New space
The Alcimed Aeronautics Space Defense team explores the challenges of New Space, linked to the rise of private players aiming to develop a new space economy, and supports its clients in their understanding of this market, their innovation and development projects for new technologies, and their market access strategies.
Challenges related to new space and the new space economy
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What is New Space and the new space economy?
New Space refers to a movement born in the United States focused on the privatization of access to space. Being an industry once governed by public funding, New Space features new private actors, namely start-ups, whose objective is to make the space industry accessible and inexpensive.
This new space economy has opened up the space race by multiplying public-private partnerships, accelerating its technological evolution, and reinventing its business model, thereby leading to new technological, economic, political, and regulatory challenges.
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What are the challenges related to New Space?
The advent of New Space has profoundly changed the space industry, forcing traditional players to revise their strategies in the face of multiple initiatives from new private players. While this sector is now more accessible than ever, players in the space industry face increasingly critical challenges in order to seize the new opportunities that have opened up.
Among the main challenges facing New Space are:
Privatization has given rise to numerous innovations and new offers leading to a significant technological leap. These range from satellite miniaturization, reusing launchers, and applications centered on satellite data (precision agriculture, navigation, surveillance, air and road traffic monitoring, IoT, etc.), to more futuristic technologies related to in-space manufacturing, space tourism, and the exploitation of resources in orbit. These technological advances are key enablers and catalysts for entering the new private space market.
What technologies should be developed for a new offer? Are they adapted to the needs of the market? What are the main technological barriers to consider? What are the different steps involved in bringing a new space technology to market?
What technologies should be developed for a new offer? Are they adapted to the needs of the market? What are the main technological barriers to consider? What are the different steps involved in bringing a new space technology to market?
The value chain of this new space economy has evolved considerably. While the market was traditionally driven by techno-push initiatives, the industry is now seeing a transition to a market driven by demand and the needs of new space services. The rise of digital technology and the advent of New Space startups have led to the democratization of space-as-a-service and the use of spatial data, giving rise to new service models targeting many segments of application.
What strategic positioning should we adopt in the value chain? What is the most relevant business model for a new space-as-a-service offer? What are the market needs? Which partners should we target for the successful development of new space services?
What strategic positioning should we adopt in the value chain? What is the most relevant business model for a new space-as-a-service offer? What are the market needs? Which partners should we target for the successful development of new space services?
The growing dependence on space is coupled with the arrival of new threats, where space assets become sources of vulnerability for nations. It is now crucial for states to protect their space activities, which have become vital for the economy and societies, by detecting potential threats and ensuring the security of their space operations (risk of collision, cyberattacks, etc.). In addition, as the convergence of the military and the space industry takes shape in different countries, the question of sovereignty becomes inevitable.
How do we ensure the security of space operations? What are the geopolitical risks associated with space activities? How do we ensure digital sovereignty in a new space economy led by American giants?
How do we ensure the security of space operations? What are the geopolitical risks associated with space activities? How do we ensure digital sovereignty in a new space economy led by American giants?
Because not much is known about it, there remains little regulation in space. In the context of increased democratization and ease-of-access thanks to the New Space movement at the international level, many problems have arisen, including the exploitation of space resources and space traffic and space waste management. Indeed, space debris is more and more plentiful (due in particular to mega-constellations), and the majority remains in orbit and poses a danger to space objects, which are at risk of being damaged or even destroyed. Defining an international regulatory framework is key to addressing safety and environmental issues.
How have regulations concerning space management evolved? How do we get involved in the legislative ecosystem? What space debris management solutions should be put in place?
How have regulations concerning space management evolved? How do we get involved in the legislative ecosystem? What space debris management solutions should be put in place?
How do we support you in your projects related to New Space and the new space economy?
Alcimed supports its clients in the New Space era by understanding the new space economy, its challenges, and its ecosystem of players. In this sense, we have accompanied key players in the aeronautics/space/defense industry as well as public players in the space sector on several strategic and innovative projects carried out alongside decision makers (executive committees, strategy directors, marketing directors, innovation directors, etc.) and project managers.
The topics we deal with incorporate the different challenges of New Space. Accordingly, we support our clients as they work to develop new technologies related to space, carry out studies on existing markets or prospective studies on emerging markets, analyze the existing offer and competition, analyze the needs of this new market, etc. We also support our clients in the analysis of regulations and the strategic choice of public or private partnerships. Finally, we help our clients position themselves in the New Space market by defining new offers and diversification strategies, identifying promising segments of application and associated challenges, and evaluating the most suitable business model, value proposition, and go-to-market strategy, taking into account possible scenarios affecting the evolution of the New Space market in the short and long term.
The types of projects we carry out for our clients in this field are:
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A project? Contact our explorers!
EXAMPLES OF RECENT PROJECTS CARRIED OUT FOR OUR CLIENTS IN THE FIELD OF NEW SPACE
We supported a player in the Space field who had developed a concept for offering space services in orbit (satellite movement, refueling, repair, surveillance, debris recovery, etc.) with the goal of being profitable after 7 years.
Our client asked us to challenge the business model of the space tug by analyzing the return on investment of the services envisaged for 2 types of activities: transport (change of orbit and others) and geo-services (inspection, refueling, etc.). First, we studied the land logistics business models. We then worked in collaboration with our client to evaluate and compare the return on investment and the profitability of the various services envisaged. Finally, we considered and compared 3 service provision models (mono-tug vs. multiple-service tug, centralization hub, etc.). This study allowed our client to identify the MVP - Minimum Viable Product - (package of services and type of tug) that would allow it to achieve a return on investment after 7 years.
