A Space Industry Perspective: Tech Trends 2019

Tech Trends 2019 l Deloitte Insights

Tech Trends 2019 Space industry perspective

Space technologies have a long history with disruption. The last decade has seen widespread change— for example, governments and other public entities historically played a driving role in space research and services, yet tomorrow’s disruptive space technologies increasingly will be driven by commercial forces. And the future will bring additional disruption in the areas of human spaceflight, in-space manufacturing, and next-generation communications.

The combination of emerging technologies, new operating models, Organizations should look beyond the digital frontier—toward and other innovative concepts can accelerate the diffusion of space a future state in which transformation occurs across all mission technologies across multiple economies and sectors: intelligent portfolios and operating organizations. interfaces that integrate launch-range data into the National Airspace System; blockchain applications that validate remote As industry and government leaders work to reshape their sensing data; AI and machine learning applied to space science organizations, acquisition processes, and missions to take advantage missions. These and other advances can help produce substantial of new digital capabilities, they will require fresh, focused, sector- value that extends beyond any one organization. relevant insights. Begin here, with this report that provides a timely perspective on Deloitte’s Technology Trends 2019: Beyond the digital In the face of the changes ahead, it is not enough to simply plan frontier, focused specifically on the trends affecting the operators for digital transformation and assume that success will follow. and users of space systems. Macro technology forces at work

Nine technology forces (cloud, analytics, Getting started Trends in action experience, blockchain, cognitive, digital •• Learn from history. This is not the first Organizations in the space industry are reality, core modernization, cyber, and the time satellite constellations, low-cost space making more progress by integrating business of technology) are the backbone access, or remote sensing products have multiple pioneering new technologies of innovation past and present. Combining been tried. This time, they look to become than by piloting new tools one at a time. them compounds the effects of purposeful, the new normal. AI streamlines licensing and regulatory transformational change and can enhance •• Embrace technology at the core. New filing for satellite and launch operators. mission resiliency, lower operational costs, tools will affect the entire space mission, Blockchain enhances secure supply or service more markets. but only if acquisition and development chains. Digital reality enhances mission embrace them faster. assurance. Cloud provides a resilient

eadiness elevance •• Keep your eye on the horizon. New backbone for space-based capabilities. technologies, applied to current mission types, could have a profound effect on how we utilize space. AI-fueled organizations

To harness AI’s full potential: find AI’s Getting started place in the mission, rethink talent, •• Decide what AI means to you. focus on human and machine interaction Applications can vary by mission, in environment, and deploy machine hardware, and operator need. learning across core business processes •• Strive to become an “AI-fueled” and operations. organization. AI is not about replacing mission operators. It’s about improving efficiency for the entire organization. Trends in action •• Make AI part of acquisition Organizations are already using AI to ingest decisions. Determine where AI could eadiness elevance weather and remote sensing data to provide reduce procurement/operational real-time forecasts and insights. Use AI to costs—applicable in weather, remote turn mass-produced cube-sats into a highly sensing, or data-heavy missions. customized platform for remote sensing and •• Look beyond your organization. “AI-fueled” deep space exploration missions with self- organizations require AI experts and best healing and autonomous constellations. practices from multiple industries.

NoOps in a serverless world

Cloud providers have doggedly automated Getting started routine administrative tasks to improve •• Shift administration to an engineering their “as a service” capabilities. Providers are footing. Apply a systems engineering looking to provide ground stations and other mindset to standardize, modernize, and space applications services. Use the shift to synthesize infrastructure and systems. create agile operations focused on higher- •• Have a strategy for your data and go order (and higher-value) mission activities. cloud native. Pilot and pursue technologies that don’t involve managing physical servers and legacy hardware systems. •• Transform your processes. Make

eadiness elevance processes automatable and repeatable without human intervention. Trends in action Traditional “as a service” providers are continuing to climb the stack, all the way through ground station antennas providing full turnkey services for customers. Organizations using new cloud computing models could increase utilization of space data. Address stovepipes between data stores and mission ops to enable “pay by the drink” solutions.

