Space-Based Technology: The Next Frontier of IT Terrestrial Infrastructure

For most companies, the key to effectively taking advantage of opportunities in space starts with integrating them as extensions of the enterprise.

By: Dave Dimlich, President of SD3IT and Dr. Renee Pizarro, Technology Solutions Director

For decades, space technology was something almost literally a world apart, being largely the responsibility of NASA and its foreign counterparts carrying out highly specialized missions. But in the age of high-speed communications, additive manufacturing, alternative energy, artificial intelligence and commoditized space travel, worlds are quickly colliding. Space-based technology is becoming an extension of terrestrial IT infrastructure, with real implications for how organizations design, secure and operate their environments on the ground.

In a growing number of industries, technology such as satellite networks, orbital sensors and space-enabled communications are no longer niche capabilities, like having a satellite phone to provide talk or data transmissions in remote locations. They are becoming integrated into enterprise architectures and government operations, shaping everything from connectivity to analytics to resilience planning.

There are solid, earthly reasons why companies and institutions are looking to the stars. Some medical research, for example, is more effective when performed in zero-gravity environments. Space-based manufacturing is also a viable option for some industries. Expanded internet connectivity in space, orbiting data centers and solar power platforms are among the other areas attracting interest. And Cold War governments aren’t the only entities that have the technical chops and cash to plan on exploring space, the moon or even Mars, particularly as commercial companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin have made launches less expensive. In fact, private enterprises are outpacing governments in the development of launch, satellite deployment and in-orbit services, and they have already gone on some missions that governments have yet to tackle.

Interest in space-based technology is ramping up so quickly that for some industries getting into the game, it may not just be a good opportunity, but a competitive necessity.

The Evolution of Space Tech as a Part of the Enterprise

Space technology hasn’t been entirely disconnected from Earth-bound uses over the years, but it has followed a kind of trickle-down process where technologies developed for space missions eventually found their way into the lives of everyday people. A wide array of common devices and products, in fact, started with NASA’s space program, from camera phones and CAT scans to memory foam and wireless headsets.

Today, however, innovations and opportunities involving space are being built from the ground up. Space-related technologies are being integrated into commercial enterprise architectures and government operations, shaping everything from connectivity to analytics to resilience planning. In effect, space is becoming another layer in the technology stack.

A key driver, of course, is cost. Missions that once cost billions are now being executed for a fraction of that amount through commercial partnerships making use of reusable launch vehicles and standardized satellite designs that have reduced barriers to entry and accelerated innovation cycles.

The costs of going into space have traced an arc that has brought space flight back to Earth since 1966, when the U.S. government’s Surveyor moon lander flew for $658 million in adjusted 2024 dollars, the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) points out. The Apollo program that followed took humans to the moon for an average cost of $23 billion per launch in adjusted dollars.

In 2024, however, the company Intuitive Machines successfully delivered a lander to the surface of the moon for a cost of $118 million in preparation for the Artemis II mission, which costs an estimated $4.1 billion per launch. And most SpaceX launches cost between $70 and $74 million dollars today.

These recent changes have democratized—and commoditized—space travel. Space is becoming a consumption model with public and private organizations looking to buy space services (as opposed to building and operating their own). The World Economic Forum projects that the space economy will reach $1.8 trillion by 2035. It’s clear that a new array of opportunities is opening up for private companies that can successfully operate within this evolving industry.

Extra-terrestrial Communications

Satellite communications are at the center of the transformation, with low-Earth orbit constellations delivering high-speed, low-latency connectivity to areas that traditional infrastructure cannot reach. Companies such as Amazon, SpaceX, France’s Eutelsat and China’s state-owned Satellite Network Group are building mega communications networks to increase the reach of their communications and expand internet connectivity (which 44% of the world still lacks).

Satellites are getting smaller and more functional, particularly in support of communications. While large satellites like the school-bus-size Hubble telescope are still in use, satellites built for specific purposes can range from 30-foot minisatellites and 16-foot microsatellites, all the way down to tiny 4-inch CubeSats. There are even FemtoSats in orbit these days, which are only a few inches long and weigh about four ounces.

At SD3IT, we see this as part of a broader shift toward hybrid infrastructure models, where organizations blend on-premises, cloud, edge and now space-based capabilities to meet mission requirements.

Earth Observation as a Real-Time Data Layer

If connectivity is one pillar, data is the other. Advanced Earth observation systems are rapidly evolving into a real-time diagnostic layer for the planet. Satellites can capture high-resolution, multi-spectrum imagery and pair it with AI-driven analytics to detect changes as they happen. This enables use cases that go far beyond traditional imaging.

In agriculture, organizations can monitor crop health and optimize yields. In energy and utilities, they can detect leaks or infrastructure issues early. In government, agencies can track environmental changes, manage disasters and improve urban planning. Companies like Planet Labs operate constellations of CubeSats to provide satellite images of the Earth, which can be paired with AI-driven analytics to monitor the surface and detect changes as they happen. The speed is of note. Data that once took days or weeks to process can now be analyzed in near-real time, fundamentally changing decision-making.

For IT leaders, this introduces a new category of data ingestion and analytics requirements, with space-derived data becoming part of enterprise data pipelines.

Space Emerges as a Service Layer

We are also seeing the rise of entirely new capabilities that extend beyond communication and observation. In-orbit servicing is moving toward routine maintenance and upgrades of satellites, including refueling and repairs, extending satellites’ lifespans and reducing costs.

Space-based manufacturing also is emerging as organizations find real advantages in leveraging microgravity and high-vacuum environments to produce materials and pharmaceuticals that cannot be created on Earth. Larger protein crystals possible in microgravity, for instance, can aid in drug development. Higher quality fibers and semiconductors are possible in space as opposed to on Earth. Solar power arrays delivering power to ground stations will also likely become common.

Integrating Space Into the IT Environment

Space technology isn’t something far off on the horizon. It is here, becoming an integral part of the technology ecosystem, impacting how we think about infrastructure, data and connectivity.

Despite all the momentum, there are challenges organizations need to consider. Profitability remains a concern for many emerging space companies, particularly in new and unproven markets. Regulatory frameworks, especially around data usage and international collaboration, are still evolving. Technical and operational risks also come into play, in the form of cybersecurity threats, signal interference and physical hazards such as space debris, not to mention all those takeoffs and landings.

Perhaps most importantly, organizations need to address the complexity of integrating space-based capabilities into their existing environments. It won’t be plug-and-play, but it will require careful planning, architecture design and ongoing management.

At SD3IT, our focus is on helping organizations navigate these transitions, whether on the ground or in orbit. That means evaluating where space-based capabilities can add value, ensuring they are integrated securely and effectively, and aligning them with mission objectives—the same as with any other new technology or service.

Organizations that approach space as an extension of their IT environment, rather than a separate domain, will be the ones best positioned to capitalize on its potential.

About SD3IT

Solution Driven, Designed and Delivered Technology (SD3IT) provides advanced IT solutions that help organizations modernize infrastructure, enhance security and improve operational performance. By aligning emerging technologies with mission needs, SD3IT delivers practical, scalable outcomes across government and commercial environments.