Shows
On OrbitD2D and Defense Momentum: Takeaways from World Space Business WeekBack from Paris, Via Satellite Editor Mark Holmes joins On Orbit host Rachel Jewett to unpack some of the top takeaways from World Space Business Week. Two themes drove much of the conversation during the week — direct-to-device (D2D) and defense. Spectrum was a big topic of conversation with SpaceX's big spectrum buy and Viasat and Space42 unveiling a new shared spectrum approach to D2D. And while defense demand is not new, it's driving conversations from satellite connectivity, imagery, and manufacturing, as Europe in particular is working though what increased defense spending means for space capabilities. Change was a...
2025-09-3044 minOn OrbitNavigating the Space Regulatory Environment in 2025 With River Advisers CEO Alexis MartinNavigating the space regulatory environment can be one of the biggest challenges for companies whether they are startups or established operators. Consulting firm River Advisers is trusted for its strategic regulatory advice to satcom operators, assisting with market access, licensing, and spectrum management. On Orbit host Rachel Jewett spoke with River Advisers CEO Alexis Martin on the first day of the SATELLITE conference in D.C. about some of the most pressing regulatory issues impacting the satellite sector right now, like developing regulatory regimes for direct-to-device connectivity and differences in the international regulatory landscape. He also details gro...
2025-03-2531 minOn Orbit2024 Year in Review With Via Satellite EditorsThere's never a slow news day in the space and satellite industry and there's a lot to talk about from 2024 — from SES's acquisition of Intelsat, Starlink's commercial wins, challenges with some of the biggest manufacturers, and new launch vehicles coming online. Host Rachel Jewett is joined by fellow Via editors Mark Holmes and Jeff Hill for a discussion of some of the biggest storylines of 2024. The discussion centers around the top storylines from operators, manufacturers, and launchers, and why these are the critical stories that we'll be covering as they continue to develop in 2025.
2024-12-1754 minOn OrbitWhat a Trump or Harris Election Win Means for the Space and Satellite IndustryThis week's On Orbit podcast is a topical look at space policy in the U.S. election. Host Rachel Jewett is joined by fellow Via editor Jeff Hill for a conversation with Svetla Ben-Itzhak, assistant professor of Space and International Relations and Deputy Director with the West Space Scholars Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Ben-Itzhak recently wrote a piece for The Conversation about the implications of Musk's endorsement of Donald Trump for U.S. space exploration and defense. This is an increasingly pertinent issue as reports from national news outlets like the...
2024-10-2244 minOn Orbit2023 Year in Review With Via Satellite Editors2023 was a big year in news in the satellite industry. Nearly all the top operators saw a mix of leadership changes, mergers and acquisitions, and major constellation updates. In this episode, Via Satellite editors Rachel Jewett, Mark Holmes, and Jeff Hill recap some of the biggest announcements in the satellite sector of 2023, and how they set the stage for 2024. This is our last episode of the year and we'll be back with new episodes in January. Thank you for listening to On Orbit this year!
2023-12-1954 min
On OrbitOur 100th Episode, Featuring Startup Space Winner Jacqueline GoodThe On Orbit podcast has reached 100 episodes! Thank to our listeners for tuning in over the past three years for engaging conversations with the people driving the business of space. In this episode, co-hosts Jeff Hill and Rachel Jewett commemorate the milestone by looking back on some of their favorite episodes, and share a highlight reel of clips. This episode's guest is Jacqueline Good, founder of Magnestar and winner of the 2023 Startup Space competition. We talk with Jacqueline after her Startup Space win and dig into the issue of signal interference and how Magnestar is working to he...
2023-05-231h 08
On OrbitBoeing's Michelle Parker on the Evolving Landscape of Satellite ManufacturingMichelle Parker recently took on a new role as vice president of Space Mission Systems at Boeing. After restructuring Boeing Defense, Space & Security last year, Boeing brought all satellite programs together under Space Mission Systems including commercial and government satellites, Spectrolab and Millennium Space Systems in one organization. Michelle has a long career in the satellite industry, starting out more than 25 years ago with Hughes' satellite division before it was acquired by Boeing, where she worked on the thermal design of the original 702 platform. Now she is tasked with integrating these teams and recognizing synergies across the bus...
2023-03-2839 min
On OrbitCan I Work in Space? Evona's Tom Kelly on Expanding the Sector WorkforceThe space industry is in a race for talent, to hire bright and innovative people to propel companies forward to meet their bold growth projections. While working in the space industry used to be a more insular career path, the industry's rapid expansion with new startups and technologies is driving a push to bring more people into the industry's workforce. Executives have been open about feeling the crunch for talent, and even the White House is getting involved. Recruiting firm Evona is part of the solution. The recruiting firm specializes in space — especially bringing new people into the...
2023-01-1747 min
On OrbitFuture Space Economy Series: The Next Giant LeapThis is the very first episode of the On Orbit Podcast's new "Future Space Economy" educational series – designed to educate audiences about the opportunities, challenges, risks, and rewards of expanding economic activity off-world. This webcast series will highlight specific activities in space, ranging from healthcare, research, mining, tourism, and energy. In this debut episode, titled "The Next "Giant Leap" – How Industry, Technology, and People Move Off Earth to Create a New Economy in Space," On Orbit host Jeffrey Hill is joined by: Dr. Alison Perez, Ventures Investment & Portfolio Manager, Lockheed Martin Ventures; Carolyn Belle, Director, Advanced Syst...
2022-12-201h 07
On OrbitHow Space Startups Score Seed Investment in a Crowded, Competitive MarketA wave of capital investment has poured into new space companies over the past few years, as investors searched for the next big disruptive space technology. It's not yet known if the fragile state of today's global economy has slowed this momentum. Do investors remain as hungry for space startups as they were five to 10 years ago? Are investors being more cautious and selective as they navigate through an unusual market environment? In this episode, investor judges from this year's Startup Space competition at SATELLITE 2023 will explain how their early-stage seed investment strategies have changed and how en...
2022-12-071h 11
On OrbitDoes the iPhone 14's Satellite Service Signal Stronger Space-Cellular Industry Relationships?The relationship between satellite operators and cellular wireless carriers has always been complicated, vacillating between being close business partners, fierce competitors, and regulatory rivals. Though dwarfed in size by its cellular wireless peers, satellite operators have endured and maintained a relatively stable co-existence in the telecommunications family. However, something has changed recently that has put satellites in the spotlight, driving companies like T-Mobile and Apple to sign contracts and partnerships to utilize satellite services and integrate them with their own. There seems to be a renewed curiosity about space connectivity happening in the wireless world. To figure o...
2022-10-1154 min
On OrbitAdventures in Paris: World Satellite Business Week Wrap-UpWorld Satellite Business Week (WSBW) has wrapped up in Paris capping off what has been a very busy summer for the satellite industry. Via Satellite Managing Editor Rachel Jewett attended the week-long event, covering a number of executive panel sessions for the magazine's e-newsletter. She joins us on the On Orbit podcast to outline the key takeaways from the conference and what she learned behind-the-scenes. Rachel explains how the CEOs from the world's largest satellite operators responded to some of the biggest news stories of the season, including Eutelsat's combination with OneWeb, SpaceX's Starlink partnership with T-Mobile...
