SSPI

In this Better Satellite World podcast, SSPI's Tamara Bond-Williams speaks with Ed Fox, Chief Technology Officer at MetTel. They explore one of the hot topics of the industry: the convergence of the telecom and satellite industries and what that may spell for the future. Ed Fox is MetTel's technology leader, responsible for the planning, deployment, and operations of MetTel's broadband, data, and VoIP network infrastructure. He is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and a contributing author for IDG influencer network. Ed has over 30 years of telecommunications and network experience managing massive organizational and customer growth at major telecommunications providers.

In the She Reaches series, an initiative of SSPI-WISE (SSPI Women in Space Engagement), journalist and podcast host Tanveer Pujara sits down with trailblazing women across the space industry, from founders and engineers to visionaries and scientists, who are redefining what it means to reach for the stars. In the debut episode of She Reaches, Tanveer speaks with Vanessa Clark, CEO of Atomos Space, to discuss her journey from physicist to space industry entrepreneur. Vanessa shares how she navigated the challenges of founding a venture-backed startup, the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership style, and her vision for the future of space mobility and logistics. Tune in to hear how she's building the infrastructure for the next generation of space exploration – and the lessons she's learned along the way. Tanveer Pujara (left) and Vanessa Clark (right)

In Everyday Guardians, the podcast series of the Securing the Future of Space campaign, we speak with the people who are helping to build a more resilient, sustainable and secure orbital environment - whether through technology, policy or ethical leadership. Securing the Future of Space is underwritten by the American Space Exploration Fund. In the second episode, we hear from Dr. Alina Utrata, political theorist and Career Development Research Fellow at St. John's College, Oxford University. Dr. Alina Utrata is a political theorist focusing on the politics of technology corporations and currently a Career Development Research Fellow at St John's College, Oxford University. She received her PhD in Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge as a Gates-Cambridge scholar, where her research examined how Silicon Valley companies have come to amass forms of political power through their control of technological regimes. Alina grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she received her BA from Stanford University in History with a minor in Human Rights, and her MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice from Queen's University Belfast as a Marshall Scholar. In her free time, she hosts and produces the podcast The Anti-Dystopians, the politics podcast about tech.

In this podcast series, we speak with friends of SSPI who recently made big executive moves. We'll find out what they're doing now and what they hope to achieve in their new roles in the industry. In the second episode of season 2, we hear from Dr. Femi Ishola, Founder and CEO of Phemotron Systems Corporation. Dr. Femi Ishola is an experienced Innovator, Entrepreneur, Engineer, and Researcher with a strong background in Electro-Optics, Space, and Satellite Systems Engineering. Accredited and licensed engineering practitioner by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering(COREN); Reg. No. R.4218. With over 15 years of professional experience in the global space industry, Dr. Femi brings a super-heavyweight perspective to aerospace engineering projects and gatherings across the continents! Founder and CEO of Phemotron Systems Corporation, a multinational new space company with operations in Nigeria, Japan, and USA. Served as a Researcher at the Japanese Space Communication Systems Laboratory, National Institute of Information Communications Technology (NICT), Tokyo, Japan. Systems pioneer and Project Manager at the National Space Research and Development Agency, Nigeria. Versatile in optical systems development, antennas, and microwave systems. Actively conducting research on Laser Communication technologies for Small Satellites, Drones, Beyond-5G integration, Beamed Energy Systems, and Unmanned Autonomous Systems. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 2010, Incorporated Phemotron Systems Ltd in 2013, obtained a Master of Science degree from the International Space University, France, in 2014, and a Ph.D. degree from the Laboratory of Lean Satellites Enterprises and In-Orbit Experiments, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan in 2021. His Ph.D. research was focused on free-space optical communication technologies for small satellites. Completed advance satellite design course at the Samara National Research University, Samara, Russia. Dr. Femi served as the SSPI Nigeria Director of Student Affairs where he galvanized undergraduate student exposure to space education and general STEM activities. Dr. Femi participated and contributed to the Japanese Engineering Test Satellite (ETS-9) HICALI project and the 6U CubeSOTA optical communication terminal and mission development. He also participated in the Southern Australian Universities QB50 Collaboration Satellite project. He was the Pioneer and Project Manager of the Nigerian Space Agency Centre for Space Transport and Propulsion (CSTP) Ground Control Station. Recipient of the Best and Most Innovative Project Award, SEEES National Universities Competition 2009, Kano State Government Award for the Best Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Project, in 2011, the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Emerging Space Leaders Award, 2019 and the grand prize winner of 9th Annual SATShow (SATELLITE). Startup Space Competition, Washington DC, 2025.

In The Space Business is... – the podcast series of The Space Business is Everywhere campaign, underwritten by ST Engineering iDirect – we take a look at the way the commercial space industry has spread itself to parts of the world where space and satellites were once only read about or dreamed of. Each episode will focus on a specific location and features an innovator who is shaping - and reshaping - the industry. In the final episode, we hear from Terry Bleakley, Regional Vice President of the APAC region at ST Engineering iDirect. Terry Bleakley is the regional vice president of the APAC region at ST Engineering iDirect where he is responsible for developing and executing strategies to accelerate the company's revenue growth. Throughout his extensive career, Terry held several senior leadership roles with leading satellite operators. From 2010 to 2023, he served as Regional Vice President for the Asia-Pacific at Intelsat, where he oversaw significant regional initiatives, strengthening the company's presence in the region. Prior to his tenure at Intelsat, he was the Chief Commercial Officer at MEASAT from 2007 to 2010, where he played a critical role in driving the company's commercial growth. Terry's journey in the satellite industry began in 1997 when he moved to Malaysia to join British Telecom. Since then, held senior sales management roles at PanAmSat and Intelsat. More recently, he served as Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives at Intelsat and as an advisor to Sky TV New Zealand. He is set to continue his advisory work with SkyPerfect JSAT through late 2024. With strong roots in the APAC region, Terry serves as the President of the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the satellite ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region. Since 2023, he has been leading APSCC's efforts to advance satellite communications across one of the world's most dynamic markets. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Victoria University in Wellington and a Diploma in Aviation Studies from Massey University in New Zealand.  

In The Space Business is... – the podcast series of The Space Business is Everywhere campaign, underwritten by ST Engineering iDirect – we take a look at the way the commercial space industry has spread itself to parts of the world where space and satellites were once only read about or dreamed of. Each episode will focus on a specific location and features an innovator who is shaping - and reshaping - the industry. In the fourth episode, we hear from Yo Shimizu, President & COO of JSAT International, Inc., Misao Furukawa, Director, Business Development, Space DC Business of Space Compass and Teppei Kato, Chief Business Officer of Orbital Lasers. Yo Shimizu was appointed in 2020 as President & COO for JSAT International, Inc. which serves satellite telecommunication services, investments, partnership creations and research & studies in wide range of new space business field. JSAT international is a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (JSAT), the largest satellite operator in APAC. Yo joined JSAT (Space Communications Corporation at that time) in 2001, and has more than 20 years of experience in the satellite related business including national security areas. Currently Yo is engaged in the new business development with U.S. partners for new space-based solutions (SSA, EO, Data analysis, Debris removal, etc.), along with JSAT's core business of satellite telecommunication service. Misao Furukawa is Director of the Space DC Business of Space Compass, which was established as a joint venture with NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT in July 2022. Space Compass will launch a novel “Space Integrated Computing Network” to aid the realization of a sustainable society. He has over 23 years of experience in the satellite communication Engineer and Business development. In the company, he played various roles including satellite communication, ITU Radio Regulation related and Remote sensing. He is now developing the Optical Data Relay service in Space Compass. Teppei Kato joined JSAT Corporation (now SKY Perfect JSAT) in 2007, handling planning and sales of satellite communication services for domestic, Asian and U.S. markets. He later engaged in investment activities and strategy formulation for creating new businesses in the NewSpace sector. In 2021, Teppei led a major investment in a Japanese space venture and contributed to the company's IPO through strategy formulation and execution. He joined Orbital Lasers in April 2024, overseeing overall business development and promotion. Orbital Lasers is a developer of innovative laser technology that carved out from SKY Perfect JSAT in January 2024.  

In Everyday Guardians, the podcast series of the Securing the Future of Space campaign, we speak with the people who are helping to build a more resilient, sustainable and secure orbital environment - whether through technology, policy or ethical leadership. Securing the Future of Space is underwritten by the American Space Exploration Fund. In the first episode, we hear from Dr. Daniel Capper, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Metropolitan State University at Denver. Daniel Capper, Ph.D., is a Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi and Adjunct Professor at Metropolitan State University in Denver. Trained at the University of Chicago in the field of science and religion dialogue, his interdisciplinary studies explore environmental ethical interactions with the nonhuman natural world comparatively as well as among American Buddhists.  Capper's many publications include the books Learning Love from a Tiger: Religious Experiences with Nature, Roaming Free like a Deer: Buddhism and the Natural World and Buddhist Ecological Protection of Space: A Guide for Sustainable Off-Earth Travel.  

