ars, SO the challenge for the companies is to produce market pull and develop new markets. Product improvements through the integration of simultaneously collected multispectral and panchromatic imagery in combination with "n"-meter resolution are the technologies which will enable improved support for agribusiness, civil government applications, and commercial markets which are not after the imagery itself, but instead the value-added informational value conveyed by the images. Increasingly sophisticated payloads and system architectures will be required to support the higher data content in multispectral images with increased dynamic range, the ability to provide seamless global coverage, and fast delivery and distribution of imaging products. The primary participants in this market are Space Imaging Inc. (IKONOS satellites), EarthWatch Inc. (EarlyBird satellites), OrbImage, a subsidiary of Orbital Sciences Corporation (OrbView satellites), and SPOT Image (SPOT satellites). Merrill-Lynch has predicted that total revenues for the "space industry" will quadruple in the next decade, rising from $40B in 1998 to $170B in 2007. However, much of this revenue comes from ground segment purchases, not "space hardware." The general consensus seems to indicate a doubling in space segment revenue. As an example, the value added chain for commercial LEO and GEO mobile communications systems (cumulative through 2007) shows $11B in payloads, spacecraft, and launch services, $13B in satellite operations, $55B in ground segment hardware and software, and $80B in value-added services, including the development of new services based upon communications satellite technology. Similar numbers for fixed station and broadcast LEO and GEO systems may be six times larger. Characteristics of Telecommunications Satellite Systems [ITU98] Telecommunications systems are classified as to the users they support, either mobile or fixed satellite services, and are defined by their operational characteristics as either store-and- forward, bent-pip