2022-09-2145 min
On OrbitSuper-Charged Hyperspectral Satellite Imaging with Dan Katz, Orbital SidekickOn this episode of the On Orbit podcast, Orbital Sidekick Founder and CEO Dan Katz joins us to talk about the souped-up Global Hyperspectral Observation Satellite (GHOSt) constellation his company is launching to help global industry and government customers achieve their sustainability goals. Hyperspectral imagery is yet another product of the rapid evolution of satellite data collection technologies we've seen during the past decade. Katz and Orbital Sidekick describe it as "the highest dimensional way of seeing." Hyperspectral imagery systems can capture more than 500 narrow contiguous color bands and reflectance features in the visible and infrared light spec...
2022-08-3047 min
On OrbitSpaceflight's Curt Blake on the Future of Multi-Orbit RidesharingSpaceflight has shipped its brand new fully integrated Sherpa-LTC orbital transfer vehicle to Cape Canaveral for launch on SpaceX's Falcon 9 and signed a deal with Arianespace to launch on Vega missions as soon as next year. Spaceflight CEO Curt Blake joined us on the podcast to talk about what these latest versions of Sherpa can do and the challenges of delivering satellites beyond LEO to trans-lunar, low-lunar, and GEO orbits. We also talked about the benefits of green propulsion technology, the company's relationship with SpaceX as it progresses toward a Starlink mission launch later this m...
2022-08-1832 min
On OrbitCloud to Street Transforms Climate Change-Era Flood Insurance with Satellite DataNews coverage of extreme weather events and flooding has brought climate change to the forefront of public consciousness. As this flooding displaces and endangers life on Earth and causes trillions of dollars worth of damage to the larger economy, the flood insurance industry finds itself on the forefront of a serious problem that requires it to evolve the way it utilizes data quickly to save both itself and the well-being of its customers. In comes Cloud to Street — a company that is utilizing satellite imagery and data and integrating it with data on the ground to more ac...
2022-07-1247 min
On OrbitCan Europe's Newest Spaceports Turn the Continent into a Global Launch Hub?In order to have meaningful access to space to meet the demand for launch services, the world needs more spaceports and launch centers. British and European launch services could also use new spaceports. Flying payloads to launch facilities across the ocean in French Guiana or the United States can get expensive. Because of the war in Ukraine, Russia is no longer a viable option. In this episode of Via Satellite's On Orbit Podcast, we are joined by Satellite Applications Catapult COO Lucy Edge, who is working with partners to build the new spaceport in Cornwall, U.K...
2022-06-2154 min
On OrbitUS, UK, and Argentine Government End Users Outline What They Need from Commercial PartnersOn this special episode of On Orbit, government satellite technology program directors from the United States, United Kingdom, and Argentina join us to explain how they are working directly with commercial providers to get connectivity directly in the hands of enterprise, civil service, and military end users. During this conversation, we interview Dr. Daniel Massey, Operation 5G to NextG lead for the U.S. Department of Defense, Arfan Chaudhry, head of International Strategy for the U.K. government's BEIS Space Directorate, and Pablo Recalt, head of the Steering Committee for Argentina's Chamber of Internet, CABASE. Daniel, Arfan, and...
2022-05-2444 min
On OrbitBoosting Smallsats to Geostationary Orbit With GeoJump's Isa FritzYou may not realize it, but the distance between Low-Earth Orbit, where most small satellites reside, and Geostationary Orbit, where nearly all of the much larger satellites live, is pretty significant. At more than 21,000 miles above LEO, GEO is a challenging orbit for smallsats to reach and maintain effective operations. Believing that there is a viable and profitable future for smallsats in GEO orbit, Isa Fritz co-founded GeoJump and took on the role of its chief technology officer. The company's mission is to open the door to GEO for budget-conscious smallsat operators. By utilizing a Sherpa-ES orbital trans...
2022-05-0333 min
On OrbitStartup Space Winner Dr. Luisa Buinhas of Vyoma Balances Building Tech and Building Her BusinessOn this episode of On Orbit, we welcome the grand prize winner of the 2022 Startup Space entrepreneur pitch contest, Dr. Luisa Buinhas. She is the co-founder of Vyoma Space, a space debris mitigation technology company based in Germany. With a background in aerospace engineering specialized in space mission design and maneuver optimization, Buinhas leads the development of Vyoma's space program in its ambition to become a trusted partner in protecting satellite operators and space-faring nations from dangerous debris. To accomplish this, Vyoma is building a constellation of space debris tracking satellites equipped with sensor systems and on-board...
2022-04-1929 min
On OrbitWhy Argentina is Investing in a Future-Focused, Government-Supported Space EconomyAfter a short break following the SATELLITE 2022 conference, Via Satellite's On Orbit podcast returns with a very special interview with two of Argentina's top science and technology government officials. Argentina's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Daniel Filmus and his colleague Matías Kulfas, Argentina's Minister of Productive Development, join On Orbit host Jeffrey Hill to explain why their nation is investing in building the largest space economy in South America. Filmus and Kulfas share details about their plan to build a launch facility outside of Buenos Aires, the importance of their working relationship with Argentina's civil s...
2022-04-0627 min
On OrbitSpace Gets Caught in the Crossfire of Russia's War on UkraineOn Feb. 24, 2022, Russia demolished the foundation of the world's geopolitical and financial structure by commencing a military invasion of Ukraine. The West quickly responded in unison with a new form of strategic financial warfare and implemented a wall of economic sanctions designed to isolate Russia from the global economy. The war caught everyone off guard, including the commercial space industry, which found itself in the crosshairs of Russia's first counterattack to the sanctions. In a bizarre Twitter rant, Dmitry Rogozin, head of Russia's Roscosmos, announced he was essentially holding U.K. constellation operator On...
2022-03-1635 min
On OrbitAsia's Satellite Bandwidth Market Prepares for a Post-COVID ReboundThe overall global demand for satellite-connected applications has been steadily increasing during the past decade, and market researchers expect this trend to continue. But this growth hasn't been evenly distributed, especially the Asia Pacific region, which includes nations like China with vast and complex fiber networks and others like Indonesia, with some of the most robust backhaul markets in the world. In this interview, On Orbit host Jeffrey Hill speaks with APT Satellite Co. Executive Vice President Huang Bauzhong about the state of the Asia Pacific and Chinese Ku-band markets, regulatory challenges in the East, and the op...
2022-03-0928 min
On OrbitStartup Space 2022 Entrepreneurs Battle for Million-Dollar Pitch MeetingOne of nine startup entrepreneurs will soon find themselves on a 30-minute pitch call with some of the most powerful investors in the space sector, including Tess Hatch, Seraphim Capital, Toyota Ventures, and the former mayor of Washington D.C., now at MaC Venture Capital. To earn this phone call, they must beat out the other eight competitors in this year's Startup Space pitch competition taking place on Tuesday, March 22 at the SATELLITE 2022 conference. On this episode of On Orbit, we're joined by competition organizer Rafferty Jackson of Jack Industries to talk about the impact Startup Space...
2022-02-2351 min
On OrbitBryceTech's Carissa Christensen Shares the Science of Space Industry SoothsayingAs more and more commercial space companies go public and their technologies become more entwined with other industries, the demand for accurate and detailed information on how these businesses prosper has never been higher. This has made veteran space sector analysts like today's guest, Carissa Christensen, founder and CEO of BryceTech, so valuable to everyone from the common shareholder to the largest global investment firms. She's been quoted in several media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Wired. Her data plays an important role in establishing realistic expectations for her clients, the greater business community...