How does a young woman from Pakistan grow up to become an influential community builder inside a global corporation like Hughes Network Systems? In this episode of the SSPI-WISE Presents podcast, SSPI's Tamara Bond-Williams speaks with Adileh Sharieff, Senior Director Planning and Strategic Programs. In addition to her professional achievements at Hughes, Adileh co-founded a small group called BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch) in January 2023, which grew into a thriving community of over 200 women by the end of the year. In June 2024, she was invited to join the Hughes Women Impact Network (WIN) coordinator leadership team, where she has focused on building a supportive and empowering community for women within the company. With over 25 years of dedicated service at Hughes, Adileh Sharieff has continually evolved through various pivotal roles within the company. She began her career in Network Operations, mastering the fundamentals before transitioning to Systems Integration and Testing. This diverse experience has allowed her to build enduring relationships and make significant contributions as the business scaled its systems and resources. Currently, Adileh leads a Project Management team within North America Operations, overseeing the rollout and implementation of new projects. Her leadership and expertise ensure the successful execution of initiatives that drive the company's growth and innovation. Adileh holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan, and a Master's degree in Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park.  

In this podcast series, we speak with friends of SSPI who recently made big executive moves. We'll find out what they're doing now and what they hope to achieve in their new roles in the industry. In the first episode of season 2, we hear from Kelsey Doerksen, Data Scientist with the Climate and Data Environment Unit at UNICEF and 2021 Promise Award Recipient. Passionate to do impactful work for Earth, in space, Kelsey Doerksen is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Oxford in the Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems Centre for Doctoral Training Program, in the Oxford Applied and Theoretical Machine Learning Group under supervision of Yarin Gal. She is focusing her research on the uses of AI and Machine Learning to enable science discovery and understanding of climate-focused applications (expected graduation, 2025). Kelsey is a Research Affiliate at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab and a part of the Machine Learning and Instrument Autonomy group, working on the Scientific Understanding from Data Science Strategic Initiative. She is also a Data Scientist with the Climate and Data Environment Unit at UNICEF, building the data pipeline infrastructure and providing analysis necessary to create the UNICEF Children's Climate Risk Index. Kelsey recently completed her Data Science Research Fellow position with UNICEF and European Space Agency F-lab, working on the Giga Initiative to use Earth Observation and AI to map schools in the global south and their access to electricity and the internet. She is a former Space Systems engineer at Planet on the Mission Operations team, using space to help life on Earth, and co-led the commissioning of 48 satellites for the Flock 4S commissioning campaign, publishing the work as part of the SmallSat 2021 conference. Kelsey graduated from the Masters of Engineering Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering in the collaborative Planetary Science and Exploration Program at Western University in December 2019. Her thesis topic involved the utilization of machine learning algorithms for space weather applications, using in-situ satellite data. Kelsey's Bachelors degree was in Aerospace Engineering: Space Systems Design with a Minor in Business at Carleton University, in which she further fostered her passion for one day becoming an astronaut. Spacecraft operations, machine learning, climate change and solar physics are some of her research-focused interests.

The space & satellite industry is more dynamic than ever, with professionals moving across sectors and roles at an accelerated pace. At SSPI, this has brought in a wave of new leadership, including a remarkable milestone: as of last year's election, four of our newest Board Directors are women. To celebrate this moment and International Women's Day, we will explore their perspectives and dive deeper into topics such as leadership, vision and the future of SSPI and SSPI-WISE. Newly appointed SSPI Executive Director Tamara Bond-Williams speaks with Kidsan Barnes, Senior Vice President, Maritime, Cruise & Ferry at Quvia, Lisa Henke, Chief of Technology & Innovation, USG at Maxar Intelligence and Tina Ghataore, Chief Revenue Officer at Aerospacelab and SSPI-WISE Chair and Board Liaison. Kidsan Barnes is a distinguished leader in the satellite communications and cruise connectivity industries. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Cruise & Ferry at Quvia (formerly Neuron). With a career marked by innovation and strategic vision, Kidsan has played a pivotal role in driving growth and transformation within her sector. Her contributions have not gone unnoticed; she was honored on the South Florida Business Journal's “40 Under 40” list, recognizing her significant impact on her industry, the economy and community, and also recognized on their Influential Business Women's list for 2022. Under her leadership, Quvia's Cruise & Ferry division has seen remarkable advancements, solidifying its position as a leader in the fast-evolving world of satellite communications. Kidsan's dedication to excellence and philanthropic contributions are seen in her voluntary board roles for both SSPI and Florida International University where she gained her Executive MBA. She remains an inspiration for those in the industries she serves. Lisa Henke joined Maxar Technologies in 2016 as Chief Architect of Open Technologies and served in several leadership roles at the company before taking on her current role of Chief of Technology & Innovation, USG for Maxar Intelligence in May 2024. Prior to coming to Maxar, she was the Chief Architect for National Reconnaissance Office/Ground Enterprise Directorate/Integrated System Program Office leading ground development, cloud transformation and agile transformation. Lisa also served in leadership roles at DigitalGlobe, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. She is a proud Air Force Veteran and a certified Green Belt with an MBA with technology management emphasis and a variety of certifications, including Agile, Architecture and Systems Engineering and MBSE. Tina Ghataore joined Aerospacelab in August 2023 as Group Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, and CEO of Aerospacelab's new North American branch. Prior to joining the fast-growing international startup specialized in designing, manufacturing and operating small satellites, Tina served as Chief Commercial Officer of Mynaric and President of Mynaric USA where she led the company's efforts to position Mynaric as the preferred laser communication provider for aerospace application for both government and commercial markets. In 2022, Tina's contribution to the aerospace industry was recognized by both the public and industry peers alike when she was voted Via Satellite's "Satellite Executive of the Year," accepting her award in front of a select audience at the industry's leading annual conference SATELLITE 2022.

The United Kingdom's robust and ambitious space sector has many personalities. Each year at the Better Satellite World Awards Dinner in December in London, the SSPI UK Chapter recognizes one of them as the Satellite Personality of the Year. In this podcast, we hear from the 2024 honoree, Dr. David Parker FRAeS, Non-Executive Board Member of the UK Space Agency and Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton. This interview was originally broadcast as part of the Personalities of the Space & Satellite Industry podcast series, which aired before Dr. Parker was named the 2024 Satellite Personality of the Year. Dr. David Parker has led a distinguished thirty-five-year career in the space sector, spanning industry, UK government and the European Space Agency (ESA). Until June 2023, he served as ESA's Director of Space Exploration at ESTEC in the Netherlands, overseeing astronaut missions to the International Space Station, Europe's involvement in Artemis and pioneering projects like training an astronaut with a physical disability. Previously, he was the Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency (2013-2016), where he led Tim Peake's ISS mission and negotiated ESA's first UK center in Harwell. Starting in the UK space industry in 1990, he contributed to projects like XMM-Newton and ExoMars. Dr. Parker holds a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a PhD from NASA Langley Research Center. He has received several accolades, including the Royal Aeronautical Society's Geoffrey Pardoe award. He currently works part-time at ESA, serves on the UK Space Agency Board and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton.

In The Space Business is... – the podcast series of The Space Business is Everywhere campaign, underwritten by ST Engineering iDirect – we take a look at the way the commercial space industry has spread itself to parts of the world where space and satellites were once only read about or dreamed of. Each episode will focus on a specific location and features an innovator who is shaping - and reshaping - the industry. In the third episode, we hear from two “20 Under 35” honorees from the Bahrain National Space Agency: Aysha Alharam, Chief Satellite Design Department and Yaqoob Alqassab, Space Engineering Specialist. Aysha Alharam is Chief Satellite Design Department for the National Space Science Agency (NSSA) of Bahrain. She began her career in 2018 when she was selected as one of the nine first members of the Bahrain Space Team, a position that had over 4,000 other applicants. As the first Bahraini space engineer leading the team, Aysha served as project manager, idea innovator and software developer for the “Aman” payload project, which won the prestigious Payload Hosting Initiative – organized by the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) in 2022 – out-competing space agencies, companies, universities and research centers from over 100 countries. The Aman payload project showcases Eng, which focuses on securing satellite data through a novel cybersecurity encryption algorithm based on FPGA and parallel processing technology. Aysha personally developed the idea of the AI-based image processing system that will be onboard the first Bahraini satellite, “AlMunther,” the first of its kind in the Middle East region. She completed her education with two Masters degrees, one in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a concentration in space technology from Khalifa University in the UAE and one in Information Technology and Computer Science from the University of Bahrain. Yaqoob Alqassab is a Space Engineering Specialist at the Bahrain National Space Science Agency (NSSA). He joined NSSA in 2019 as a Senior Engineer and was promoted to his current position in 2024 in recognition of his dedication and impressive job performance. Yaqoob has cultivated a diverse skillset, including expertise in satellite engineering, Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem (ADCS) programming, structural and thermal analyses, system analysis and mission analysis. While working for NSSA, Yaqoob developed the first Bahraini software in space for ADCS as part of his work on Light-1, a 3U CubeSat designed to detect Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes and the first joint project between Bahrain and the UAE. Yaqoob contributed significantly to the launch of DhabiSat, a 2U CubeSat created to test novel ADCS algorithms in space, for which he served as both an ADCS software programmer and structural integrity analyst. He also worked on AlMunther, a 3U CubeSat aimed at capturing medium-resolution images of Bahrain and testing Bahraini AI and cybersecurity innovations in space. He completed his Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bahrain and his Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Khalifa University.

On February 7, 2025, the space & satellite industry lost a giant. Jim Oliver, Founder, Owner and CEO of AvL Technologies and a member of the Space & Satellite Hall of Fame, was known throughout the industry as a pioneer, mentor, innovative design engineer and wildly successful entrepreneur. The innovations he brought to the satellite ground segment have been instrumental in freeing the satellite antenna from its fixed base and moving it out into the field for users from broadcasting and disaster relief to government and military. The world has gained in knowledge, lives saved, health restored and greater safety and security as a result. You can read his obituary here. In honor of his lifetime of contributions to our industry, SSPI is taking this week to rebroadcast an interview from the Risk podcast series, in which Jim shared his experiences taking risks as an entrepreneur and never giving up the passion required to succeed. Read more about Jim in his Space & Satellite Hall of Fame profile.

