The Silent Satellite Takeover Making Supply Chains $79B Richer!
Cloud, AI, and edge computing are converging to transform satellite data into real-time supply chain insights, slashing costs by 35%+ and unlocking billions in savings. This tech trio democratizes space intelligence, turning raw orbit data into immediate, actionable decisions.
The convergence of three key technologies – cloud-based applications capable of handling the storage, and computing requirements of processing voluminous data; machine learning (ML) providing advanced image analysis, and edge computing allowing satellites to process image data onboard to turn insights from the earth into actionable response in real-time is revolutionizing supply chain operations.NASA estimates that such space-enabled supply chain management can cut costs by at least 35%, with potential global SCTM (supply chain, transportation, and mobility) sector savings of up to $79 billion annually
These technologies are merging to make the process more efficient, and democratize access to space data insights for companies and governments as well. While Edge AI acts as the intelligent first filter in orbit, ML (in the cloud) becomes the powerful automated analyst, and Cloud provides the limitless, accessible infrastructure for storage and heavy computation. Together, they transform the flood of raw space data into actionable, timely insights available to a vastly wider audience.
One of the pioneers in this space has been Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s start-up Privateer aimed to bring satellite access to the masses through a global online marketplace. Satellite-based data is primarily available to governments, but the company hoped to create a way for private citizens to share the cost of accessing a satellite, potentially bringing the cost down to $50 per image instead of the average price of $500.
The idea of the marketplace sounds simple. Customers who are searching for regional data similar to another individual will be able to share the cost to use the nearest satellite and collect the data. Privateer planned to use various software tools to assist satellite operators with providing the best regional data for customers including artificial intelligence learning. The company has also introduced Pono, a payload satellite attachment that will better assist satellites with processing data.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) in a detailed report writes that “Space is at a tipping point in providing ubiquitous, real-time connectivity, as well as in terms of data collection and distribution. By 2035, there are expected to be more than 6.4 billion space-connected devices across the supply chain network and its infrastructure (compared with just over 3 billion in 2024), as well as nearly 140 billion Internet-of-Things (IOT) connected sensors (compared with approximately 36 billion in 2024).”
All of these developments are fuelling rapid growth in the global space economy, which is projected to expand to $1.8 trillion by 2035, from $630 billion in 2023. But the largest and fastest-growing segment is in an area called SCTM – supply chain, transportation and mobility, according to research by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company.
California-based Planet Labs, a leading provider of daily data and insights about Earth, has launched the Global Renewables Watch, a first-of-its-kind living atlas mapping and measuring utility-scale solar and wind installations across the Earth. First announced in 2022, this collaborative initiative between Planet, Microsoft, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) was made possible by combining Planet’s satellite data, Microsoft’s advanced AI technology, and TNC’s renewable energy subject matter expertise.
This data-rich platform is built on Planet’s PlanetScope basemaps, offering high-cadence satellite imagery dating back to 2018. With this time-series data, users can evaluate energy transitions country-by-country, monitor land-use changes, and track trends over time. With the robust technical capabilities of Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab, and TNC’s scientific rigor, the insights delivered in this platform offer an enlightening glimpse of a rapidly changing world.
As of May 2025, over 11,700 active satellites are orbiting the planet, and the number is rising at a record pace.The dramatic surge is driven largely by private space firms like SpaceX, whose Starlink constellation alone accounts for over 7,400 satellites, or 60% of all active ones. In 2024, a rocket was launched every 34 hours on average, adding more than 2,800 new satellites to orbit in just one-year, Live Science reported. With more satellites poised for launch, and the insatiable demand for data, it is only logical that space will be a new frontier for harvesting data to drive decisions.
“The integration or fusion of data from both space and terrestrial-based sensors will enable a more comprehensive, real-time and accurate view of the supply chain and transportation ecosystem, enabling better decision-making and real-time efficiency improvements.”— Jim Adams, a Partner with McKinsey & Company’s Aerospace &Defense practice.