Our client asked us to challenge the business model of the space tug by analyzing the return on investment of the services envisaged for 2 types of activities: transport (change of orbit and others) and geo-services (inspection, refueling, etc.). First, we studied the land logistics business models. We then worked in collaboration with our client to evaluate and compare the return on investment and the profitability of the various services envisaged. Finally, we considered and compared 3 service provision models (mono-tug vs. multiple-service tug, centralization hub, etc.). This study allowed our client to identify the MVP - Minimum Viable Product - (package of services and type of tug) that would allow it to achieve a return on investment after 7 years.
Alcimed supported a public player in the Space industry to organize and host a round table on New Space as part of an international event addressing the space race and access to space. The main challenge of this round table was to identify how the new space economy was revolutionizing the overall space economy due to the advent and growth of the new private space market, dominated by giants in the field such as SpaceX, BlueOrigin, or OHB. When organizing the event, holding framing meetings with speakers from the international scene made it possible to define the major challenges to be addressed (development of new space technologies, new satellite launch strategies, reusability of launchers, mega-constellations, growth and increased use of space data for the development of new commercial services, deployment of new means of financing and associated new business models, etc.).
In addition, a joint analysis of the needs and expectations of the various players in the ecosystem made it possible to highlight the aforementioned challenges in order to determine how the space race relaunched by New Space allowed the establishment of new inter-state/government collaborations through public-private partnerships.
The result for our client? The realization of a high-level round table covering the challenges of New Space and featuring an international panel (public, private, governmental players, etc.), the relaunch of offers and collaborations related to New Space internationally, the acceleration and creation of incubators around this topic, as well as an increased visibility on the topic.
In addition, a joint analysis of the needs and expectations of the various players in the ecosystem made it possible to highlight the aforementioned challenges in order to determine how the space race relaunched by New Space allowed the establishment of new inter-state/government collaborations through public-private partnerships.
The result for our client? The realization of a high-level round table covering the challenges of New Space and featuring an international panel (public, private, governmental players, etc.), the relaunch of offers and collaborations related to New Space internationally, the acceleration and creation of incubators around this topic, as well as an increased visibility on the topic.
Alcimed supported a player in the Space industry in its initial analysis of the in-space manufacturing and assembly market in order to assess the business potential of the New Space market.
To do this, we identified and characterized the different market segments of space technologies for in-space manufacturing and assembly, the positioning of players, and the types of associated offers. Furthermore, we analyzed the trends, opportunities, and challenges of the market in the short and long term, then we selected the applications that most appealed to our client. We then assessed, through interviews, the perception and expectations of potential customers and key players in the new space economy (NASA, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Maxar Technologies, etc.). This finally enabled us to assess the potential market for manufacturing and assembly technologies in space as well as the barriers to be removed for our client's benefit.
The result for our client? An understanding and a clear short- and long-term vision of the challenges in the market, the ecosystem, and the applications of the greatest appeal, as well as the key actions to be taken to address the in-space manufacturing and assembly market.
To do this, we identified and characterized the different market segments of space technologies for in-space manufacturing and assembly, the positioning of players, and the types of associated offers. Furthermore, we analyzed the trends, opportunities, and challenges of the market in the short and long term, then we selected the applications that most appealed to our client. We then assessed, through interviews, the perception and expectations of potential customers and key players in the new space economy (NASA, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Maxar Technologies, etc.). This finally enabled us to assess the potential market for manufacturing and assembly technologies in space as well as the barriers to be removed for our client's benefit.
The result for our client? An understanding and a clear short- and long-term vision of the challenges in the market, the ecosystem, and the applications of the greatest appeal, as well as the key actions to be taken to address the in-space manufacturing and assembly market.
Alcimed supported a public player in the Space industry in mapping and analyzing business models for the deployment and renewal of private satellite mega-constellations in order to target the best launch capacity vis-à-vis the expectations of the constellation of the new private space market. To do this, we first estimated the launch needs for 2026 by identifying the future constellations, evaluating their business models, and modeling the upcoming launch missions. We then mapped the types of launchers envisaged as well as their capacities, crossed with the needs associated with the launching missions of previously identified constellations. With this early review of launch capacities, we defined the most suitable business plan by modeling forecasts of capacity needs and the pace of launches, and by structuring technical offers adapted to customer needs and missions.
Founded in 1993, Alcimed is an innovation and new business consulting firm, specializing in innovation driven sectors: life sciences (healthcare, biotech, agrifood), energy, environment, mobility, chemicals, materials, cosmetics, aeronautics, space and defence.
Our purpose? Helping both private and public decision-makers explore and develop their uncharted territories: new technologies, new offers, new geographies, possible futures, and new ways to innovate.
Located across eight offices around the world (France, Europe, Singapore and the United States), our team is made up of 220 highly-qualified, multicultural and passionate explorers, with a blended science/technology and business culture.
Our dream? To build a team of 1,000 explorers, to design tomorrow's world hand in hand with our clients.
Our purpose? Helping both private and public decision-makers explore and develop their uncharted territories: new technologies, new offers, new geographies, possible futures, and new ways to innovate.
Located across eight offices around the world (France, Europe, Singapore and the United States), our team is made up of 220 highly-qualified, multicultural and passionate explorers, with a blended science/technology and business culture.
Our dream? To build a team of 1,000 explorers, to design tomorrow's world hand in hand with our clients.
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