On the night of December 2, 2024 in London, SSPI and its UK Chapter held their annual Dinner to present Awards to three individuals and organizations that have made the world a far better place through their efforts. In this podcast series, you will hear their stories. The third episode features Dan Losada, Vice President, International Division at Hughes, who joins us to discuss Hughes' role in bringing internet access to some of the most isolated communities in Colombia through Juntas de Internet - Comunidades de Conectividad. Dan Losada, vice president at Hughes, leads the company's international sales team, responsible for satellite broadband systems sales around the globe, and maintaining the company's competitive edge as the world's leading VSAT provider. Prior to assuming leadership of the international sales team, Dan was senior director of the Hughes Defense and Intelligence Systems Division (DISD), supporting the U.S. military during its transition to Internet Protocol (IP)-based broadband systems. Previously, Dan held positions in microwave and RF systems design at Hughes and TRW, Inc. (now part of Northrop Grumman). Earlier in his career, Dan served as a technical consultant for Universidad Antonio Narino in Bogotá, Colombia, overseeing deployment of a point-to-multipoint network and evaluating proposals for the implementation of a city-wide WLAN Wireless Network. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Dan holds both a Bachelor and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has published papers on communication systems and design and speaks frequently at industry conferences and panels worldwide. Hughes, with Microsoft and the Colombian government, brought internet access to some of the most isolated communities in Colombia through Juntas de Internet – Comunidades de Conectividad (Internet Connectivity Communities). According to the Wireless Broadband Alliance, more than four billion people globally remain without internet access, including 80% of households in poorer countries and 75% of students in rural areas. The Colombian government laid the groundwork for Juntas de Internet in July 2023 with the backing of the country's Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MinTIC). The program was established to both enhance existing networks and build new ones. Internet implementation, connection, and maintenance is a joint effort between connectivity communities and regional internet service providers (ISPs). Connectivity communities are non-profit organizations whose income is exclusively used for the administration, operation, and maintenance of fixed community internet service. Hughes, serving as a regional ISP, partnered with Microsoft on Juntas de Internet. Read more about Hughes, Microsoft and Colombia's MICT – Juntas de Internet: Connectivity Communities.

On the night of December 2, 2024 in London, SSPI and its UK Chapter held their annual Dinner to present Awards to three individuals and organizations that have made the world a far better place through their efforts. In this podcast series, you will hear their stories. The second episode features Will Mudge, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Speedcast, who joins us to discuss Speedcast's provision of essential connectivity solutions during humanitarian crises and natural disasters. Will Mudge is the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Speedcast. In his current role, Will is responsible for managing 600 people across 44 countries with disciplines including supply chain, field engineering, IP engineering, teleports, R&D, NOC and systems engineering. He has built and improved numerous high-performing teams at Speedcast and is also an active contributor in industry panels and podcasts as well as a creator of video content and author of multiple papers. Before his current role, Will served as Vice President of Engineering Operations at Speedcast, a role in which he was responsible for a large part of Speedcast's global infrastructure and the delivery of a positive experience to customers. Prior to his current role, Will served as the Director of Satellite Capacity and Technology at Speedcast, developing global teleport and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation strategies. He also previously served as the Director of Satellite Capacity and Technology, the R&D engineering lead, and as a strategic product marketing manager and program manager at Speedcast (formerly as Harris CapRock). Will holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Physics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Speedcast has consistently demonstrated a commitment to humanitarian aid and disaster response efforts by providing essential connectivity solutions during crises. In areas affected by natural disasters, the company has delivered reliable communications as a vital lifeline for both the affected communities and first responders working to aid them. In May 2024, Speedcast contributed to disaster response efforts in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, when the region experienced catastrophic flooding. Rio Grande do Sul received an entire year's worth of rain in a matter of hours, leading to widespread landslides, the collapse of a key dam and many deaths. Speedcast took quick action to donate and deliver Starlink terminal kits and airtime to the Brazilian government, providing necessary connectivity to police, hospitals, the Brazilian army and various local and state government departments, which dramatically improved disaster response efforts. These quick-to-deploy solutions from Speedcast proved instrumental in reaching isolated areas and supporting recovery operations. Read more about Speedcast.

The annual SATELLITE conference in Washington, D.C. is the gravitational pull of the commercial space & satellite industry. Like every other conference, media outlet and association that gathers the global community, SATELLITE has undergone changes over the past five years that reflect the growth and wonderfully chaotic direction of the space & satellite industry. Jeffrey Hill, Executive Editor of Via Satellite and Executive Chairman of SATELLITE 2025, has taken a breather from conference planning to talk to SSPI's Lou Zacharilla about what we can expect this March in Washington, D.C. SATELLITE has adapted to many changes in conference structure and will be bringing exciting new features to the conference this year, such as the "Happy Hour Rocket Show" on the Exhibition floor. Jeff and Lou also discuss the "anxiety, both good and bad" running through the industry as it faces change after change and what we hope to see in the future. Jeffrey Hill serves as the Executive Editor of Via Satellite and chair of the annual SATELLITE conference and exhibition in Washington D.C. He is also the host and producer of Via Satellite's On Orbit podcast and the host of Via Satellite's technology webcast series. Over the course of his nearly 15-year career, Jeff has become one of the most connected people in the space and satellite industry. He has interviewed prominent space and technology leaders such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Bea Perez, Emily Calandrelli and Charles Bolden, as well as hundreds of policy makers, investors, influencers and executives from all over the world. A native of Philadelphia, he began his career as web editor for Next City magazine, while covering city hall politics for Philadelphia Weekly and Philadelphia Inquirer. He also previously served as a director of communications at Drexel University. He now lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife and son, two beagles and piles of books, musical instruments and knick-knacks from countless industry events and conferences. He enjoys making Slack Emojis of his co-workers.

In The Space Business is... – the podcast series of The Space Business is Everywhere campaign, underwritten by ST Engineering iDirect – we take a look at the way the commercial space industry has spread itself to parts of the world where space and satellites were once only read about or dreamed of. Each episode will on a specific location and features an innovator who is shaping - and reshaping - the industry. In the second episode, we hear from Jane Egerton-Idehen, CEO of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT). Jane Egerton-Idehen is a seasoned professional Tech Executive, Author and Angel Investor. She is a dynamic executive with over 20 years in leadership roles across telecommunications, technology and satellite industries. She is currently the MD/CEO of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), leading the nation's foremost agency in charge of managing the operations and services of the communications satellite owned by Nigeria. She has previously held high-level positions at Meta, Avan Communications, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Network. With proven expertise in driving strategic growth, fostering C-level relationships and implementing revenue-generating sales strategies across multi-national markets, Egerton-Idehen is recognized among Nigeria's top corporate leaders, with a focus on emerging markets, strategic consulting and innovative technology solutions. She was the Head of Sales, Middle East and Africa, Meta and Country Manager & Regional Sales Director for the West African branch of Avan Communications Group PLC. She cumulatively spent 13 years in Sales and Management in the telecommunication infrastructure giant — Ericsson. She also worked as a Cluster lead for Nokia Siemens Network in West Africa. Egerton-Idehen was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. She has a degree in Electronics Engineering in 2001 from the University of Nigeria, Nusska; a Master's Degree from Warwick Business School, US; and an executive education from Yale School of Management, US. She has worked in the telecommunications industry in Africa for more than 17 years. Being one of the few females heading key business areas in the tech industry has exposed her to numerous professional and personal challenges peculiar to women. Spurred by discussions with fellow female executives round the globe, she organized a forum at Ericsson in which emerging and experienced female leaders could support each other in developing their careers. The overwhelming success of the forum led her to found Women and Career to reach women beyond her organization and to support girls seeking careers after school. In March 2020, she published a book, Be Fearless: Give Yourself Permission To Be You. She drew from her more than 15 years of experience as a telecommunication executive in Africa to help women build lasting careers, especially in the male-dominated STEM industries. Egerton-Idehen has continued to be actively involved in speaking to girls and women about STEM careers. She has spoken at TEDx programs, the African Science Academy, Asheshi University in Ghana, and CFA's Startups Hangout and many more. She was awarded the Most Outstanding Female CEO of 2024 by the 5th Business and Excellence Awards. She is also the recipient of the Womenovate INWED2024 Women Impact Leader Awards. Egerton-Idehen volunteers for the ACE Foundation's Young Career and Graduate Mentorship Programme, and she is an aspiring fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Institute. A home girl at heart, she actively gives back to the Ajegunle community of Lagos through the Sozo Network's #BeforeITurn18 program, which prepares underserved teenage girls for life, career and leadership.

On the night of December 2, 2024 in London, SSPI and its UK Chapter held their annual Dinner to present Awards to three individuals and organizations that have made the world a far better place through their efforts. In this podcast series, you will hear their stories. The first episode features Andre L. Jones, who co-founded WANSAT Networks, Inc. to provide connectivity to underserved and unserved areas in his birth country of Guyana. Born in one of the poorest regions of the nation, Andre witnessed firsthand the challenges that rural communities faced due to their isolation. When oil was discovered in Guyana, for example, the nation experienced rapid economic expansion, but the benefits did not reach many rural areas. Andre turned the years of expertise in the satellite communications industry he had developed as a successful businessman in the United States toward the problem, securing vital partnerships with leading companies operating in the region like Intelsat, Viasat and Telefonica. Through these partnerships, WANSAT was able to deliver connectivity to remote regions unreached by fiber and terrestrial networks, providing those isolated communities with access to essential services and communication options.

