EDB Industry Report no. 8
Space activities evolved from being a product of global scientific and technical progress into its main driving force. Over time, the ultimate technology created for the space industry finds its way into other sectors. The space industry directly depends on the development of industrial and telecommunications technologies. Its scientific and production base has long become an integral part of the global economy, and is closely associated with other industries. In other words, space activities generate profuse multiple effects on an economy. The main space activities are fundamental and applied studies; design, research and development work; production of spacecraft, boosters and ground equipment; launch services; space telecommunications; earth remote sensing (ERS); satellite navigation services; and manned space missions. The space market is a large and rapidly growing segment of the world technology market. The main engines of modern economic progress are innovative technologies in microelectronics, digital information systems, software, telecommunications, composite materials, etc. Most of these developments originated in the space industry. Space activities are traditionally divided into military space activities and open civilian and commercial space activities.
