In 2014, the European Space Agency (ESA) requested a dedicated study to assess ex-post the direct, indirect and induced socio-economic impacts of the Ariane 5 programme (mid-term evaluation) and of the Vega programme (early evaluation).

Prerequisites:

• Capabilities to conduct the assessment and analyse the results

• Identify and build relationships with relevant ministries, local companies, and other stakeholders to gather comprehensive data on existing launch usage in the nation

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 10k–50k

• Includes: literature review, stakeholder consultations, expert advisory, report drafting and validation

Note: A complete study would range from USD 20k-70k and include multiple activities such as determining the relevance of the domain and a capability maturity assessment) 

Timeframe:

• Overall: 6–12 mo

• Phase: scoping (1–2 mo), consultation (2–4 mo), drafting (2–4 mo), validation (1–2 mo)

Pros:

• Informed Decision-Making – Clarifies the most valuable approach (e.g., buying data, acquiring a satellite, or building in-house) and reduces the risk of suboptimal investments.

• Strategic Alignment – Ensures that access-to-space solutions align with long-term business or national security objectives, enhancing sector positioning.

• Stakeholder Buy-In – Provides evidence-based justification for executive or investor decisions and supports cross-functional collaboration.

• Cost Control – Identifies hidden costs, scalability issues, and dependencies before financial commitments are made.

• Capability Mapping – Highlights internal strengths and weaknesses, revealing opportunities for strategic partnerships.

Considerations:

• Time and Resource Intensive - Requires data gathering across technical, financial, and strategic domains. May delay decision-making if not well-scoped or supported

• Uncertainty in Assumptions - Relies on forecasts, vendor quotes, or incomplete market data that may change rapidly