In this Better Satellite World podcast, based on the December 2024 edition of the New York Space Business Roundtable, we take a more comprehensive look at the industry's need to get its financial mojo back and to make its case to the larger media and the world that it is more than Musk, and as integral to human life and society as anything can be. We look at the ethics behind the great change coming for space and ask – in our typical way – whether DoorDash is more important than the Dart mission! Our guests include: Jonathan Baliff, CFO, Redwire Space Tim Fernholz, Senior Space Writer, Payload Michael Thate, Research Scholar for Responsible Tech, Innovation and Policy, Princeton University Rick Tumlinson, Founder and Chairman, SpaceFund

In this Better Satellite World podcast, based on the live November 2024 edition of the New York Space Business Roundtable that took place at the offices of Clyde & Co. in New York City, we hear from a powerhouse panel of guests including top investors, underwriters and space industry experts who examine the core issues shaping the Commercial Space Agenda and the future investment landscape. As the 2025 presidential term brings a wave of high-level decisions on space policy, the stage is set for pivotal choices that will shape national strategy across space security, development, and exploration. Space technology is poised to open new pathways for bolstering national security and enhancing human welfare. With the infusion of commercial space capabilities into civil and national security realms, government space systems architectures are evolving in response to new opportunities and challenges. Yet, the sustainability of these shifts remains uncertain, with U.S. space leadership facing ongoing pressures. Policymakers and industry leaders alike stand at a critical crossroads. Our guests include: Tom Dinges, Vice President of Investor Relations, Mynaric Elizabeth Evans, Senior Equity Partner @ Clyde & Co. | J.D. Alex Hamilton, President and Co-Founder, Donald Capital, LLC Chris Kunstadter, President, Triton Space LLC Michael Sheetz, Space Reporter, CNBC John A. Willding II, Corporate and Securities Partner, Stinson LLP Hamlet Yousef, Managing Partner, IronGate Capital Advisors

In The Space Business is... - the podcast series of The Space Business is Everywhere campaign, underwritten by ST Engineering iDirect - we take a look at the way the commercial space industry has spread itself to parts of the world where space and satellites were once only read about or dreamed of. Each episode will on a specific location and features an innovator who is shaping - and reshaping - the industry. In the first episode, we hear from Steve Matier, President and CEO of Maritime Launch Services in Nova Scotia, Canada. Stephen Matier, President and CEO of Maritime Launch Services, is the visionary and driving force behind the development of Spaceport Nova Scotia, a world-class commercial space complex that will launch Canada into the global space industry. A mechanical engineer (Bachelor of Science, University of New Mexico, 1989) and an award-winning former NASA contractor engineering manager (NASA White Sands Test Facility), Matier is leading coordination and approval among provincial, federal and international governing bodies, securing financing, leading launch vehicle lease contracts, coordinating launch vehicle integration and selecting best-in-class commercial firms to support launch operations at Maritime Launch.   As part of Steve's work with Maritime Launch, he is driving the collaboration and partnerships that will support the development of a safe and environmentally sustainable commercial space launch market in Canada. With satellite and launch vehicle clients within Canada and around the globe interested in launching from Spaceport Nova Scotia, Maritime Launch is joining a global industry that will exceed one trillion dollars annually within the next 20 years.   While Steve's day-to-day focus is squarely focused on developing Canada's first commercial spaceport, Matier's interest in space extends beyond the technology and the launch itself. Steve has a passion for teaching, which means he is never far from the classroom, whether guest lecturing at a local high school physics class in Canso or presenting to kids at summer programs in Antigonish. He has driven partnerships with St. Francis Xavier University and Cape Breton University and is a supporter of Dalhousie's cubesat program. His passion for working with schools began in his early career in the Space Shuttle program, with the recognition that kids can look up into space and see opportunity for themselves on the ground. Steve is a recipient of the prestigious Silver Snoopy Award, an honor in recognition of outstanding achievements related to human flight safety and mission success. 

In this Making Leaders podcast, we hear from Paige Webster, Director of Commercial Solutions at ATLAS Space Operations and one of three Promise Award Recipients in 2024. Paige joined ATLAS Space Operations in November of 2021 as a Technical Sales Engineer in Client Solutions after completing three internships at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her keen eye for identifying process improvements led her to spearhead the development of a new role that aligned the Operations, Integrations, Engineering and Client Solutions teams to create a more streamlined approach to customer relations. Paige's exemplary performance in this new role she helped create led her to be promoted to her current position of Director of Commercial Solutions, a position in which she focuses primarily on sales and business development, developing ground station solutions for a wide variety of unique missions. She has a unique talent for explaining complex topics in a way that is accessible to diverse audiences, allowing her to bridge the gap between engineering and sales. As a Director of Commercial Solutions, Paige led ATLAS' effort to design the ground station solution to support Blue Origin's DarkSky-1 and follow-on Blue Ring missions. Simultaneously, she oversaw the solution development for more than 12 customer campaigns and managed ATLAS' commercial contracting, resulting in great customer satisfaction. Since joining ATLAS in 2021, Paige has quickly become a significant contributor to the company. She has closed approximately 40% of 2024's current revenue, and is on track to close more than 70% of ATLAS' Commercial and Fed Civil sales by the end of 2024.

In this Making Leaders podcast, we hear from Bradley Williams, Acting Associate Director for Flight in the Heliophysics Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate and one of three Promise Award Recipients in 2024. Bradley began his career in aerospace at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, where he served as a Project Manager and Systems Engineer collaborating with faculty and research teams to identify proposal opportunities and develop spaceflight proposals for NASA. He went on to serve as the Director of Civil Space Programs at Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems (now Terran Orbital Corporation, LLAP), a role in which he led the development of project/program management processes that prepared the company for trading on the New York Stock Exchange. While at Tyvak, Bradley led the NASA Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator CubeSats project, which included the TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) payload achieving a groundbreaking 200 Gigabits per second optical communications downlink. He also provided critical leadership during the design and integration phases of the CAPSTONE mission, a landmark project that continues to operate in cislunar space. Upon joining NASA, Bradley was a vital member of the OSIRIS-Rex Camera Suite (COAMS) team, contributing to both development and launch successes as a member of the systems integration and test team, management team and later as the ALTO lead and primary interface to the spacecraft team. Following the OSIRIS-Rex launch, Bradley served as Deputy Payload Manager on GUSTO, a first of its kind, balloon-borne observatory selected as a Mission of Opportunity out of NASA's Astrophysics Division. GUSTO completed the longest duration flight from Antarctica on a long duration balloon after its launch in 2023.

In this Making Leaders podcast, we hear from Mackenzie Mason, Engineering Manager for Space Mission Systems Structural Dynamics at Boeing and one of three Promise Award Recipients in 2024. Mackenzie began her career at Boeing in 2014 as a Structural Dynamics Engineer. Her early contributions to the company were pivotal to the development of the 702MP/MP+ spacecraft, as she provided crucial recommendations to program management offices and customers and led numerous innovations in dynamic loads analysis and testing. Mackenzie spearheaded the dynamic shaker table move at Boeing's El Segundo site, a project in which she had to overcome numerous challenges, including excavation of the structural test floor, removal of a vacuum chamber and reduction of the structural test lab footprint while adhering to an accelerated schedule. Her strategic planning and oversight ensured that multiple satellites completed testing on the new dynamic shaker table with 100% success, completing a $5 million investment. While working at Boeing, Mackenzie also authored a white paper documenting updated NASA methodologies for predicting shock on composite honeycomb structures based on Boeing's actual spacecraft-level shock measurements. Her white paper is now a critical reference for resolving requirement and verification disagreements in new satellite programs.

The United Kingdom's robust and ambitious space sector has many personalities. In this podcast series, we introduce you to three whom the UK Chapter of SSPI is considering for its prestigious Personality of the Year Award in 2024. One of these three finalists will be named the 2024 Satellite Personality of the Year live at the Better Satellite World Awards Dinner in London on 2 December. Each of the three finalists is a star who has made significant contribution to the UK and global satellite industry and whose career is a study of performance and excellence at the highest level. In the third episode, we learn a bit about Mark Boggett, CEO of Seraphim Space Fund. Mark Boggett is the CEO and co-founder of Seraphim, an investment firm exclusively focused on SpaceTech domain globally. Seraphim launched the world's first Space VC fund in 2016. Now operating Seraphim Space Accelerator on three continents, with >$350m raised for the seed stage alumni. Seraphim also operates a space growth fund, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Across these three elements Seraphim has built a portfolio of over 100 SpaceTech startups - the world's most prolific investor in the space domain.

The United Kingdom's robust and ambitious space sector has many personalities. In this podcast series, we introduce you to three whom the UK Chapter of SSPI is considering for its prestigious Personality of the Year Award in 2024. One of these three finalists will be named the 2024 Satellite Personality of the Year live at the Better Satellite World Awards Dinner in London on 2 December. Click here to join us there! Each of the three finalists is a star who has made significant contribution to the UK and global satellite industry and whose career is a study of performance and excellence at the highest level. In the second episode, we learn a bit about Antonio Franchi, Head of the 5G/6G NTN Programme Office at the European Space Agency (ESA). Antonio Franchi works at the European Space Agency as the Head of the 5G/6G NTN Programme Office in the Connectivity and Secure Communications Directorate. Antonio has over 30 years of experience in the satellite telecommunications industry. Prior to ESA, Antonio worked for over 20 years with Inmarsat, a major global satellite operator, spearheading a new generation of satellite communications systems. Antonio received an MSc in Electronic Engineering from the University of Rome and an MBA from the London Business School. He is author of 30+ articles and papers published at international conferences and professional magazines, and he holds six international patents in the satcom field.

