McKinsey’s work in the space sector

LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
Accelerating the role of the space ecosystem in driving sustainability, security, and technological development on Earth

McKinsey partners with private-sector companies across the space value chain, along with government agencies and investors, to support clients on their most critical space-related topics—ranging from growth and innovation strategies to digital engineering and production scaling.

We help accelerate the role of space as an enabler to solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including the sustainability imperative and the transition to net-zero. To achieve this, we draw on McKinsey’s expertise, knowledge, and tools to deliver tangible results that help clients achieve moonshot ambitions.

80+

dedicated space experts

70+

clients served

20+

countries served

WHAT WE DO

Operations

Supply chain management, procurement transformation, product development, and optimization of business models

Examples of our work:

  • developing an AI roadmap for a leading space agency with over 25 use cases prioritized, and 50 AI use cases assessed for impact and feasibility
  • optimizing product cost for a leading OEM across engineering, manufacturing, and procurement

Strategy & Corporate Finance

Growth strategies, transformations, and assessment of market landscape

Examples of our work:

  • assessing the satellite and launch market landscape to support the development of a client’s product strategy for the next decade
  • developing growth options by scanning the space value chain and identifying eight high-potential targets with robust industrial logic from a list of more than 1,500 space companies
  • supporting a disruptor company with the rapid evaluation of use cases across market verticals, to shape value creation potential and prioritize the go-to-market strategy

Digital Technology

“Big data” strategies, developing IT cost and performance strategies, and IT transformation

Examples of our work:

  • partnering with a leading space OEM to develop a new digital business leveraging space-acquired data to track shutdowns of refineries
  • helping a leading space-defense organization set up a fully digital environment

Partnerships

World Economic Forum

Our knowledge and research partnership with the World Economic Forum is focused on collaborating to chart a course toward a space ecosystem that can yield the greatest benefits on Earth and in space. As part of our collaboration, we have interviewed nearly 100 leaders from the private and public sectors, non-profits, academia, and investors. We also facilitate conversations among groups of industry leaders.

Featured Capabilities

Radar

Radar is McKinsey’s analytics platform for the aerospace and defense market. 

Featured Insights

Article

The role of space in driving sustainability, security, and development on Earth

– A new report reveals five actions that leaders can take to contribute to economic development, advance global security and sustainability, and make space a safe and globally accessible domain.
Article

Can better governance help space lift off?
– With more public and private actors entering the arena, outer space is getting crowded. Good governance could limit conflicts... and help keep the space economy on a growth trajectory.
Interview

Mars exploration pushes the boundaries of AI: An interview with NASA’s Vandi Verma
– Take a seat at Mission Control as NASA’s Vandi Verma details the AI and software powering the Mars rovers and how her field... of robotic operations has advanced over the past 20 years.
Article - McKinsey Quarterly

How will the space economy change the world?
– Space is no longer the sole domain of governments and aerospace and defense companies. Businesses that pursue emerging opportunities... now may gain a first-mover advantage.
Article

A different space race: Raising capital and accelerating growth
– As innovation accelerates within the space sector, companies may benefit by taking a disruptor’s mindset to accessing and... deploying capital.
Podcast

Why on earth should business care about space?
– Two decades of technological innovation have unlocked a wealth of space-based opportunities for commercial entities to offer once-unimaginable... services.
Podcast

Laying the foundations for a space economy
– Space already plays a larger role in our lives than we realize, and it’s only going to grow as new technologies and innovations... open up unimagined economic opportunities.
Podcast

Space: Building a digital infrastructure above the sky
– Venture capitalist Mark Boggett offers an investor’s view of the strides being made in space technology, its practical applications,... and its potential impact.
Article

Is there a ‘best’ owner of satellite internet?
– New satellite internet concepts are moving ahead. Are some types of companies better positioned to succeed in this growing market... than others?
Article

The potential of microgravity: How companies across sectors can venture into space
– Should you move your R&D and manufacturing into the ether? A new McKinsey analysis explores the opportunities.
Article

Space around the globe
– The United States remains the epicenter of space activity, but many more countries are getting involved and increasing their investments.
Collection

The Next Normal – The future of space: It’s getting crowded out there
– 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.
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
– Despite a steady, sizeable uptick in announced commercial constellations over the past few years, many constellation operators... have yet to meet original ambitions.
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.
Read more

Featured Experts

Ryan Brukardt
Senior Partner, Miami
Advises global aerospace, defense, and space companies on achieving sustainable growth and operational excellence
Chris Daehnick
Senior Solution Leader & Associate Partner, Denver
Leads Radar, McKinsey’s analytic platform for defense, space, and commercial aviation markets, directing a team of market and...
Giacomo Gatto
Associate Partner, London
Leads our space sector work in Europe and advises groups in the aerospace, defense, and space ecosystems on increasing collaboration...
Jesse Klempner
Partner, Washington DC
Assists aerospace, defense, and industrial companies with strategy, growth, innovation, and mergers and acquisitions, and consults...
Ilan Rozenkopf
Partner, Paris
Specializes in the aerospace and defense industry and is a leader of the Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice in France.

KEEP EXPLORING

McKinsey Center for Advanced Connectivity

The McKinsey Center for Advanced Connectivity helps organizations leverage the world’s new digital backbone – including 5G, fiber, cable, Wi-Fi, and short-range technologies – to innovate, boost productivity, and capture the opportunity of a more connected world.

Related Practices

Technology, Media & Telecommuni­cations
Navigating rapidly changing markets to promote innovation, capture new opportunities, and create value

McKinsey Sustainability
Learn how we work with private- and public-sector institutions on challenges created by growing pressure on resource systems and increasing environmental risk.

Strategy & Corporate Finance
Building enduring value through bold strategies

Operations
Read about how we combine strategic thinking with hands-on pragmatism to help our clients achieve world-class operations.

Connect with our space team

Contact Us