Why do we need digital transformation in space

It might seem strange to be talking about digital transformation in an industry like space, which is known for pushing the boundaries of engineering and innovation. But, as technology continues to evolve around us, it remains an important factor.

There are always ways to leverage technology to do things better, faster, more accurately. To lower operational costs, use assets such as satellites in new ways, and deliver greater value to customers. In the world of space where the stakes are often so high and the infrastructure particularly complicated, digital transformation will always have an important role to play.

And what makes this area particularly exciting is that there are so many different avenues for development. There are countless opportunities for organisations to leverage digital capabilities and propel the space sector into the next frontier.

Tapping into tech

One of the biggest opportunities in space involves taking applications and processes from the cloud and applying them to satellites. Take edge processing as an example. Many existing space-based sensors require multiple terabytes of data – such as visual, radar or radio frequency (RF) data – to be sent back to Earth before being processed, analysed and distributed. This traditional transfer process can take many hours, and is reliant on intermittent RF links and the availability of suitable ground stations.

But, carrying out data analysis on the satellite itself – i.e. at the edge – can save valuable time, meaning the intelligence gathered can get to where it is needed much faster. This would be priceless in situations such as responding to natural disasters where every second is critical. There’s also a clear use case in the military setting, where both strategic decision-makers and forces on the ground need access to intelligence in as near real-time as possible.

This is also where the likes of AI and machine learning models come into play. These models can be trained to detect, recognise and identify objects of interest within scenes, such as a ship leaving a port, and send the relevant intelligence to users. Again, having these models running on satellites at the edge increases efficiency and empowers faster battlespace decision-making.

Blockchain offers another example of a developing next-generation technology that could be applied to the space domain. As a shared, immutable ledger that can’t be tampered with by outside parties, blockchain may have a role to play in tracking assets and data and recording the movement of information.

More specifically, blockchain technology could be used to provide validation of data and satellite images in the form of NFTs. The applicability of NFTs for verification of the provenance of satellite images – which would be particularly important in the context of defence where the security and traceability of data is paramount – is an area worth exploring. However, the high resource demands of doing that on a satellite cluster is a challenge that would have to be overcome.

Beyond the tech

We can’t forget that impactful digital transformation isn’t just about the technology. There are also important cultural and ecosystem elements that must be addressed – which applies to all sectors including space.

First, let’s look inwards. It can be easy to overlook the fact that digital transformation is as much about culture as it is about the technology stack. As well as integrating new tools and services, it’s critical for space leaders to evaluate the human side of their organisations and ask themselves some important questions. Is innovation ingrained across the company? Are our teams empowered to collaborate? Do we have the right skills/expertise in place?

Establishing a strong digital culture is what will enable space organisations to adapt to a changing landscape and use technology effectively. However, cultural change is often harder than technology change, so it’s something that organisations will have to continually work at in order to ensure they are able to work at the pace of development in today’s world.

Then we come to the outward view. True space innovation won’t be realised if opportunities are restricted to the same old group of established enterprises. Instead, we must be prepared to tap into the SME ecosystem – something which is easy to say, but harder to do.

SMEs will often be able to most faster and experiment with new technologies. They may be wholly dedicated to specific capabilities, and provide access to a much wider pool of talent. In the collective interest of furthering the space industry, bigger organisations therefore have a responsibility to provide support and remove some of the financial burden so that SMEs get chances to contribute to the next era of space innovation.