The United Kingdom's robust and ambitious space sector has many personalities. In this podcast series, we introduce you to three whom the UK Chapter of SSPI is considering for its prestigious Personality of the Year Award in 2024. One of these three finalists will be named the 2024 Satellite Personality of the Year live at the Better Satellite World Awards Dinner in London on 2 December. Click here to join us there! Each of the three finalists is a star who has made significant contribution to the UK and global satellite industry and whose career is a study of performance and excellence at the highest level. In the first episode, we learn a bit more about Dr. David Parker FRAeS, Non-Executive Board Member of the UK Space Agency and Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton. Dr. David Parker has led a distinguished thirty-five-year career in the space sector, spanning industry, UK government and the European Space Agency (ESA). Until June 2023, he served as ESA's Director of Space Exploration at ESTEC in the Netherlands, overseeing astronaut missions to the International Space Station, Europe's involvement in Artemis and pioneering projects like training an astronaut with a physical disability. Previously, he was the Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency (2013-2016), where he led Tim Peake's ISS mission and negotiated ESA's first UK center in Harwell. Starting in the UK space industry in 1990, he contributed to projects like XMM-Newton and ExoMars. Dr. Parker holds a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a PhD from NASA Langley Research Center. He has received several accolades, including the Royal Aeronautical Society's Geoffrey Pardoe award. He currently works part-time at ESA, serves on the UK Space Agency Board and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton.

In this special Making Leaders and SSPI-WISE Presents podcast, we hear from Joan Tang Mancuso, Marketing & Business Development Consultant (now retired), who was selected as SSPI's 2024 Mentor of the Year. Joan has provided expert guidance, mentorship and support to young people in the space & satellite industry throughout her more-than-30-year career and long after retiring from full-time work. As a member of the SSPI Mid-Atlantic Chapter Board, she spearheaded the creation, promotion and implementation of a scholarship program to help inner city high school students with STEM education. An inaugural participant in SSPI-WISE's Mentorship program, Joan mentored four different women across three countries, guiding them through career development, job changes, promotions and professional and personal challenges. Of particular note, she guided one mentee through a successful career transition from a technical role to a managerial position and helped another advance her career while navigating a difficult international relocation. Joan has also provided her insights and expertise to broader groups of women and industry professionals through a number of SSPI-WISE panels and online discussions.

In this Better Satellite World podcast, based on a panel session at the live New York Space Business Roundtable on September 18, we hear a discussion on the role of space and satellite in economic development, both in New York and beyond. Experts share their tips and what challenges they have faced or expect to face in the future. Our guests include: Lou Zacharilla, Director of Innovation, SSPI (moderator) Nick Reese, CEO & Founder, Frontier Foundry, former DHS Luc Decker, Consul General, Luxembourg Trade & Investment Office NY Norman R. Garza, Jr., Executive Director, Texas Space Commission

In this Better Satellite World podcast, based on a panel session at the live New York Space Business Roundtable on September 18, we hear a discussion on how New York State has moved forward on its journey to become a commercial space industry center, the pace of its development and what it needs to really get this going faster. Our guests include: Joe Fargnoli, Founder, New York Space Alliance (moderator) Michael Clouser, Director, The Startup Race / Researcher, International Triple Helix Institute John Neal, Executive Director, Space Policy, Cyber, Space and National Security Division, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Barry Safier, Engineering Manager, Moog Space and Defense Group N. Darius Sankey, Managing Director, Innovation Acceleration Capital

In this SSPI-WISE Presents podcast, SSPI Director of Engagement Tamara Bond-Williams speaks with Penelope Longbottom, former Senior Advisor, Satellite Division at Sage Communications, now retired, and a Member of the Space & Satellite Hall of Fame and Andrea Maleter, former Technical Director at the Futron Corporation, now retired, and the 2010 SSPI Mentor of the Year. Penelope launched her eponymous firm Longbottom Communications, LLC, in 2000. It was a full-service branding, public relations and marketing communications firm that advised and served a spectrum of clients in the global space, satellite, telecommunications and broadband sectors. In 2015 the firm was acquired by McLean-based Sage Communications, at which time Ms. Longbottom took full retirement. In 2016 she was inducted into the SSPI Hall of Fame in honor of her contributions fostering global awareness and the benefits of satellite communications to governments, enterprises, public safety, disaster management and ever-evolving applications and markets. Penelope devoted over three decades to helping her employers, and later clients, drive strategic messaging and branding to foster market growth and help a skeptical public understand and utilize satellites for rapidly expanding communications capabilities. She applied her PR and marketing expertise first in the analogue world of television and cable broadcasting, through the evolution of digital direct-to-home TV and radio, mobile communications and multiple business applications and vertical markets. She entered the industry in 1985 as Director of Communications for Hughes Communications. Departing Hughes in 1996, Penelope was tapped by Lockheed Martin Corp. to help stand up and brand its newly created Lockheed Martin Intersputnik unit in London, a new partnership with Russia. Following that short-lived venture, Penelope was appointed VP of Lockheed Martin's Space & Strategic Missiles Division. In 1999, she joined XM Satellite Radio to brand and drive the go-to market strategy of this first U.S.-licensed digital satellite radio operator to launch.    Andrea Maleter spent some 40 years in the global satellite, telecommunications and aerospace industries. As a consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Futron she provided policy, regulatory, investment and marketing advice to telecommunications companies, satellite manufacturing businesses and governments worldwide on areas including strategies for new technology implementation; telecommunications sector policy and privatization. Prior to consulting she held management positions at INTELSAT and COMSAT where she participated in the development of global telecommunications satellite markets and the planning and procurement of new satellite systems. Andrea currently serves as Co-Chair of the SSPI-WISE Mentoring Working Group and has been instrumental in the formation and success of the SSPI-WISE Mentorship program.

In the podcast series of Reducing the Risks of Space, Part 2: New Ideas in Space Safety, we explore policy, law, technology and operations in development now to manage the challenging space environment of the future. Episode 4 features a conversation with Dr. Grant Cates, Senior Project Leader for the Space Architecture Department at The Aerospace Corporation. Dr. Grant R. Cates is a senior project leader for the Space Architecture Department at The Aerospace Corporation. In this role, Cates leads discrete event simulation analysis capabilities for NASA's Human Exploration missions, Space Force launch ranges, and other customers. He provides launch probability assessments, forecasts of future launches, optimization of complex multi-launch space missions, and advocates for in-space rescue capabilities. Cates joined Aerospace in 2014 and developed a model to determine launch range throughput and for forecasting future launches, both domestic and international. He led development of a model that estimated launch probability for the Atlas, Delta, and Falcon launch vehicles. Cates was a chief scientist at SAIC where he built simulations to analyze human space flight architectures and to estimate the launch probability for NASA's Space Launch System. He held various positions at NASA in the Space Shuttle Program, including payload integration manager, landing convoy commander, flow manager, and flow director for the Columbia space shuttle orbiter. He was a member of the technical committee for the joint NASA/Air Force Source Evaluation Board for the initial Shuttle Processing Contract, served as a board member for the Space Program Operations Contract, was a member of the mishap investigation board that investigated a fire on the space shuttle Endeavour, and led the Jasper, Texas recovery site after the loss of Columbia. Cates was also an Air Force AWACS weapons director. He participated in Red Flag air warfare exercises, controlled F-15s intercepting Soviet bombers, and flew combat support missions during Operation Earnest Will. Cates is the author, lead author, and coauthor of numerous papers. His peer reviewed journal articles include the “Project Assessment by Simulation Technique” and “The In-Space Rescue Capability Gap.”

Bits, Bytes and AI, Oh My!, the podcast of the Digital Space campaign, underwritten by Hughes, delves into the rapidly evolving world of digital technology and its transformative impact on the space of satellite industries. In this series, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning and space based digital infrastructure with industry leaders and technologists. In episode 5, we hear from Carla Filotico, Partner and Managing Director at Novaspace. Carla Filotico has 20 years of experience in management and strategy consulting. In her current role, she leads Novaspace strategy practice. She has extensive knowledge of the space sector, its ecosystem and applications/domains and more generally of the issues related to the space industry along the entire value chain from R&D, to manufacturing, launch, operations and to downstream applications. Ms. Filotico has been supporting space public institutions on space and industrial policy, market development and entrepreneurship fostering, as well as key global and European industry players to grow their business and shape their investment strategies. She is an active member of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Jury. Prior to joining Novaspace (formerly SpaceTec Partners and Euroconsult), she led Booz&co's (now Strategy& PWC) Aerospace and Defence practice in Italy and the Space Strategy team in Europe. Ms. Filotico is an Aerospace engineer, with MSc in space system engineering.

