 2026-09, Revised 2026-09
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