The satellite system consists of two parts, which are payload and bus. Everything in the satellite except the payload is a subsystem of the bus, which carries all the equipment and payload into space. It keeps all parts of the satellite together and provides power, propulsion, and control.

The Satellite Bus vendors are placed into 4 categories based on their performance and reviews in each criterion: “visionary leaders,” “innovators,” “dynamic differentiators,” and “emerging companies".

The companies that fall under this category generally receive high scores for most of the evaluation criteria. They have a well-established product portfolio and a very strong market presence. They offer mature and reputable products and services and have strong business strategies.

Dynamic differentiators are the established vendors of radar simulators with strong business strategies. However, they have weaker product portfolios as compared to their competitors. They generally focus on a specific type of technology related to a particular product.

Innovators are the vendors that have demonstrated substantial product innovations as compared to their competitors. They have an extensive product portfolio. However, they do not have very strong growth strategies for their overall business.

Vendors with niche product offerings, who have started to gain their foothold in the radar simulator market, fall under this category. They do not have strong business strategies as compared to other established vendors. They might be new entrants in the market and require some time before gaining significant traction in the market. Satellites including nanosatellites, microsatellites, and mini-satellites have earth observation as well as meteorological applications. Satellites are capable of monitoring natural or manmade disasters, such as cyclones, storms, El Niño, floods, forest fires, volcanic activities, earthquakes, landslides, oil slicks, environmental pollution, and industrial & power plant disasters, among others. Medium and small satellites have computational and communication abilities, and competencies in making decisions about sending the relevant data at the relevant time. Successful programs to develop and examine advanced hyper-spectral imaging systems compatible with satellites have enabled earth observation & meteorology missions generate high-quality complex images. Communication satellites used in Geo-stationary Earth Orbit (GEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) networks require a lengthy design and manufacturing time period. The various parts of a communication satellite are required to be designed and engineered diligently, and costs far more to design, engineer, and test the subsystems of the communication satellite bus. The major subsystems of modern communication satellites are power system, thermal control, structural elements of bus, and Tracking, Telemetry, Command and Monitoring (TTC&M). These subsystems are needed to support satellite antennas and electronic communication systems. Satellites are capable of providing effective surveillance & security solutions to defense authorities worldwide. Several intelligence projects are being undertaken to develop low-cost satellites to explore the tactical utility of space intelligence and reconnaissance. The surveillance & security sector holds high opportunity for the satellite bus market due to mobility and highly evolved imaging systems.