Bits, Bytes and AI, Oh My!, the podcast of the Digital Space campaign, underwritten by Hughes, delves into the rapidly evolving world of digital technology and its transformative impact on the space of satellite industries. In this series, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning and space based digital infrastructure with industry leaders and technologists. In episode 4, we hear from Kidsan Barnes, Senior Vice President of Cruise & Ferry at Neuron.   Kidsan Barnes is a distinguished leader in the satellite communications and cruise connectivity industries. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Cruise & Ferry at Neuron. With a career marked by innovation and strategic vision, Kidsan has played a pivotal role in driving growth and transformation within her sector.   Kidsan's leadership philosophy centers on strategic intent, mental clarity and the joy of leading. Her contributions have not gone unnoticed; she was honored on the South Florida Business Journal's “40 Under 40” list, recognizing her significant impact on her industry, the economy and community, and also recognized on their Influential Business Women's list for 2022.   Under her leadership, Neuron's Cruise & Ferry division has seen remarkable advancements, solidifying its position as a leader in the fast-evolving world of satellite communications. Kidsan's dedication to excellence and philanthropic contributions are seen in her voluntary board roles for both SSPI and Florida International University where she gained her Executive MBA. She remains an inspiration for those in the industries she serves.

Bits, Bytes and AI, Oh My!, the podcast of the Digital Space campaign, underwritten by Hughes, delves into the rapidly evolving world of digital technology and its transformative impact on the space of satellite industries. In this series, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning and space based digital infrastructure with industry leaders and technologists. In episode 3, we hear from Brad Grady, Business Development Manager at Hughes Network Systems, LLC. Brad Grady serves as a Business Development Manager at Hughes, where he enhances airlines' in-flight connectivity experiences through the comprehensive Hughes In-Flight Connectivity Solutions. Leveraging over a decade of market analysis and insights, Brad collaborates with other industry-leading experts at Hughes to deliver transformative IFC experiences. With more than 15 years in the satellite connectivity industry, Brad's career is marked by prominent leadership positions. Prior to joining Hughes, he served as the Chief Operating Officer at Northern Sky Research (NSR) until its acquisition by Analysys Mason in 2022, where he continued as a Research Director. At NSR, an Analysys Mason company, Brad led the mobility and government/military research sectors, providing valuable insights to end-users, satellite operators, service providers, and the financial community. Throughout his consultancy career, Brad has authored numerous reports on topics ranging from the global space economy's market opportunities to the impacts of emerging LEO technologies on the mobility sector. He is a recognized speaker at industry conferences, has been interviewed by leading space sector publications, and has contributed to numerous custom consulting engagements. Brad earned a Bachelors of Arts in Economics from the University of Maryland.

Bits, Bytes and AI, Oh My!, the podcast of the Digital Space campaign, underwritten by Hughes, delves into the rapidly evolving world of digital technology and its transformative impact on the space of satellite industries. In this series, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning and space based digital infrastructure with industry leaders and technologists. In episode 2, we hear from Dr. Jennifer Seiler, Senior Engineer at RKF Engineering Solutions, LLC. Jennifer Seiler is a Ph.D. computational astrophysicist, software developer and open science devotee. She currently works for RKF Engineering as a simulation and model developer and engineer for long-range wireless communication systems (both ground and satellite systems). Prior to RKF Engineering, Jennifer worked for Giant Army as Staff Astrophysicist and Developer on Universe Sandbox, a physics simulator sandbox game currently available on Steam. She previously worked for the Department of Statistics at Columbia University studying open coding, open data, big data management and statistical issues of reproducibility in the sciences. A major focus was a project called ResearchCompendia.science. ResearchCompendia.science is a web service that allows researchers to run codes associated with scientific publications. The service allows authors of publications to create companion websites on which others may reproduce the paper's results or run their own parameters. Jennifer has ten years of experience designing, developing and testing massively parallel numerical simulations that evolve highly non-linear partial differential equations (the Einstein Equations) in three or more dimensions for dynamical systems (close binary black holes and neutron stars). Though her degrees are in physics and astrophysics, she has a very strong and unique computer science background in software development and testing, numerical simulations, analysis, database management and cluster management. From 2010 to late 2012, Jennifer occupied a NASA Postdoctoral Position (NPP) in the Astrophysical Sciences Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center doing numerical relativity and gravitational astrophysics related to the (2012 de-funded and soon to be refunded) LISA mission (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) and relevant to LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory). She received her Ph.D. from the Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany for research at the Max-Planck Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert Einstein Institute).

Bits, Bytes and AI, Oh My!, the podcast of the Digital Space campaign, delves into the rapidly evolving world of digital technology and its transformative impact on the space of satellite industries. In this series, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning and space based digital infrastructure with industry leaders and technologists. In episode 1, we hear from Chris Stott, Founder, Chair and CEO of Lonestar Data Holdings, Inc. Chris Stott is the Founder, Chair and CEO of Lonestar Data Holdings Inc., the Lunar information, technology, and communications company and the first to send and operate data centers from the Moon for global disaster recovery. A lifetime entrepreneur, Chris is also the Founder and Non-Executive Chair of River Advisors and ManSat, the world's largest commercial provider of satellite spectrum.  Chris serves as the Chair Emeritus, alongside the late Sir Arthur C. Clarke, of the Space and Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), the largest professional association in the global space and satellite industry, which also named him Satellite Industry Mentor of the Year in 2015.    Chris's passion for the economics and commerce of space has led him to co-found both the  Institute of Space Commerce in Austin in the United States, and the International Institute of Space Commerce on the Isle of Man in the British Isles. He has served on faculty at the International Space University (ISU) since 2003 and is a former co-chair of the university's school of business and management. Chris is also a guest lecturer in space law and regulation at MIT Media Labs, the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and the School of Law at the University of Houston.     In his spare time, Chris is a multi-award-winning producer, writer and documentary filmmaker. A naturalized Manx American, Chris lives in Florida with this wife and son and their dogs. He enjoys shooting (pistol, rifle, skeet and trap), SCUBA and Free Diving and flying helicopters.  He drinks way too much coffee and rarely watches TV. When he needs to sleep, he reads his own bio.  

In the podcast series of Reducing the Risks of Space, Part 2: New Ideas in Space Safety, we explore policy, law, technology and operations in development now to manage the challenging space environment of the future. Episode 3 features a conversation with renowned industry journalist Peter B. de Selding, Co-Founder and Chief Editor of SpaceIntelReport and Member of the Space & Satellite Hall of Fame. Peter B. de Selding is Co-Founder and Editor of SpaceIntelReport.com. He started SpaceIntelReport in 2017 after 26 years as the Paris Bureau Chief for SpaceNews where he covered the commercial satellite, launch and the international space businesses. A must read for space executives, Peter has broken numerous stories that changed the course of the industry. Among them was his investigation of the February 1995 launch accident at Xichang in China that destroyed the Intelsat 708 satellite. Peter also led coverage of the privatization of Intelsat and Eutelsat – and of the flurry of merger and acquisition activity that followed them – which further transformed the industry. His reporting could also change the fortunes of companies large and small.

In this Better Satellite World podcast, based on the July 2024 edition of the New York Space Business Roundtable, we hear from Greg Eghigian, Author & Professor at Penn State and Nick Reese, Co-Founder & COO of Frontier Foundry. They discuss unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and the numerous questions around them such as why we are spending so much to learn about UAPs and what would happen if we discovered we are not alone.   The question “are we alone?” has never been fully answered. With each image and data set arriving back from Hubble and James Webb the frivolous, Sci-Fi cultural expression of alien life is less frivolous. There is an anxiety about our place in the Universe and it impacts our human community in many ways.   The government and military are now addressing the question of UAPs with heightened seriousness and attention. As the understanding of UAPs' existence and nature becomes more mainstream, numerous questions emerge, particularly concerning commercial space and beyond.

In this podcast series, we speak with friends of SSPI who recently made big executive moves. We'll find out what they're doing now and what they hope to achieve in their new roles in the industry. In episode 3, SSPI Director of Engagement Tamara Bond-Williams speaks with Laura Cummings, Associate at Greenberg Traurig, LLP and 2023 "20 Under 35" honoree. Laura Cummings focuses her practice on space law and commercial space regulation, providing legal support to businesses dealing with complex matters pertaining to space, satellite, and telecommunication industries. Her work scope is global, involving policy-making, legislative interpretation, and application of regulatory frameworks. She is involved in virtually all areas of space regulatory affairs including spectrum advocacy, remote sensing, export compliance, payload authorization, and providing guidance on in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing mission authorization. Laura has deep experience influencing international telecommunications regulations and policy. Laura has served as a member of the U.S. Delegation to International Telecommunication Union conferences, including the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference, contributing to ongoing work around space sustainability. Similarly, she advocates for evolved U.S. domestic space regulations that are cohesive with international law and foreign domestic laws, working across a variety of jurisdictions and legal systems. She plays a role in driving a regulatory agenda for the small satellite industry and in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing capabilities. In her previous role at Astroscale U.S., Laura managed spacecraft licensing for the geostationary Life-Extension Services program, drove spectrum advocacy, and supported export compliance. Laura also has experience with the Federal Aviation Administration, supporting the creation of new regulations regarding launch and reentry licensing requirements.

