Business Case
Assessing the adoption of satellite acoustic testing by the insurance ecosystem
SURFEO assessed the impact and acceptance of an acoustic testing system for satellites on the New Space market.
Linking test performance, emerging programmes and risk assessment
ESA’s 2026 report describes an upstream space market of €75bn in 2025, while European space budgets reach €13.5bn [1].
A US company specialising in advanced acoustic testing solutions wanted to assess a technology dedicated to satellites on the New Space market.
SURFEO studied the system’s impact, emerging space programmes and its acceptance by insurance players.
An analysis combining technology, programmes and acceptability
Assess the impact
Analyse the contribution of the acoustic testing system applied to satellites.
Study the programmes
Examine the emerging space programmes on the New Space market.
Test acceptance
Study how the technology is received by insurance players.
Clarify the challenges
Put the regulatory and technical dimensions into perspective.
The growth of the space sector makes risk qualification all the more important
Economic benchmarks for the space sector
* Visual scales normalised by category; heights are not comparable. Source: ESA [1].
More orbital activity
ESA tracks launches, mass and satellites placed in orbit as key indicators [1].
Multiple uses
The EUSPA 2024 report covers 15 EO and GNSS application segments [2].
Risks to be documented
The OECD highlights the rise in space activities and the associated challenges for orbital sustainability [3].
A structured view of the conditions for integrating the technology
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[1] European Space Agency, “ESA releases 2026 Space Economy Report”, 13 July 2026. https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Business_with_ESA/ESA_releases_2026_Space_Economy_Report
[2] EUSPA, “EO and GNSS Market Report”, 2024 edition. https://www.euspa.europa.eu/eu-space-programme/eu-space-market-and-users/gnss-and-eo-market-report
[3] OECD / ESA, “The Space Economy in Figures: Responding to Global Challenges”, publication presented in 2024. https://space-economy.esa.int/article/196/the-oecd-publishes-the-2nd-edition-of-its-flagship-publication-the-space-economy-in-figures
[4] SURFEO internal project sheet: sole source for the assignment facts, scope and outcomes.