Could you soon be taking trips to outer space? Some experts think so. Rocket launches have become much less expensive, so thousands more satellites—and many more people than ever before—can venture into orbit. But more objects in space also mean more space debris and higher risks of collisions. In this edition of The Next Normal, McKinsey experts and industry executives envision the space industry’s next decade.

The view to 2030

“If you don’t think you’re going fast enough, you’re not”

Hear three of McKinsey’s aerospace experts describe the ways in which future activity in space will benefit people on Earth—and some challenges that could arise along the way. Chris Daehnick, Jess Harrington, and Jesse Klempner imagine the space economy of tomorrow.
Read the transcript

 

More on the future of space

Article

Space: Investment shifts from GEO to LEO and now beyond
– Investors have recently focused on space ventures in low-Earth orbit, but interest is growing in lunar and beyond orbital regimes.... Here’s what you need to know about this ongoing trend.
Article

R&D for space: Who is actually funding it?
– Government still funds most space-sector R&D, but private companies have recently driven a notable uptick in overall investment.
Commentary

Expectations versus reality: Commercial-satellite constellations
– Many commercial-satellite operators are still creating overly ambitious plans, but more companies are now making steady progress... toward their launch goals.
Article

Look out below: What will happen to the space debris in orbit?
– With more satellites and space debris in orbit, it’s time for a new approach for mitigating collisions.
Commentary

Wall Street to Mission Control: Can space tourism pay off?
– With the COVID-19 pandemic curtailing earthly travel, space tourism may seem like a far-fetched dream—but some companies are betting... on high demand.
Article

Large LEO satellite constellations: Will it be different this time?
– New satellite constellations are on the cusp of deployment, but their long-term success hinges on substantial cost reductions.

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