Aon said data currently shows space insurers are expected to generate more than $400 million in profit for 2009.

Aon’s International Space Brokers unit, is the largest specialist risk adviser in the space sector and described the space insurance market over the past five year as “very profitable”. “This will inevitably lead to more competitive premiums for satellite operators in the New Year as the capacity for space risks continues to increase,” it added.

The broker said the expectation was that the past 12 months will have seen more than $800 million of premiums paid for ‘all risks’ launch and in-orbit insurance.

The third quarter of 2009 saw five major insured launches (two Ariane 5s, two Protons and one Long March 3B – of which ISB were involved in four), which generated an estimated $154.6 million of premium income for the space insurance market.  

The major incident this year involved the launch of the Long March 3B. The launch fell short of the target orbit due to a third stage anomaly but engineers managed to manoeuvre the Palapa D spacecraft to the correct orbit which resulted in a loss of only one third of the spacecraft life.

Losses occurring so far this year amount to between $400 and $450 million, said Aon, while the other major launch vehicles have performed flawlessly. It means insurers will have been profitable for four out of five years, with the only exception being a deficit in 2007.

The favourable market conditions are attracting more capacity into the space insurance market, enabling risks to be placed at better terms due to increased competition. As a result, rates in 2009 to date have continued their slow, but steady decline.
“Demand for satellite communication capacity continues to grow, from delivering broadband and television to surveying the earth for pollution, resources and disaster monitoring,” said Clive Smith, space business unit leader.  “The recession made it more difficult for some operators and particularly new projects to raise capital but nevertheless there are a number of interesting projects that are still progressing well.

“The health of the insurance industry means it’s well positioned to support satellite programmes by providing sufficient capacity to satisfy investor requirements.”