McKinsey&Company
Rocket science
.
| • |
Speed demon. Lightning strikes can be extremely dangerous. The good news is that new aerial satellite technology can map lightning flashes precisely, helping scientists to better observe their behavior and better understand how to keep people safe from lightning. In April 2020, one US satellite captured an image of a 477-mile “megaflash”—a massive bolt of lightning that snakes horizontally through storm clouds. The megaflash streaked across three US states, setting a record as the farthest-traveling flash. [Business Insider] |
|
|
| • |
Nowhere to hide. That will soon be the fate of methane emissions as new monitoring technologies make them easier for satellites to detect. A Canadian satellite—no bigger than a microwave oven but with powerful imaging capabilities—has already identified two significant methane leaks while hundreds of miles above Earth. In the next two years, an array of satellites from various countries will be launched to form a methane surveillance ecosystem, which could lead to major progress in the fight against global warming. [Smithsonian] |
|
|
| • |
Space odyssey. Insights gleaned from satellites in space are transforming the way people live and work on Earth, says one top executive of a satellite-data company. For example, data on diseases and pests help farmers improve crop yields, and landscape images monitor changes over time and can help government officials prevent wildfires. Satellites and other technologies advancing the space industry—such as reusable rockets and edge-computing-based sensors—are fueling the growth of what may become a trillion-dollar space economy. |
|
|
| • |
Moon shot. Setting up a base (or two) on the moon is no longer the province of science fiction. Space travel and exploration are likely to become more common by 2030—and there will be many more satellites in orbit, benefiting people on Earth in a variety of ways, says Planet Labs cofounder Robbie Schingler. Read the full interview to discover how using satellite data responsibly can help us become “planetary stewards,” taking care of the Earth rather than just occupying it. |
|
|
| — Edited by Rama Ramaswami |
|
This email contains information about McKinsey’s research, insights, services, or events. By opening our emails or clicking on links, you agree to our use of cookies and web tracking technology. For more information on how we use and protect your information, please review our privacy policy.
|
|
You received this email because you subscribed to the On Point newsletter.
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2022 | McKinsey & Company, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007
|
|
|
|