Connectivity of tomorrow

Advanced networking offers a continuum Getting started Trends in action of connectivity that can drive development •• Plan for the upcoming explosion of Mega-constellations, some more than of new products and services. From bandwidth and spectrum congestion. 4,000 satellites, are being planned. edge computing to 5G to low Earth orbit A wirelessly connected world brings new Commercial satellite operators are satellites, organizations are rethinking demands and opportunities that will constrain building in-space edge routing and advanced connectivity options to design the spectrum. other networking platforms, mirroring tomorrow’s networks. •• Learn from history. This isn’t the first time terrestrial applications. Miniaturization bandwidth demand has exploded. Given trends extend to satellites across all commercial demand, can government users orbits, providing new connectivity secure enough satcom bandwidth? methods for areas not served by fiber eadiness elevance •• Button down the status quo. Millions or 5G. Advanced global connectivity can of new devices require new methods for extend AI, image/facial recognition, and interconnectivity—new ground stations, other tools into the field. improved connected car antennas, or spectrum modulation, for example. Intelligent interfaces

Working in concert, techniques and Getting started Trends in action capabilities such as computer vision, •• See beyond the long-established With tablet-based AR, technicians can move conversational voice, auditory analytics, standards. Imagine new methods of from one system or mission to another and advanced augmented reality and virtual delivering data to a user—real-time, high- efficiently, minimizing training needs. reality can transform the ways we engage fidelity weather data from multiple space and Specialists can use image recognition/speech with machines, data, and each other. terrestrial sources to a pilot, for example. capture to reduce time and cost of mission •• Rethink mission assurance and assurance. Technicians and/or astronauts risk. Take advantage of new ways to can learn to repair machines virtually. New continuously monitor or remotely assess interfaces lay the groundwork for on-orbit via sensors and human interaction that servicing and other disruptive in-space supply

eadiness elevance could reduce time and cost. chain concepts.

Beyond marketing: Experience reimagined

Today’s astute customers expect Getting started highly personalized, contextualized •• Look beyond traditional approaches. experiences. Users of space data crave Space data providers should rethink the ways dynamic, relatable engagements and customers interact with them. insights. They want the cars in lots •• Create connections. For downstream space counted and the weather forecast, not applications, use new tools like AI to improve to do the work themselves. customer experience with data. •• Go all-in on data. Collect and manage information from customers to understand use cases and improve their experience. eadiness elevance Trends in action “Data middlemen”—who exploit, analyze, or disseminate data—represent areas ripe for disruption by macro technology trends. Combining AI with terrestrial and space-based weather sensors has already improved weather forecasting and accuracy; better user understanding has introduced this data into smartphones and mobile apps.

DevSecOps and the cyber imperative

Forward-thinking organizations are Getting started embedding security, privacy, policy, and •• Pick bold goals. Cyber resiliency built into controls into their engineering and IT the satellite. New modulation methods of delivery models. This mindset changes the protected tactical waveforms. Propel the cyber design paradigm across the space, design culture forward. launch, and ground segments, treating •• Integrate security. Don’t test it in at the it more like an engineering and risk end—build it in throughout the system. management exercise. •• Expand your security culture. Compliance is important, but focus on proactive risk management. Design and procure space

eadiness elevance systems with cyber in mind.

Trends in action The US Air Force is currently using defensive cyber operations (DCO) to protect, detect, and respond to attacks on operational ground systems. Massive next generation satellite constellations provide resiliency, as well as targets. As such, constellations require attention to cyber security just like large-scale terrestrial networks. Secure the supply chain by leveraging trusted foundries, subsystem manufacturers and sensor suppliers.

Beyond the digital frontier: Mapping your future

Digital transformation has become a rallying Getting started Trends in action cry for business and technology strategists. •• Breakdown silos. Start with the end in mind; Technologies such as AI and blockchain are Look to the digital transformation pioneers don’t let current designs or limitations drive helping industry leaders manage and secure to develop a systematic approach. Keeping decision making. Software-defined systems tsunamis of data. The US Air Force’s use of the up with what’s new prepares you to invent are redefining communications. Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) provides what’s next. •• Procure prototypes and acquire a new, faster way to procure prototypes and capabilities. Others’ solutions should be capabilities with nontraditional partners. your prototypes. Don’t be constrained by “Not The creation of a portfolio architect for Invented Here” thinking. space acquisition and systems development •• Learn the landscape. Use multiple represents a new approach to transformation. eadiness elevance technology trends to create massive scalable and highly available functions to support the mission and operations. Learn more Related reports

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Author Contributors

For questions regarding the Tech Trends 2019 space industry Jamie Johnson Megan Doern perspective, please contact:

Scott Buchholz Government and Public Services CTO Deloitte Consulting LLP +1 571 814 7110 [email protected]

Scott Buchholz

Brett Loubert Jeff Matthews Principal and Space Leader Specialist Leader, Space Deloitte Consulting LLP Deloitte Consulting LLP +1 213 593 4694 +1 213 593 3771 [email protected] [email protected]

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