Satellite launchings have declined for the last two years, falling 25 percent in 1999 and 15 percent last year. This slump is expected to continue for another two or three years until a new generation of low orbit communications satellites start going up. Launches have remained pretty constant at about 70-75 a year. Satellites are getting smaller and its more common for two or more to be put into orbit for each launch. There is a surplus of launch capacity, as many nations got into the business during the 1990s.