2022-02-0835 min
On OrbitGSOA's Satellite Spectrum, Space Sustainability Mission Goes GlobalThis past December, the CEO members of the EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA) announced that the organization was changing its name to the Global Satellite Operators' Association (GSOA) — the second evolution in the near 30-year-old industry alliance. Emerging out of the infancy of the European Union in the '90s, the organization pushed to educate the continent's new governance of the capabilities of satellite connectivity systems. It has since grown to include more than 30 member organizations, including most recently Amazon, APT, ARSAT, Intersputnik, Lockheed Martin, Omnispace, and Star One. On this episode of Via Satellite's On Orbit, we spo...
2022-01-2538 min
On OrbitWorld-Renowned Physicist Dr. Michio Kaku Explains Our Future in SpaceThe very first On Orbit podcast episode of 2022 features a discussion about the possibilities and challenges related to our future in space with one of the most influential physicists in the world today. Dr. Michio Kaku, science correspondent for "CBS This Morning," and an international best selling author of 10 books, was recently awarded a lifetime achievement award by The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation for "exceptional contributions as a theoretical physicist, futurist, and science popularizer." Just moments before receiving the award, Kaku joined us for a discussion about humanity's recent accomplishments in space and his role in popularizing...
2022-01-1124 min
On OrbitWhy Does the Space Industry Struggle with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace?Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are transforming the modern workplace culture to more accurately reflect the reality of its workforce. It hasn't been an easy transition for today's fast-paced, high-tech global industries, especially compacted with the impact of COVID-19 on business operations. The increased focus on DEI is a natural result of the increasingly diverse modern workforce, the expansion of STEM education programs, globalization of the tech industry, increasing demand for young talent, and increased awareness of wage gaps between different demographic groups of people. The space industry has been addressing DEI workforce issues for...
2021-12-211h 03
On OrbitFormer Blue Origin President Rob Meyerson: Will Private Capital Fund Off-World Infrastructure?On this episode of On Orbit, C5 Capital's Rob Meyerson explains how private investors define "space infrastructure" both as physical constructs and investment opportunities. Meyerson was one of the first employees of Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launch company, serving as its president until 2018. Since leaving the launch industry, he has built a broad space sector investment portfolio. He also serves as the executive producer of ASCEND, a new platform created by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) to promote space technology development and infrastructure investment. Meyerson's roots in the launch sector give him unique insight...
2021-12-0734 min
On OrbitTaiwan's Space Startups are Creating a Global Sandbox for Low-Earth OrbitOn this episode of On Orbit, we are joined by the second of our two Startup Space 2021 entrepreneur pitch event winners, TMY Technologies (TMYTek) Co-Founder and Vice President Ethan Lin. TMYTek is a millimeter-wave total solution and ground systems provider based in Taiwan. Lin and his team at TMYTek are dedicated to solving millimeter-wave challenges in the 5G era. The company incorporates phased array technology with what it calls its advanced "antenna-in-package" technology. Lin leads TMYTek's software technology and marketing teams and helps the company raise funding. A self-described serial entrepreneur who has founded three c...
2021-11-2333 min
On OrbitHow Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo Caught the Space BugThis past September at the SATELLITE show, leaders from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service joined representatives from privately owned weather forecasting companies for a discussion titled "How State-of-the-Art Satellite Weather Forecasting Saves the World." The group outlined how advancements in satellite weather forecasting technology are responsible for saving millions of lives every year and trillions of dollars in government and private industry costs. It was one of the more fascinating and informative discussions of the conference, and what made it so effective was that the concept for the conference session was conceived, and...
2021-11-0937 min
On OrbitHawkeye 360's Serafini: 'You Can't Be a Part-Time Government Data Provider'Hawkeye 360 sees itself as unique among space-based data services. Instead of collecting data through imagery, or Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Hawkeye 360 maps Radio Frequency emissions to produce what they call space-based RF analytics. Unique solutions solve unique problems, and so, Hawkeye 360 has been able to carve out its own distinct business in a crowded field, while also partnering with a large number of its peers. Another fascinating aspect of the company's distinctiveness is its business model, and this is exactly why we invited Hawkeye 360 CEO John Serafini on the podcast. If you've listened to our recent discussions...
2021-10-2632 min
On OrbitMonth in Review: Blue Origin Blues, Data for Everything, and Chasing SpaceXOn this episode of On Orbit, Via Satellite Managing Editor Rachel Jewett joins us to unpack what has been a whirlwind month for the space industry. Blue Origin just sent actor William Shatner, Blue Origin Vice President Audrey Powers, former NASA engineer Chris Boshuizen, and Medidata CEO Glen de Vries 347,539 feet above ground level into space and safely returned the crew to Earth. This was the Jeff Bezos-founded launch company's 19th consecutive successful crew capsule landing. The mission carries symbolic weight, as Shatner, known worldwide as Star Trek's Captain Kirk, is responsible for bringing a significant amount...
2021-10-1550 min
On OrbitHow Startup Space's Youngest-Ever Winner Found Gold in NASA's Idea Storage ClosetAdisesh Yeragudi just graduated from Rutgers University... and also became Startup Space's youngest-ever competition winner at SATELLITE 2021. His company, AV SpaceTech, is building a modular ion space propulsion engine — the Xe-1 — a disc composed of engine layers that can be added or removed to increase or decrease power. The concept image is stunning, but what's even more stunning is how and where Adisesh first stumbled across the idea… In this episode of On Orbit, host Jeffrey Hill talks to Adi about how he was inspired by his father (who is also an entrepreneur) to start this b...
2021-09-3031 min
On OrbitSupercomputing in Software-Defined SpaceComputer software has been an integral part of our lives and the global economy for at least the last 35 years. Interestingly, the space environment, by comparison, has only recently become "software-defined" — with programmable satellites, robotics, AI, and machine learning becoming more commonplace in orbit. The demand for significant processing power, storage and better intelligence has simultaneously created a huge new market for space tech companies. In this episode, Ramon.Space CEO Avi Shabtai joins us to explain the software-defined space revolution. Shabtai, whose startup aims to bring supercomputing and a variety of new in-space applications to satellites, ou...
2021-08-3127 min
On OrbitA Battle Against Physics: Building the Perfect Low-Cost Satellite AntennaIf you've purchased a new car in the last decade, you probably also own a mobile satellite antenna – albeit for satellite radio. These antennas became standard issue for new automobiles because they are small enough and cheap enough to mass produce. Delivering radio services one-way is a lot less complicated than delivering satellite internet, and yet, the goal for satellite broadband antenna developers is the same – make an antenna system small and cheap enough to mass produce so that more industries and more consumers can afford to adopt them. Our guest for today's episode is the moderator of on...
2021-08-1732 min
On OrbitAstronaut & Author Ron Garan Explains How Space Travel Changes PerspectiveWith all the recent talk about space tourism and whether or not the "Overview Effect" — the personal change one experiences when seeing the Earth from space — is worth the money and risk of a ride to space, there is no better person to talk to than former NASA Astronaut and Air Force jet pilot Col. Ron Garan. He's written multiple books on the subject. For more than a quarter of a century, Garan flew on nearly every modern air and spacecraft under nearly every circumstance imaginable. He was one of the last astronauts to travel to the Inte...
2021-08-0339 min
On OrbitSeeking New Ground for New SpaceRecognizing the amount of change that the New Space movement delivered to the aerospace industry, ST Engineering iDirect wants to cultivate that same level of disruption in the complex world of ground systems. The company, which exists as the result of several merged legacy ground technology brands, is throwing its support behind a "New Ground" movement, which it hopes will catch on at the SATELLITE 2021 show in September. ST Engineering iDirect CTO Frederik Simoens has seen ground-based space technologies evolve from gigantic physical structures to virtual programs in the cloud. The ground systems he oversees must work...
