Smallsats by the Numbers 2026
Produced by BryceTech
The smallsat market reached new heights in 2025, reshaping satellite architectures, launch demand, and competitive opportunities worldwide. BryceTech’s trusted analysis, grounded in proprietary datasets and industry benchmarks, offers a comprehensive view of the smaller satellite market over the past decade. This edition of Smallsats by the Numbers covers launches from 2016 through 2025, tracking trends across operator type, mission category, mass class, and launch vehicle.
Key findings:
- Record smallsat launches: A record 4,466 smallsats launched in 2025, representing 98% of all spacecraft launched and 85% of total spacecraft upmass
- Megaconstellation dominance: LEO broadband megaconstellations accounted for 79% of 2025 smallsat deployments, continuing to drive overall market volume
- Growing operator base: The operator base expanded to 305 organizations, including 133 operators deploying their first smallsat
- Launch vehicle trends: Only 4% of smallsats launched on micro or small launch vehicles — the other 96% deployed on medium through super-heavy vehicles
The smallsat sector is entering a new phase where manufacturing scale and access to launch will matter as much as technological innovation.
