Lockheed Martin says economic and political uncertainties are having an impact on the space exploration and communications markets, but the civilian GPS market continues to grow.
Joanne Maguire, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin space systems, speaking at the show says: “We are in a period of transition. We are looking at financial concerns and a change of administration in the US. And we are seeing fewer major development opportunities in the space segment.
“We don’t see the commercial space sector as a growth market and we are working for customers with declining revenues. There has also been oversupply in satellite manufacturing, although we don't intend to exit that market.”
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But she adds that there is a strong desire worldwide to increase situational awareness. “The civilian GPS market grew 43% over the past year and we predict sales of GPS equipment will hit $230bn by 2013. GPS for the military now only accounts for about two per-cent of the overall market.
“At the same time we are entering a new era in human space exploration,” she adds. “Project Constellation, NASA’s programme to create a new generation of craft for human space flight, will take us beyond low-earth orbit just as the space shuttle programme winds down. And we are partnered with NASA on the Orion crew exploration vehicle.”
Source: Flight International