2021-07-2028 min
On OrbitVia Satellite's 10 Hottest Space Companies of 2021In this episode, On Orbit host Jeffrey Hill joins Via Satellite Editor-in-Chief Mark Holmes and Managing Editor Rachel Jewett to reveal and explain the team's picks for the magazine's ultra-popular 10 Hottest Satellite Companies for 2021. This list includes what we feel are 10 of the most buzzworthy companies with a lot to prove, and a lot riding on what happens over the next 12 months. Executives of these companies will be featured as guests on future episodes. To access Via Satellite's full list of the 10 Hottest Companies of 2021, visit http://interactive.satellitetoday.com/via/july-2021/the-10-hottest-satellite-companies-in-2021.
2021-07-0646 min
On OrbitAstronaut Sandra Magnus Takes on Optical Satellites, Human Spaceflight, and SustainabilityVery few people understand the realities of space like former NASA Astronaut Dr. Sandra Magnus. After all, she spent more than 150 days — nearly half a year of her life — living in space. Her perspective on what is and isn't possible with space and satellite technology is uniquely grounded in experience. Dr. Magnus is optimistic about the future of human spaceflight and satellite communications, but that excitement comes with some concern about the challenges we face in our rapid development of commercial space. She believes that we have the talent and capability in the private sector to solve these...
2021-06-2239 min
On OrbitEmily Calandrelli Demystifies Space for Netflix and Tik TokWhen it comes to science influencers, Emily Calandrelli is a household name for a new generation of space enthusiasts. If you have kids, you may know her from "Emily's Wonder Lab" on Netflix, which brought DIY science experiments into viewers' homes during the pandemic lockdown. She's also the long-running host of "Xploration Outer Space," and a speaker and the author of the Ada Lace children's book series. While Emily's communication style is fun and accessible, she has a rigorous science and engineering background underpinning her work, with two master's degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In...
2021-06-0844 min
On OrbitThe Future Legacy of Alabama's 'Rocket City'Before it became known as "Rocket City," Huntsville, Alabama was more of a one stop-sign town. Things changed after World War II, when the U.S. Army recruited German scientists and other leaders to move to the area and develop rocket technology. Over the next 60 years, Huntsville would grow into the state's second largest city, and home to a new generation of innovative space companies like Aevum. The transformation of Rocket City had a profound influence on Aevum CEO Jay Skylus' upbringing. "The city created a workforce of engineers that had to think about design and technology...
2021-05-2548 min
On OrbitQuebec's Space Economy Jumps to LightspeedBy investing in cities, the commercial space industry can work wonders for local economies by creating new jobs, attracting new talent, and establishing long-term, future-facing tech hubs. That's exactly what Canadian satellite operator Telesat plans to do for the province of Quebec. This past February, the government of Québec agreed to invest 400 million Canadian dollars ($316 million) in Telesat's new Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation in return for a $1.6 billion investment into Québec's high-tech economy. Telesat will move most of Lightspeed's manufacturing and operations to the Canadian province — a project that includes the establishment of a new netwo...
2021-05-1132 min
On Orbit(Space) Graphic Design is My PassionOur latest episode of the On Orbit podcast is all about design. Not spacecraft design, or satellite engineering, but graphic design in the space industry. Visual and graphic design elements play an important, yet often overlooked role in our community's ability to communicate. For an industry that basically lives at the cutting edge, the look and feel of it can sometimes be a little stagnant — lots of blacks, blues, and grays. Most people will tell you that this is due to either the strict and rigid requirements and culture of end-users, or the reliance on design contractors wh...
2021-04-271h 03
On OrbitEric Berger, Elon Musk, and the Stars of SpaceX's Origin StoryEric Berger, a soft-spoken Ars Technica journalist, meteorologist, and lover of all things space-related, has spent a lot of time with Elon Musk during the past few years. While watching the billionaire SpaceX founder closely as he sat in on board meetings and gathering with his family on flights to Texas, Berger discovered the formula behind the company's two-decade ascension to space industry dominance. It starts with Musk — an enthralling, passionate, laser-focused, relentless, moody, and sometimes difficult leader, with a unique gift for engineering. His greatest talent, according to Berger, may be his ability to loca...
2021-04-1342 min
On OrbitFarmer Charlie's Space-Powered Smart Agritech PlatformBetty Bonnardel and I share a unique connection to the Alps. In 2015, I traveled to Northern Italy's Dolomites to research my family history. Before coming to the United States, my ancestors tended small apple orchards and vineyards carved into the side of steep mountains. At the same time I was conducting this research, Betty Bonnardel was visiting apple orchards on the French side of the Alps — a trip that would inspire the creation of her new space-based smart agritech startup, Farmer Charlie. A 25+ year space industry veteran and chair of SSPI's U.K. chapter, Betty found a pa...
2021-03-3030 min
On OrbitPack Your Bags! We're Going on a Space Vacation!Space vacations are a real thing! If you want to see the Earth from a brand new perspective, and experience weightlessness like a real astronaut, and you have a few million dollars to spare, you can sign up right now! Space Adventures will take you to Low Earth Orbit and beyond on a SpaceX Falcon 9. Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin will also start opening up space tourism lines in the near future. But, what is the space tourism experience really like? Is it safe? How long is the trip? Will they serve food? Do I have to...
2021-03-1657 min
On OrbitMourning a Lost Satellite: How In-Space's Doug Liddle Bounced Back from a Tragic Launch FailureSatellite builders form a unique bond with their spacecraft. In-Space CEO Doug Liddle described his start-up's first satellite, Faraday-1, as a 'precious child' that he raised for 18 months before turning it over to the launch gods. This past July, the gods proved to be especially cruel to Liddle and the In-Space team, as the satellite was lost during a failed launch on Rocket Lab's Electron rocket. In this episode, Liddle takes us behind the scenes of the Faraday-1 loss, and explains how he was able to pull himself, and his team together to bounce back from the incident.
2021-03-0235 min
On OrbitThe Creative Process of Virgin Orbit's Storyteller, Kendall RussellVirgin Orbit's LauncherOne spacecraft is like a Russian matryoshka doll. A plane takes off carrying a rocket, which is carrying a satellite payload. Once in air, the rocket then takes off from the plane and flies toward space. When it reaches orbit, the rocket dispenses its satellites to their intended destinations… Watching this all happen on the ground is Kendall Russell, Virgin Orbit's communication officer, who will spend the next few moments trying to figure out how to explain this complicated process to journalists and space watchers around the world. Three years ago, he was writing about la...
2021-02-1628 min
On OrbitKhristian Jones Chats Patti Grace Smith FellowshipKhristian Jones is a senior aerospace engineering student at Wichita State University, and one of the co-founders of the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship. The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship, an official spin-off of the Brooke Owens Fellowship, provides Black undergraduate students with paid summer internships at aerospace companies and nonprofits. The fellowship was launched in 2020, and is named after Patti Grace Smith, an aerospace industry leader who ran the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation. In this episode, we talk to Khristian about what sparked her passion for STEM, and how the Patti...
