What this document is
Smallsats by the Numbers is an annual report from the space-industry analysis firm Bryce Space and Technology, since renamed BryceTech, tracking how many small satellites, generally defined as 600 kilograms or under, have been launched each year and by whom. The 2018 edition covered historical launch activity from 2012 onward and situated that data against the industry trends of the time, including the emergence of large planned broadband constellations of a thousand or more smallsats from companies such as OneWeb and SpaceX.
The report also tracked the wave of new small launch vehicle developers, including Virgin Orbit, Rocket Lab and Vector, several of which had announced or were preparing test flights aimed at reaching operational status, and discussed business risks facing the sector such as uncertain future demand, competition from larger launch vehicles, and growing concern about orbital debris from very large satellite constellations.
BryceTech continues to publish an updated edition of the report each year; the 2018 edition itself is no longer separately archived on the firm's website, which now lists more recent editions on its reports page.
Where to find it
Available from BryceTech.