This paper studies the impact of procurement on supplier firms. Specifically, we empirically investigate the direct and indirect mechanisms through which public procurement influences firmsโ€™ performance in the Italian space industry. Our research strategy involves conducting a survey of firms and analysing the results with econometric tools, and we interpret qualitative data from interviews as cross-validation. We found that space procurement generates two outcomes in firms: โ€œintermediate outcomesโ€โ€”i.e., learning, collateral innovation, and market penetrationโ€”and โ€œfinal outcomesโ€โ€”i.e., profit and sales, business development, and employmentโ€”and that the former mediate the impact of procurement on the latter. Our results offer insights into understanding the role of public procurement from the suppliersโ€™ perspective.