2021-02-0224 min
On Orbit2020 in Review and the Decade Ahead With Euroconsult's Maxime PuteauxIn this episode, Maxime Puteaux, principal advisor at Euroconsult, gives us the rundown of satellite trends in 2020, as well as what he sees happening in the decade ahead. Puteaux reviews a forecast of satellite manufacturing and launch services, pegged to a recent Euroconsult report on the subject. Looking back at 2020, Puteaux notes it was the first time in a single year that more than 1,000 satellites were launched — 70% of those were from SpaceX's Starlink — a number will become a new standard, driven by the replacement of the commercial constellations. Moving forward, Euroconsult expects 50% of the demand for new satellites...
2021-01-2029 min
On OrbitFueling Up in Space With Orbit Fab's Dan FaberSpace startup Orbit Fab is working to establish gas stations in space. The company announced plans to launch its first operational fuel depot into orbit and secured additional seed funding from Munich Re Ventures. For CEO Dan Faber, this isn't his first rodeo, as he's built startups before. But with Orbit Fab, he's hoping that by enabling satellite refueling, it will lead to a bustling in-space economy for new industries like space tourism, manufacturing, and mining. He also believes that this is an important step in allowing humans to move beyond Earth. In this episode...
2020-12-2227 min
On OrbitSIA's Therese Jones Chats Zed Factor FellowshipTherese Jones is the senior director of policy at the Satellite Industry Association (SIA). She works on issues such as universal access to broadband, as well as more recently, space policy as it pertains to the Biden administration transition. She's also one of the co-founders of the Zed Factor Fellowship, a fellowship announced in November which aims to provide opportunities for underrepresented aerospace professionals. She had the idea for a while, but finally had the resources and team to make it a reality. In this episode we talk about her transition from astronomer to space p...
2020-12-0830 min
On OrbitFrom Launch Dreams to Laser Beams With Tina Ghataore of MynaricTina Ghataore is currently the President of Mynaric USA, the U.S. branch of Mynaric, which specializes in laser communications. Ghataore has had a long career in the satellite industry and prior to this role, she has worked for YahSat, Panasonic Aviation, Boeing, and more, flexing both her engineering and business development skills. Ghataore’s love for space started with her childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut. Although she couldn’t realize that dream with the resources she had, she’s been involved in the space industry her entire career. She recently moved back to the U.S. aft...
2020-11-2342 min
On OrbitHow Astroscale's Carolyn Belle Sees the Future of the Space EconomyCarolyn Belle has held a variety of jobs in the space industry, but her vision remains the same: a future that focuses on building space-based infrastructure to enable a dynamic in-space economy. She recently started her current gig, where she's the director of advanced systems at Astroscale US, and works on supporting the move toward a more sustainable future in space. She's also passionate about diversifying the culture of the space industry. Incorporating women, People of Color (POC), and people of all abilities — including those with hidden disabilities — will only positively benefit our advancement in space. In...
2020-11-1032 min
On OrbitWhat Does the 2020 Election Mean for Space Policy?What would a second Trump administration or new Biden administration mean for space policy? In this episode, we talk to Via Satellite Managing Editor Rachel Jewett and SATELLITE Chairman and Via Satellite Executive Editor Jeff Hill and about each candidate's plans for space. What has been said, and what are the pros and cons of each candidate for the space industry? We discuss Jewett's election preview in Via's October issue, as well as speculate about what the FCC could look like under continuing Ajit Pai leadership, or if potential Biden pick Jessica Rosenworcel chaired the commission. What would a...
2020-10-2659 min
On OrbitChatting With Grace Graham: ULA Internship and Twitter Q&AWe bring back previous co-host and guest Grace Graham, student at Utah State University. She catches us up on her summer internship with ULA, her firsthand experience with rocket launches, and the secret to Tory Bruno's social media success. Rolling into a Q&A from Twitter, we talk about Space Force the show, the nitty gritty on the Artemis announcement, why learning to code is essential, and more. Have questions you want answered on an episode? Email us at editors@viasatellite.com to submit questions, topic ideas, and potential guests.
2020-10-1340 min
On OrbitInternship 101 With Former Matthew Isakowitz Fellow Josh IngersollSo you're interested in the space industry, but how do you land an internship? As someone who's interned at NASA, GE Aviation, and OneWeb, Josh Ingersoll has some tips and tricks to share. Ingersoll is currently a graduate space policy student at George Washington University, and also serves as recruitment chair for the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship. The fellowship connects undergrad and graduate students with paid internships in commercial spaceflight and mentorship. It is modeled after the Brooke Owens Fellowship. In this episode, Ingersoll shares tips and tricks for landing internships, how his experience has shaped his c...
2020-09-2928 min
On OrbitFrom Amazon Software to Space-Based Blockchain with Aravind RavichandranAravind Ravichandran is a Senior Strategy Consultant at PwC's space practice, and a self-proclaimed Earth Observation data aficionado with a passion for blockchain. He sees EO as just another source of data, available and ready to be unlocked. In addition, blockchain technology can be useful when applied to EO data. As a former software engineer at Amazon, he comes to the space industry from the software industry. He gives insight into ways our industry can learn from the software side of things, including Agile methodology. On this episode, Aravind talks about transferable learnings from the so...
2020-09-1745 min
On OrbitTo Mars and Beyond With Chris Bellant of the Mars InitiativeChris Bellant is an operations planner for the International Space Station (by day, but by night, he's the executive director for the Mars Initiative. Through this nonprofit, he's able to help humanity get closer to exploring Mars through both grant programs and its Mars Prize Fund. Citing a childhood love for Star Trek, Chris Bellant was driven to get a degree in aerospace engineering. Eventually, he was able to work on his passion project — getting humanity further into the cosmos. In this episode we talk to Bellant about his passion for space exploration, his work at t...
2020-09-1527 min
On OrbitThe Potential of the African Space Industry With MzansiSat's Victor StephanopoliVictor Stephanopoli is the COO of MzansiSat, South Africa's first private prospective satellite operator focusing on telecom. The company focuses on the South African market, and aims to deploy Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites, with the goal providing internet connectivity anywhere inside the country by 2025. In this episode, Stephanopoli shares his uncommon path to the space industry. He got a degree in film in London, then took a vacation to South Africa and never left. Stephanopoli went to work in the telecom industry, which then led him to working in space. Stephanopoli also talks about the ins and o...
2020-09-0133 min
On OrbitA PocketQube Startup Story with Alba Orbital's Tom WalkinshawIn this episode we talk to Alba Orbital CEO and Founder Tom Walkinshaw about building a pocketqube startup, applications for tiny 5 cm satellites, making space more accessible, and being named the 39th coolest person in Scotland.
2020-08-1830 min
On OrbitPropulsion in Space While Moving Forward on Earth With Naia Butler-CraigNaia Butler-Craig is a NASA space technology graduate research fellow and a PhD student at the Georgia Institute of Technology, focusing on electric propulsion. She's not only involved in gateway Artemis projects, but as a self-proclaimed thrill-seeker, aspires to be an astronaut. Beginning at the age of 13, she's been on a journey to become an aerospace engineer. Since then, she has been honored with many accolades, including the 2020 Modern Day Technology Leader Award, Black Engineer of the Year. In this episode Naia talks about her journey in the space industry, her research, the importance of th...
2020-07-2133 min
On OrbitKeeping Space Green and Clean With Luc RiesbeckLuc Riesbeck is a space policy research analyst at Astroscale U.S., and wants to make our orbits a safer place. Riesbeck started their career with an undergraduate degree in international relations, then interned at NASA, and quickly realized their interest in space policy. Now with a masters degree and a space policy internship under their belt, Riesbeck is eager to work alongside other industries to put space on the map for the "green" environmental movement. In this episode, Riesbeck talks about the importance of space sustainability, keeping our orbits clean, and what space policy coul...