In this podcast series, we speak with friends of SSPI who recently made big executive moves. We'll find out what they're doing now and what they hope to achieve in their new roles in the industry. In episode 2, SSPI Director of Engagement Tamara Bond-Williams speaks with Slava Frayter, Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales at Kayhan Space. Mr. Slava Frayter is the Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales at Kayhan Space, a SaaS company specializing in space situational awareness (SSA) and providing space traffic coordination and collision avoidance services for satellite operators and government organizations. Before joining Kayhan Space in May 2024, Slava served as the Vice President for North America at Gilat Satellite Networks. In this role, he oversaw all company operations in North America, managed the regional team, and developed and executed growth strategies across various markets, including cellular backhaul, enterprise, mobility, and government sectors. Prior to his tenure at Gilat, Mr. Frayter spent nearly two decades with Newtec, a Belgian satellite communication technology company, where he held several executive positions for the Americas region, including the CEO of Newtec America role. During his time there, Slava successfully built cross-functional organizations, grew revenue, significantly expanded the company's market presence, and forged long-term strategic relationships with partners and clients. Mr. Frayter holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Riga Technical University in Latvia and an MBA in International Business and Finance from the University of Connecticut.

In this podcast series, we speak with friends of SSPI who recently made big executive moves. We'll find out what they're doing now and what they hope to achieve in their new roles in the industry. In episode 1, SSPI Director of Engagement Tamara Bond-Williams speaks with Jennifer Manner, Senior Advisor for Space and Satellite Policy at the Office of Spectrum Management in the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Jennifer A. Manner is the Senior Advisor for Space and Satellite Policy at the Office of Spectrum Management in the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). In this role, Jennifer is the principle advisor to NTIA on spectrum management issues related to space and satellite communications. Prior to joining NTIA, Ms. Manner served as Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs at EchoStar Corporation, Deputy Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, as well as the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Jennifer has also held senior positions at the FCC and in industry, including at MCI/WorldCom (not Verizon) and Skyterra (now Ligado). Jennifer has held leadership roles in a number of organizations including the Global Satellite Operators Association, the Satellite Industry Association, and the U.S. ITU Association. Jennifer has also held leadership positions in a number of U.S. government advisory committees including Chair, Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee and Vice Chair of the FCC's World Radiocommunications Advisory Committee and the Commerce Department's International Trade Advisory Committee. Jennifer also holds leadership positions at the International Telecommunications Union. Further, Jennifer served for over a decade as a professor of law at Georgetown University Law School teaching international telecommunications law, and continues to teach at Carnegie Mellon's Executive Education Program in Technology Policy and the Silicon Flatirons Program at UC Boulder. Jennifer is also an author of numerous articles and several books on spectrum and telecommunications including Spectrum Wars: The Rise of 5G and Beyond (Artech House 2021). Jennifer is currently working on her latest book, Spectrum Wars: A New Hope for Connectivity (expected release 2025). Jennifer is also a filmmaker, with her latest film, When Wire Was King: The Transformation of Telecommunications is available on PBS, as well as Amazon and AppleTV and other streaming platforms. Jennifer holds a B.A. in Political Science and Theater from the State University of New York at Albany, a J.D. cum laude from New York Law School and a LL.M. with honors from Georgetown University Law School. Jennifer lives in Bethesda, MD with her husband, Dr. Eric Glasgow, and her golden doodle, Charliedoodle.

In part 1 of this special Better Satellite World podcast series, you heard from SSPI Director of Innovation and host of the Better Satellite World podcast Lou Zacharilla. He discussed the past two years of the Better Satellite World podcast and his favorite episodes, including his number 1 pick: The Road Less Travelled: Joining Faith and Science in a Journey Through the Stars. In part 2 of The Best of the Better, you'll get to listen to Lou's favorite episode, which originally aired as the inaugural episode of The Road Less Travelled series, sponsored by ATLAS Space Operations. In The Road Less Travelled: Joining Faith and Science in a Journey Through the Stars, Lou speaks with Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ, Director of the Vatican Observatory and co-author of multiple books, including Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial? and Turn Left at Orion. Brother Guy holds degrees from MIT, Harvard University and the University of Arizona and has been a member of the Catholic Church's Jesuit Order since 1989. He has authored hundreds of scientific publications in addition to his books. Brother Guy even has his own asteroid – 4597 Consolmagno – and is a recipient of the Carl Sagan Medal from the American Astronomical Society.

In this special Better Satellite World podcast, SSPI Director of Engagement Tamara Bond-Williams interviews none other than our host, SSPI Director of Innovation Lou Zacharilla. They discuss some of the most entertaining and intriguing podcasts Lou has had the privilege to record over the years, culminating in Lou's favorite podcast of all time, what he considers the Best of the Better Satellite World.

In this Better Satellite World podcast, based on the June 2024 edition of the New York Space Business Roundtable, our panel of experts takes a hard-nosed look at how the public and private sectors share the world of AI. Among other questions, we ask: What role will AI have on military applications in Space and on the ability to anticipate threats and opportunities that the commercial sector can benefit from? Profit from? Provide a more secure and just world for? There is no doubt that space is increasingly a warfare theater. But will it also become a culture which, through commerce and global cooperation, becomes a place where conflicts are “de-risked”? Speakers include: Dr. James Cunningham, DoD Business Development, Wallaroo Chris Cummins, Chief of Staff, Voyager Space Stuart Daughtridge, Senior VP, Advanced Technology, Kratos; Chairman, DIFI; and Finalist 2023 Satellite Executive of the Year Jeremy Fand, Co-Founder and CEO, SeerAI, Inc.

In this Better Satellite World podcast series, we ask the question: “What would you do if you had the power to make the world a better place during your career?” Joining SSPI's Lou Zacharilla to answer that question in the seventh and final episode are 3 members of the “20 Under 35” cohort of 2023: Andrew Chau, Space Mission Program Manager at Millennium Space Systems (A Boeing Company), Bhavi Jagatia, Astrodynamics Engineer at Planet and Matej Poliacek, ISS Flight Operations Engineer & STRATOS Flight Control Team Deputy Lead at DLR – German Aerospace Centre. Andrew Chau is a Space Mission Program Manager for Millennium Space Systems, A Boeing Company, in El Segundo, California. In his current role, he leads Victus Nox, a tactically responsive space program for the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command Space Safari Office. The program, which demonstrates how fast we can respond to on-orbit needs, is critical for national security space. Most notably, the program required a high-performance small satellite to be completed in a mere eight months from contract authorization; a 60-hour activation phase; a 24-hour launch phase; and mission operations-ready in 48 hours after launch. Under Andrew's leadership, the team met or exceeded these ambitious goals – eight months for satellite completion, 58 hours for activation, 24 hours for launch and 37 hours for mission operations. These goals can take years to complete, and yet, the team completed everything in under a year. Prior to VICTUS NOX, Andrew served as program manager for a high-rate production study and was the project manager for Millennium Space's micro control-moment gyroscope. He also worked as an electromechanical design engineer. Bhavi Jagatia is an Astrodynamics Engineer at Planet, a position she took on after completing a successful internship for the Orbits R&D team. While at Planet, she has made significant improvements to the tasking system for the company's high-resolution constellation of imaging satellites, SkySats. Bhavi was initially tasked with evaluating the complex schedule for SkySats, identifying areas of improvement and implementing changes to increase the collection capacity of the fleet. Her work resulted in substantial fulfillment enhancements, and she is now the sole owner and developer of the tool for her team. Bhavi received her Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University, which she attended on the prestigious Tata scholarship. During her studies at Cornell, she worked with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) on a project to investigate the use of flux-pinning on orbiting sample capture for a Mars sample return mission. Bhavi served as avionics lead for the project and participated in a microgravity test aboard a Zero-G flight with the JPL team. She also led Cornell's project team for NASA's Micro-G NExT competition while completing her studies and worked in internships at Boeing's research lab, ASML, and Honda Aircraft Company. Matej Poliacek is a Flight Operations Engineer and Deputy Team Lead of the STRATOS Flight Control Team for the Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS) at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). In this role, he supports the astronaut crew onboard by monitoring and operating the systems and payloads in the module, ensuring crew safety, smooth running of the station and supporting scientific activities. Matej also took part in the recent European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut selection, and although he did not reach the final stages, he was among the top 5% selection from the 22,500 applicants Europe-wide. He is currently the first and only known Slovak citizen to directly work on the ISS project. In 2023, Matej and his team conducted a hardware upgrade on the ISS from the ground alongside astronauts who were performing the on-board activities. The project, which involved replacing Columbus LAN switches, took several years of preparation, including writing and updating procedures, outlining choreography for the crew and coordination with NASA counterparts and European payload operators to facilitate the transition to new hardware with minimal impact on daily ISS operations. It took 2 full weeks of console work to complete, during which Matej supported the crew with ground commanding to properly configure the module both before and after the hardware transition, provided the crew with guidance for their on-board actions and checked out and integrated the hardware into station operations.

