The first is the matter of small satellites expanding access to space. Small satellites can be designed and built much more quickly and cheaply than larger, more complex satellites, and their launch costs are lower (but not necessarily low). The number of countries that have launched a small satellite in orbit has increased from about 10 in 1990 to about 30 now, with approximately 400 such satellites having been launched over the last 20 years. While the overall rate of small satellite launches has not increased greatly over this time, the capabilities of small satellites appear to be increasing significantly. Small spacecraft technology is also rapidly becoming widespread, in part because of deliberate efforts to spread this technology. For example, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL, a company affiliated with Surrey University in Great Britain) will build micro- or mini-satellites for any country (subject to British export controls). It also has a technology transfer program designed to help countries develop the capability to build their own satellites. So far, participants in this program include Pakistan, South Africa, South Korea, Portugal, Chile, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and China. Recent collaborators include Algeria, Nigeria, and Turkey.

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Lewis, Leo and Phillip E. Coyle. Ensuring America's Space Security. Washington, D.C.: Federation of American Scientists, September 2004. [ 7 quotes ] [ page 16-7 ]