2020-07-0731 min
On OrbitCubesat Experiments With Julie Sage, Gen Z Aspiring AstrophysicistJulie Sage is an aspiring astrophysicist, science communicator, and the host of SuperNova Style Science News. At just 16-years-old, she's been doing some real science with running a variety of different experiments on cubesats, including material testing. But with her age comes obstacles, including issues with funding and a lack of access to materials. Regardless she perseveres, and with that, has a unique perspective on doing science. In this episode we talk about her various cubesat experiments, the challenges she's faced as a young scientist, as well as making science more accessible for young folks.
2020-06-2333 min
On OrbitExploring Space Medicine With Dominic TanzilloWhat is space medicine? Although the answer can vary, it focuses on ways to keep humans in homeostasis while they endure extreme environments. There's also ways that the space environment can benefit researchers studying diseases. Dominic Tanzillo is an intern at NASA, a member of SEDS, as well as a mathematics and neuroscience student at Duke University. Although his NASA internship focuses on engineering, he's interested in pursuing medical school. His interest led him to develop a space medicine course at Duke, which will be offered in the fall. In this episode, we talk to D...
2020-06-0929 min
On OrbitMaking Space in the Space Industry With SEDS Director of Projects Nicole ChaseWhat does "space is for everyone" really mean? Nicole Chase tackles this question in her work. In order to make the space industry accessible for everyone, it's important to understand what the phrase truly means. A woman with many titles, Nicole is the Director of Projects for SEDS, Director of the Student Space Ambassador Program for The Mars Generation, and a Database Administrator for Made in Space. She recently submitted an abstract about the importance of young leadership in the space industry, and why it is crucial to foster an environment that young leaders thrive in. Additionally, s...
2020-05-2638 min
On OrbitLaunching Both CubeSats and Events With SEDS Rice President Ryan UdellWith the world around us constantly changing, next-generation space leadership is more important than ever. But, what does it mean? What does it look like? SEDS Rice Chapter President Ryan Udell gives us an example of next-gen space leadership. An engineering major eager to connect his fellow students with the greater space industry, Ryan has taken it upon himself to revamp the SEDS chapter at his university, transforming the club from a single member to over 30! From there, he founded and hosted the inaugural Owls in Space Symposium event, which featured attendees such as NASA A...
2020-05-1141 min
On OrbitThe Automated Fiber-Planting Tractor that Won Startup SpaceThere have been only a handful of places fit for fiber installation — underwater, underground, or strung up on utility poles — until a new tech startup based in Virginia emerged with robotic tractors that are opening up a new world of possibilities for broadband infrastructure on the ground. On Orbit caught up with Startup Space-winner Daniel Turner, CEO and Co-Founder of TRAXyL, a company that is developing an automated, tractor-powered fiber deployment solution. Instead of crops, Daniel's automated tractor plants fiber broadband lines along highways and existing paved infrastructure. The goal is to bring high-speed connectivity to millions of mu...
2020-04-2827 min
On OrbitOn Orbit Live at SATELLITE — What Does "New Space" Really Mean?The topic of this episode — our first live podcast — is more or less a question. What exactly do we, people in the space and satellite industry, mean when we use the term 'New Space'? New Space is often used to describe new companies, new ideas, and new technologies. Is New Space a technical term? Or, is it a cultural identity? This episode was recorded during the SATELLITE 2020 show in Washington D.C., and it's co-hosted by our good friends Grace Graham (Brooke Owens Fellow, Utah State University, Via Satellite contributor) and Brian Garret-Glazer (Avionics Magazine). Our special gues...
2020-04-071h 04
On OrbitThe Songs (and Sounds) of Space with Steven Drozd & The Flaming LipsAnd now for something completely different! Steven Drozd, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter with the world-famous Oklahoma City-based rock band, The Flaming Lips joins us on On Orbit for a discussion about how space and technology has influenced not only his music, but of the music of a generation. Over the course of their nearly 37-year existence, the Flaming Lips have drawn inspiration for their music from the most fascinating and unique corners of science fiction, as well as some of the most important moments in space exploration history. Steven talks about how the NASA Moon landing, Voyager program...
2020-03-2452 min
On OrbitThe Future of ConnectivityFor our sixth and final episode of our special podcast series, "Connecting the Unconnected," we're joined by Hughes Vice President of Corporate Marketing Arunas Slekys and Senior Vice President of Engineering John Corrigan for a conversation about the future of global satellite communications. During the conversation, we discuss how broadband connectivity is more than just a technology issue – it's a fight for global economic equality. We also talk about how the rollout of 5G services could impact the development of satellite hardware and ground terminals. "Connecting the Unconnected" was generously sponsored and co-produced by Hughes. If...
2020-03-1756 min
On OrbitThe Regulatory Landscape with Jennifer MannerSatellite is an important part of bringing connectivity to users wherever they are. The regulatory choices that are made by governments can assist in bringing connectivity to users. Satellite spectrum is an invisible asset that is invaluable to us as a society. While it covers the planet, spectrum is actually scarce. How is the spectrum supply managed? In this special episode of our six-part podcast series, "Connecting the Unconnected," EchoStar Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Jennifer Manner and I will examine the spectrum, funding, and other decisions that impact the ability of satellite providers to meet...
2020-03-0353 min
On OrbitRapid-Fire Inspiration — an SGx Preview with Karina Perez MolinaJust a few years ago, recent college graduate Karina Perez Molina met her first true mentor — former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, who inspired her to launch full force into a space policy-focused career. Karina landed internships with the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Los Angeles Mayor's Office of Economic Development, where she focused on aerospace and STEM initiatives for women. Karina joined the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) in 2017, and is now in charge of producing the organization's SGx Keynote Series program at SATELLITE. Over the course of jus...
2020-02-2534 min
On OrbitIn the Air, On the Ocean, On the MoveIt's nearly impossible to recall a time before technology advances, broadband enhancements and widespread use of connected devices hurtled us into hyper-connectivity. But, not that long ago, if you were on an airplane or a cruise ship, you were, at least temporarily, one of the "unconnected." According to a July 2019 Pew Research study, more than a quarter of Americans report being online "constantly," and another 45% of Americans go online several times per day. Hyper-connectivity behavior follows consumers wherever they go. More than 23,000 commercial aircraft will offer connectivity to passengers by 2028, according to analysts at Euroconsult, who are...
2020-02-1855 min
On OrbitHarvest Hub: Food Security from SpaceDr. Hannah Kerner develops machine learning solutions for NASA Harvest, a program led by the University of Maryland, in which a group of international partners use satellite data to make decisions related to food security and agriculture in the U.S. and around the world. Dr. Kerner said she appreciates the real-life implications of her work — for example, her team is responding to a locust infestation in Kenya, which has been called the worst in decades and is threatening farmland. But Dr. Kerner's background in machine learning is out of this world, specifically on Mars and other pla...
2020-02-1036 min
On OrbitWhen Disaster StrikesIn the wake of natural disasters, functioning communications services and infrastructure can mean the difference between life and death. Flooding, seismic activity, wildfires, high winds, downed trees — even recovery construction projects — can disrupt power and damage fiber and cable wires. If the local network infrastructure is compromised, first responders have to bring a network with them to share what they're seeing on the front lines with central command posts and to coordinate rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath. In the third episode of our special podcast series, "Connecting the Unconnected," Hughes Network Systems' Tony Bardo and Dan...
