ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tauri Group, LLC announces the release of a forecast of demand for suborbital reusable vehicles (SRVs). SRVs are a new class of rocket-powered vehicles designed to cross the threshold of space, carrying cargo or people. The report, "Suborbital Reusable Vehicles: A Ten-Year Forecast of Market Demand," analyzes emerging SRV markets and identifies drivers of growth.
Space Florida (Florida's spaceport authority and aerospace development organization) and the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST) jointly funded the study, which The Tauri Group conducted.
The Tauri Group estimates baseline demand for SRVs – reflecting predictable trends that exist today – at between 400 and 500 seat equivalents each year, for people and cargo. A growth scenario sees that number nearly triple to between 1,000 and 1,500 seat equivalents per year. Additional potential demand is possible from unknowns such as research discoveries, commercial applications, or a viral consumer response. Price reductions would also increase demand.
The dominant SRV market is Commercial Human Spaceflight – human spaceflight experiences for tourism or training – generating more than 80% of SRV demand. Five additional markets are predicted to be active in the 10-year forecast period: Basic and Applied Research, Aerospace Technology Test and Demonstration, Satellite Deployment, Education, and Media and Public Relations.