This is an edited summary of the discussions that took place at GIC Insights 2025 on 18 November 2025 in Singapore.
Note: In accordance with the Chatham House Rule, none of the insights reflect the views of or should be attributed to any single organisation or individual.
The boundary between Earth and space is dissolving. What was once a specialised, high-cost domain is becoming an extension of terrestrial infrastructure. Companies that recognise this Earth-space continuum and are able to integrate orbital and ground-based capabilities will gain a competitive edge.
Satellites: Value beyond connectivity
The space economy is projected to reach US$1.8 trillion by 20351, creating value across industries. In a poll at GIC Insights 2025, almost two-thirds of C-suite leaders identified global satellite infrastructure as having the greatest impact in the next decade.
The impact of satellite networks like Starlink extends far beyond Internet access for remote areas. In regions with limited infrastructure, they enable life-saving applications. By connecting remote schools and supporting robot-assisted healthcare in rural areas, satellite networks are improving access to education and healthcare. In Rwanda, drone delivery networks have reduced maternal mortality rates due to postpartum bleeding by 51% in just five years through timely blood delivery logistics2.
Unlocking space travel and manufacturing
In another poll, 40% cited technology challenges and reliability as the key barriers to space exploration. Advances such as rocket reusability aim to address these concerns. Starship’s fully reusable design could enable up to 1,000 flights per day, transforming launches from bespoke, disposable missions to routine, aircraft-like operations. This shift will lower costs and make space logistics as scalable as air travel.
At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is contributing to improved reliability and efficiency across space operations. It is already used to analyse flight data and verify material certifications, and is increasingly applied to autonomous code generation, testing, and deployment.
These innovations are unlocking new opportunities.
Space-based data centres, for example, offer a solution to terrestrial power shortages and regulatory hurdles by harnessing unlimited solar power and natural cooling in space.
Meanwhile, the Moon is emerging as a potential industrial base. Manufacturing satellites or components on the lunar surface and launching them from there could be significantly cheaper than Earth-based production due to lower gravity. Reliable power is key: the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other space agencies are working to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 20303. While the immediate goal is power generation, these efforts could lay the groundwork for future lunar manufacturing and resource utilisation, ultimately reducing reliance on Earth-based supply chains.
Mars exploration is also entering a new phase. With access limited to 26-month cycles, SpaceX is planning cargo missions to Mars for 2028 and 2030, with crewed missions possible as early as 2032. Each unmanned mission provides critical data on landing precision, resource utilisation, and system reliability. Only after multiple successful landings will a human crew follow, highlighting the importance of incremental progress towards transformational goals.
Fail fast, learn faster
In space engineering, failure is not a setback but a source of data. Each failed test or launch exposes system limits and weaknesses. Not learning from failure is a mistake, but success also teaches little, only confirming what works under specific conditions. Treating failure as a data point, rather than something to avoid, accelerates progress, especially under pressure.
It is equally crucial to distinguish between risk-taking in development and risk management in operations. Calculated risks and rapid learning are vital during development, but operational activities, particularly those involving customers or critical assets, require a disciplined approach that prioritises reliability.
Understanding a company’s failure culture can be as important as analysing its financials. Firms that systematically learn from controlled failure tend to innovate faster and sustain long-term advantage.
Earth-space integration
The convergence of AI and space technology is ushering in a new era of Earth-space integration. As satellite networks and reusable launch systems reshape connectivity, energy systems, and supply chains, new opportunities are emerging in space-based data centres, lunar manufacturing, Mars exploration, and more.
For investors and business leaders, space is no longer the final frontier—it is rapidly becoming the next platform for sustainable growth, technological innovation, and global resilience.