2020-02-0446 min
On OrbitKerbal Space Program's Aerospace of PlayKerbal Space Program (or KSP as it's more commonly known by fans) is a tremendously successful space flight simulator. It has been hailed by game industry critics and space industry leaders such as ULA's Tory Bruno and SpaceX's Elon Musk as providing the "perfect blend of science and slapstick," as well as for its ability to create fun out of failure. Grant Gertz is a game producer for Private Division, the company developing KSP's much-anticipated sequel. Gertz is unique in his industry in that he doesn't come from a computer programming background. He was once an aerospace e...
2020-01-2829 min
On OrbitChanging Lives with Affordable Internet AccessIdentifying affordable options to connect to the internet remains a challenge for billions across the globe. In urban areas, internet connectivity is usually provided by a high-speed cable or fiber direct to each home or business. However, a single-user-per-terminal model is not economically justifiable in areas unserved or underserved by terrestrial access. This is due to two primary obstacles to building out infrastructure for expanding broadband Internet access. First, capital costs of terrestrial fixed or wireless networks are directly proportional to distance. Second, the typical business model for deploying broadband to communities with a lower median income...
2020-01-2158 min
On OrbitWTF is WRC (and Why Should I Care?)Bandwidth is by no means an unlimited resource. Your family's smartphones, your in-home WiFi, and the dozens of Bluetooth devices in your automobile all take bites of different slices of the larger bandwidth pie. The rollout of 5G wireless is like someone walking up to that pie and shoveling a big scoop out of the center with both hands. Who determines how to split the remainder of the pie? Who determines who should be compensated for the pie that was lost? OmniSpace Chief Regulatory and International Strategy Officer Mindel De La Torre joins us for this episode — a...
2020-01-1449 min
On OrbitConnecting Rural and Hard-to-Reach PlacesAccording to the ITU's The State of Broadband 2019 report released in late September, the world achieved greater than 50% global broadband Internet penetration in 2019 — a major milestone. However, significant challenges remain, and a significant portion of the population remains disconnected from even the most basic form of internet connectivity. We've been exploring the topic of bridging the Digital Divide from different angles over several episodes of On Orbit. With billions of people around the world, including in the U.S., living in rural and hard to reach places, building technologies to meet connectivity's growing demand is a multifaceted chall...
2020-01-0750 min
On OrbitThe Top 12 Space and Satellite News Stories of 2019As a holiday gift, we're bringing our last On Orbit episode of the year a day early! Via Satellite Editor-in-Chief Mark Holmes and Managing Editor Annamarie Nyirady join us to discuss the biggest space and satellite news stories of 2019. It definitely wasn't a boring year! Constellations, C-band drama, 5G, 3D printing, and mergers and acquisitions are just a few of the items that made the final list of 12. Via Satellite will publish the entire list, along with write-ups about each news story, in the following edition of the Daily News Feed, which will be the last edition...
2019-12-231h 10
On OrbitMicrosoft Azure, Dell Energy CTOs on the Digital Innovation FrontierMicrosoft Azure wants to craft its own space business vertical. But instead of building their own satellites, they've opted to build the business through partnerships. William Chappell, CTO of Microsoft Azure Global, is the innovation leader behind the software giant's efforts to provide satellite operators with a powerful, automated, and secure cloud layer to their networks. Microsoft recently announced a major partnership with SES and its O3b constellation, and is looking to expand to different layers of the satellite supply chain. William joins On Orbit host and Via Satellite Executive Editor Jeffrey Hill for a conversation a...
2019-12-1048 min
On OrbitSatellite Cybersecurity Horror Stories with Ken MunroIf you think your maritime satellite terminal is safe from hackers, give Ken Munro a call to make sure. He's probably already found a backdoor to your system on the internet. Ken is the founder of Pen Test Partners, a network security consultancy firm, as well as a widely respected and very entertaining public speaker on all topics cybersecurty. His presentations include live hacks on local devices, hotel keycards, keyless cars and a range of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including wearable children's toys. Ken travels the world, sharing his disdain for device vendors that fail to s...
2019-11-2637 min
Liberté - Free to BeEp 22, Out of the Bubble. Top pro-ageing make up tips from celebrity make up artist Jo-Anne Jewett, founder of the Make-Up Training company.This weeks guest Jo-Anne Jewett has a long list of credentials including celebrity make-up artist, author, founder of the Make-Up Training Company, trainer and educator.
We talk about the importance of accepting change as we grow older which includes adapting our make-up routine. Jo passes on some great make-up tips on how we can help enhance our looks with some of her top hero products. Advice on how to see past the barage of make-up advertising and hype to create a capsule make up collection. Jo's prolific career as a top make up artist has seen her w...
2019-11-2446 min
On OrbitBuilding Smallsats Like Cars: NanoAvionics Comes to the USANanoAvionics CEO Vytenis Buzas defines his small satellite-building business as an homage to the smart industrial practices of the American automobile industry. What emerged as a spinoff of Lithuania's Vilnius University, NanoAvionics is now thriving and Buzas sees an opportunity to achieve success in the land that inspired his business. He hired industry veteran Frank Abbott as his U.S.-based CEO, who will oversee the company's preparations to move its research, development and manufacturing business to the United States in 2020. Earlier this year, the company purchased the former Midland, Texas headquarters of XCOR Aerospace and refurbished...
2019-11-1225 min
On OrbitCommercial Satellite in the 1980s: An Industry History Lesson w/ Scott ChaseWith the unveiling of the SATELLITE 2020 Conference Program this week, we have a very well-timed episode of On Orbit featuring an interview with Scott Chase, Chairman Emeritus of SATELLITE and former Editor-in-Chief of Via Satellite, detailing the evolution of the commercial satellite industry through the late 20th and early 21st century. Scott tells On Orbit host Jeffrey Hill the SATELLITE show's origin story. The annual event was created in 1981 as a small gathering of innovative minds and invested leaders, determined to realize their visions of a global voice, video, and data network. Scott shares his insights from...
2019-10-291h 06
On OrbitFCC Commissioner Brendan Carr on Satellite-Powered Precision FarmingHow important are precision agriculture and global food and water supply monitoring applications to our future? Via Satellite's On Orbit podcast takes a look at the numbers: The world's population will go from 7.5 billion to 9 billion people in 30 years. Because of this, American farmers alone will be tasked to increase food production by 80 percent to 100 percent over a very short period of time, and for purposes of sustainability, they have to use less seed, less land, and less water. The only way farmers will be able to meet those expectations is through technology – space-based technologies, such as GPS...
2019-10-1542 min
On OrbitCosmic Girl: Launching Satellites from Jumbo Jets w/ Sirisha Bandla of Virgin OrbitVirgin Orbit's LauncherOne is a rather unique launch vehicle. It's a rocket that deploys, or drops, from a customized Boeing 747 -- a "Flying Launchpad," so-to-speak. One of those aircraft, a former passenger airliner operated by Virgin Atlantic, was purchased by Virgin Galactic in 2015, renamed "The Cosmic Girl" and designated to be used as the first stage launch platform for the Mark II LauncherOne. Why design a launch service this way? What are the benefits and unique capabilities? In this episode of On Orbit, co-hosts Jeffrey Hill and Grace Graham sit down with Sirisha Bandla, Business Development & Government A...
