The Russia-Ukraine Conflict isn’t sparing the global space economy as tremors of war reverberate around the world. Satellite imagery is shaping public opinion and highlighting use cases of remote sensing providers in an unprecedented way. And while the impact of Russia’s invasion, subsequent sanctions, and geopolitical unrest are weakening parts of the satellite and space ecosystem, it is hastening the growth of others, according to a newly released report by Quilty Analytics, a leading Satellite & Space research and strategic advisory firm.
The 26-page analysis summarizes Russia and Ukraine’s contributions to the space industry and maps out the consequences of disabling these powerhouses of launch activity, engineering, and propulsion. Other findings of the report identify which satcom operators, satellite manufacturers, launch providers, and spaceports are poised for increased demand while outlining the potential threats to others. With Russia’s suspension of Soyuz launches, the West’s severing of ties with Russian launch sites, a surge in awareness of Earth observation satellites, and a looming threat of broadband cyberattacks, the Quilty Analytics team examines the fallout of an industry historically immune to geopolitical strife.
“Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine caused a major rift between the U.S. and Russia, but the space industry remained largely insulated from the geopolitical impact of the Kremlin’s overreach. This has not been the case with Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine,” said Quilty Analytics Partner Chris Quilty. “The diplomatic fallout between Russia and the West left Russia with few retaliatory levers to pull. Space, long considered a sanctuary for international relations, turned into a source of leverage for Russia against the U.S. and Europe.”