2019-10-0127 min
On OrbitSeeing is Believing: Space-Based SAR to Save our Environment w/ Capella Space CEO Payam BanazadehIt's frustrating for environmental scientists to watch politicians mangle and regurgitate climate change data into stump campaign speeches. When Capella Space CEO Payam Banazadeh co-founded the San Francisco-based satellite constellation company in 2016, he set out on a mission to tell a clear, visual story about how our planet is changing, directly to the people who would be most impacted by those changes. Images are a universal language. In this episode, we caught up with Payam, a National Science Foundation fellow, NASA Mariner Award winner and entrepreneur recently named to Forbes "30 Under 30" list, about the unique capabilities of...
2019-09-1735 min
On OrbitCommunity Wi-Fi: Education, Healthcare, and Economic Equality w/ Dave Rehbehn and Peter GullaConnecting the world's disconnected is a mission we take to heart at On Orbit. After all, our debut episode focused on bridging the digital divide. We like to think of this endeavor as satellites enabling global economic equality. In this episode, Hughes Network Systems' Dave Rehbehn and Peter Gulla join On Orbit host Jeffrey Hill for a granular look at the global effort to bring the world online. Dave and Peter provide a boots-on-the-ground viewpoint on the role of both existing and new constellation satellites for providing affordable access – from cellular backhaul to community Wi-Fi to the de...
2019-09-031h 00
On OrbitCarpooling Satellites: Historic and Unique Rideshare Launch Missions w/ Spaceflight and TriSeptOn this episode of On Orbit, we're joined by Melissa Wuerl, Vice President Business Development for Spaceflight Industries, and Jason Armstrong, Director of Small Satellites for TriSept, for an episode dedicated to rideshare launch services and the impact they've made on opening access to space. Rideshare launching is like the carpooling of launch services. By placing very small satellites in the spaces between larger satellites on larger rockets, rideshare providers is able to provide low-cost options for satellite operators, while providing additional business to traditional launchers and increasing access to space. On Orbit special guest...
2019-08-201h 00
On OrbitIt's Cleanup Time! Dangerous Space Debris w/ Astroscale COO Chris BlackerbyAs global space activity expands and accelerates, our space environment, naturally, becomes more congested. There have been nearly 9,000 satellites launched to date. Out of those 9,000, only 5,000 are currently maintaining orbit, and out of those, only 1,950 are operational – leaving a lot of unknowns. Efforts to maintain our orbital environment aren't keeping pace, and an upcoming wave of constellation satellites about to launch to Low-Earth Orbit has sprung many into action. On this episode, Astroscale COO Chris Blackerby talks about how his company turned crisis into opportunity and developed a technological solution to remove dangerous space debris from orbi...
2019-08-0640 min
On OrbitThe All-in-One Aerospace Engineer, Economist, and Entrepreneur w/ Grace Graham, 2019 Brooke Owens Fellow From Utah State UniversityMechanical Aerospace Engineer Grace Graham does it all! In addition to being a 2019 Brook Owens Fellow and full-time student Utah State University, she also interns at The Aerospace Corporation, and helps run her own startup Elements Meals – a company she co-founded that creates healthier snack foods for athletes. Like many emerging space professionals of her generation, Grace is combining engineering knowhow with entrepreneurial ambition to establish a strong foothold in our community. In this interview, however, Grace explains why it's equally important for young space industry professionals to master economics, and how understanding market and supply chain eco...
2019-07-2346 min
On OrbitSoftware-Defined Space(s): The Evolving Cloud w/ Greg Quiggle of Kratos & Alain Guigui of Hewlett PackardWhat does it mean when people say that the satellite industry is becoming more "software-defined?" Does it mean that physical infrastructure is being replaced with more flexible, adaptive software? Does it mean that the satellite industry is becoming a lot more like the software industry? Or both? On Orbit Host Jeffrey Hill interviews Kratos Defense and Space Vice President of Product Management Greg Quiggle, who is leading his company's effort to host satellite ground stations and teleports in secure cloud networks. Greg will explain why transitioning certain ground systems to the cloud can optimize and benefit the e...
2019-07-0944 min
On Orbit5G's Conceptual Link to Satellite w/ Karl Horne of SES Networks & Ashish Sharma of InseegoThe telecommunications sector is at an inflection point between the peak of the 4G LTE market and the on-ramp for next-gen 5G wireless services. Does the roll out of 5G services change the market landscape for satellite operators? SES Networks' Karl Horne sees 5G as a tremendous opportunity not only to drive innovation and create new business opportunities, but also as a way to collaborate with terrestrial competitors on rolling out the network. Why collaborate? The answer lies in the unique relationship between future virtualized 5G and present-day satellite networks. Horne joins On Orbit Producer an...
2019-06-2432 min
On OrbitSpace Politics of a Space Force w/ Vivienne Machi of Defense DailyMost people are aware of the Trump administration's plans for a "Space Force," but few are clear on how it will fit within DoD structure, how it operate differently than existing organizations like the Air Force Space Command, and what it will look like if and when it survives scrutiny in Congress. To explain everything you need to know about Space Force, and other recent government/military space policy developments, we invited our good friend, Defense Daily space and Capitol Hill reporter Vivienne Machi, (@VivienneMachi) to join us for an interview. Vivienne takes us through the basics, answers my...
2019-06-1136 min
On Orbit3D Printed Rockets w/ Tim Ellis, CEO of RelativityAt SATELLITE 2019, Jeff hosted a fireside chat on 3D Printed rockets with Tim Ellis, CEO and Founder of Relativity, a unique launch service company that aims to print and launch entire rockets within 60 days. Tim tells the story of why he left a promising career as a 3D printing specialist at a major launch company to disrupt 60 years of established aerospace industry practices. He explains why investors like Marc Cuban are so excited about how 3D printing can help us get to Mars, and provides a detailed look into Relativity's in-house technology and Terran launch vehicle.
2019-05-2838 min
On OrbitLaunching Thousands of SmallsatsJeff asks Spire's launch manager Jenny Barna why the satellite industry can't just sent satellites into orbit whenever they want. This episode addresses the launch bottleneck faced by operators looking to put tens of thousands of constellation satellites into space during the next few years. Jeff also speaks to Via Satellite editorial director Mark Holmes about the highlights of the first two days of the SATELLITE 2019 exhibition and conference in Washington D.C. NOTE - Please excuse the background noise during the interviews. We were recording on the SATELLITE 2019 show floor during operating hours.
2019-05-1427 min
On OrbitSpace's Private Industry AmbassadorDeloitte's Specialist Leader in Space Jeff Matthews sits with On Orbit host Jeff Hill to explain why all of these new industries are interested in investing in space. Commercial space customers used to be limited to military, broadcast networks, and ISP resellers. Now, insurance companies, manufacturers, transporters, retail, city planners, farmers... the list of commercial space "customers" is growing more diverse as new space-based capabilities evolve. What value do these new industry customers see in space?
2019-05-1317 min
On OrbitBuilding Bridges Across the Digital Divide: Hybrid Satellite NetworksOur inaugural episode of On Orbit, titled "Building Bridges Across the Digital Divide: Hybrid Satellite Networks," focuses on the growing economic disparities between those with and without access to "affordable" high-speed internet. Host Jeffrey Hill opens the episode with a comparative review of the latest digital divide statistics from the ITC, FCC, and Microsoft, and a clear explanation of how organizations define "affordable broadband" and "reasonable access."
2019-05-1348 min