In this Better Satellite World podcast series, we ask the question: “What would you do if you had the power to make the world a better place during your career?” Joining SSPI's Lou Zacharilla to answer that question in the sixth episode are 3 members of the “20 Under 35” cohort of 2023: Christian Keil, Chief of Staff at Astranis, Sapna Rao, Senior Systems Engineer at Lockheed Martin and Glory Sikka, Technical Program Manager at Maxar. Christian Keil is the Chief of Staff at Astranis, a manufacturer and operator of MicroGEO communications satellites. He leads both the marketing team and the regulatory team, roles in which he is the primary interface between Astranis and the outside world — whether heads of international regulatory agencies or fans on Twitter. After joining Astranis as its third businessperson, Christian played a pivotal role in scaling the company to over 300 employees and a $1.6 billion valuation. Over nearly five years, he has helped by establishing the company's back-end business systems (finance, recruiting, HR, etc.), designing the company's first website, writing the company's first onboarding guide and securing the company's first MOUs from the Department of Defense. Sapna Rao is a Senior Systems Engineer at Lockheed Martin. She joined the company in 2018 after graduating from the Virginia Tech College of Engineering with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and completing an Aerospace Engineering internship with Lockheed Martin. Sapna quickly became integral to many Lockheed Martin initiatives, playing an active role as a Software Systems Engineer, Systems Engineer and Mission Operations Developer on significant programs including Artemis I, Artemis II, the Human Landing System, and the Cryogenic Demonstration Mission. She currently serves as the lead for developing customers and partners from industry and academia to participate in Lockheed Martin's Lunar Mobile Vehicle project. Sapna is also the technical lead for Project Agni, a machine learning and artificial intelligence tool that can detect wildfires using lightning and weather data. She is also leading the generation of mission operations sequences for the Cryogenic Demonstration Mission. This mission is proving out the technology for transferring liquid hydrogen in orbit demonstrating refueling in space. This capability will enable future deep space exploration to Mars and beyond. Glory Sikka is the Deputy Technical Program Manager for NASA's Space Infrastructure Dexterous Robot (SPIDER) project at Maxar. She joined the company in 2018 as a Lead Systems Engineer for the project. SPIDER is an ambitious and complex mission demonstrating a brand-new robotic arm system for in-space assembly of spacecraft. Glory's team is responsible for the end-to-end system, which includes end-over-end walking capability, robot control avionics, situational awareness software, operations console, a precision in-space assembled Ka-band antenna and an in-space manufactured composite antenna boom. She was promoted to her current position in 2021 and is one of the youngest employees to ever reach that level of seniority at the company. Before joining Maxar, Glory spent two years as a Systems Engineer performing robotic maintenance activities on nuclear reactors for the MDA Corporation. She made many training and tool upgrades and improvements while at the company, resulting in greater up-time and reduced risk during maintenance operations. Glory began her career at Solar Ship, where she conducted design, modelling, experimental testing and data analysis for a next-generation airship.

In this SSPI-WISE Presents podcast, Tamara Bond-Williams, Director of Engagement at SSPI, speaks with Merissa Velez, Chief of the Satellite Programs and Policy Division at the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Space Bureau. This podcast is the second episode of New Ideas in Space Safety, the podcast of the SSPI topic campaign: Reducing the Risks of Space, Part 2: New Ideas in Space Safety. Merissa Velez is Chief of the Satellite Programs and Policy Division of the Federal Communications Commission's Space Bureau. In this role, Ms. Velez oversees a team addressing legal and policy issues associated with the licensing and regulation of satellite systems. Ms. Velez has focused on satellite regulatory issues at the FCC for the past ten years, and was previously the Chief of the Satellite Policy Branch in the International Bureau's Satellite Division. Prior to joining the FCC, Ms. Velez clerked for the Supreme Court of Hawaii and worked in the legal publishing industry.  Ms. Velez is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and Middlebury College.

In this Better Satellite World podcast, based on the May edition of the New York Space Business Roundtable, you'll hear the first AI talk at the Roundtable. It's the gamechanger and it's here and moving fast. How fast and where is it going to land in the commercial space sector? In this conversation, we bring AI into the house and to space and satellite to find out where it is doing a makeover on commercial space. We look for answers from the government sector, too, and talk about how AI can help smaller companies get contracts, financing and customers. And we ask if AI is really a friend to the industry or just smiling to our faces while wanting to take our place? Will AI help us get further out there or take over things down here first? Our speakers include: Matteo Cuccorese, Co-founder & CEO, SPAICE Sapna Rao, Senior Systems Engineer, Lockheed Martin, 2023 20 Under 35 Honoree Hanna Steplewska, President and COO, Cognitive Space

In this Better Satellite World podcast series, we ask the question: “What would you do if you had the power to make the world a better place during your career?” Joining SSPI's Lou Zacharilla to answer that question in the fifth episode are 3 members of the “20 Under 35” cohort of 2023: Neha Lin, Space Systems Engineer at Iridum, Armando Loli, Project Engineer at Boeing and Asad Malik, Founder, Chairman and CEO of iRocket. Neha Lin is a Space Systems Engineer at Iridium. She joined the company in 2017 as a Satellite Payload Computer Engineer, during a pivotal time when Iridium had just begun retiring its older satellites and launching Iridium NEXT satellites with entirely new payload hardware and software, as well as hosted services. As soon as she took on this role, Neha was confronted with a multitude of challenges with on-orbit payload hardware and software issues and integrating the new satellites into the existing Iridium satellite constellation without disrupting service for customers. She investigated each issue and developed appropriate responses and procedures to minimize service impact. Neha also actively guided the Operations team in efforts to recover the computers with as little disruption as possible. Before joining Iridium, Neha began her career as a Reliability Test Engineer at Microchip Corp., where she carried out rigorous flash endurance cycles on PIC microcontrollers. She transitioned into a role as an RTL Design Engineer at Microchip Corp. before moving on to join Iridium. Armando Loli is a Project Engineer at Boeing. He joined the company initially as an Industrial Engineer, a role in which he supported F-15, F/A-18 and 777x aircraft. From there, Armando transferred to Kennedy Space Center to work on Boeing's Starliner Crewed Spacecraft. He was selected as a key member of the Pad Team that assists NASA astronauts into the Crew Module on Launch Day and also granted security clearances to help integrate Production Engineering initiatives across Boeing's entire Space and Launch portfolio. In his current position, Armando developed the requirements and initial design for a Spacecraft Production System Digital Model/Twin and demonstrated optimized build flows and flexible scaling to meet different build rate scenarios. He is currently managing 3 major projects for Boeing's Space Production, Test, Launch and Recovery Engineering Core Team. While working at Boeing, Armando created and now manages an initial Immersive Development Center for the company's space programs that provides Mixed Reality technologies, which help with manufacturing, production, test and operations. Asad Malik is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of iRocket. He founded iRocket at the age of 28 with the vision of bridging the “digital divide” by launching satellites designed to enhance 5G high-speed Internet access, autonomous vehicles, telemedicine and online education. The company's slogan, “Launch More. Wait Less,” articulates its commitment to providing low-cost, responsive launches with a fully reusable launch vehicle powered by clean, sustainable propellants. iRocket also plans to provide point-to-point cargo delivery services, which can be used for national security and humanitarian missions, such as those dealing with natural disasters. Asad is a graduate of the Tandon School of Engineering at New York University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He worked at M&J Engineering Group, a diversified provider of engineering, environmental, construction and technology services, for 12 years, eventually serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. While working at M&J, Asad developed MARQUS, an FEA error-checking and design optimization tool for submarine hull structure design, and helped deliver $2 billion in constructed value projects for the Department of Defense with exceptional CPARS ratings. Asad still serves on the Board of Directors at M&J while leading iRocket today. In 2020, he was accepted into the NYU Stern Accelerator Endless Frontiers Lab (EFL) and was part of its Deep Tech Cohort. EFL works with high-growth start-ups that employ innovations in technology and life sciences with the goal of having societal impact through science and technology.

In this Better Satellite World podcast series, we ask the question: “What would you do if you had the power to make the world a better place during your career?” Joining SSPI's Lou Zacharilla to answer that question in the fourth episode are 2 members of the “20 Under 35” cohort of 2023: Aysha Alharam, Acting Head of Satellite Design and Development at the Bahrain National Space Science Agency and Laura Cummings, Regulatory Affairs Counsel at Astroscale U.S. Aysha Alharam is the current Acting Head of Satellite Design and Development for the National Space Science Agency (NSSA) of Bahrain. She began her career in 2018 when she was selected as one of the nine first members of the Bahrain Space Team, a position that had over 4,000 other applicants. As the first Bahraini space engineer leading the team, Aysha served as project manager, idea innovator and software developer for the “Aman” payload project, which won the prestigious Payload Hosting Initiative – organized by the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) in 2022 – out-competing space agencies, companies, universities and research centers from over 100 countries. The Aman payload project showcases Eng, which focuses on securing satellite data through a novel cybersecurity encryption algorithm based on FPGA and parallel processing technology. Aysha personally developed the idea of the AI-based image processing system that will be onboard the first Bahraini satellite, “AlMunther,” the first of its kind in the Middle East region. She completed her education with two Masters degrees, one in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a concentration in space technology from Khalifa University in the UAE and one in Information Technology and Computer Science from the University of Bahrain. Laura Cummings is Regulatory Affairs Counsel for Astroscale U.S., a position in which she is responsible for identifying and helping to create the regulatory framework to authorize In-Orbit Servicing, Assembling and Manufacturing (ISAM) for spacecrafts such as Astroscale's Life Extension In-Orbit (LEXI) missions. These satellite missions require knowledge and expertise in multiple legal frameworks, orbital regimes and technical innovations, with only a handful of precedents that can be considered examples by regulators. In addition to her work on the ISAM regulatory framework, Laura represents Astroscale U.S. in a variety of industry associations, including the Commercial SmallSat Spectrum Management Association (CSSMA) – of which she is President and a Board Member – and the Consortium for the Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing (CONFERS), where she helps the industry to shape policies and communications standards for ISAM missions. Before joining Astroscale U.S., she served as a Regulatory Intern at SES Satellites and a FAA Legal Honors Intern at the Federal Aviation Administration. Laura received her Bachelor of Arts in International Regulations and Affairs, Astronomy from the University of Colorado Boulder, her Doctor of Law in Space Law and International Law from the University of Denver – Sturm College of Law and her Juris Doctor in Space Law from Georgetown University Law Center. While earning her degrees, she held major roles in the Space Law Society at both Georgetown University Law Center, where she served as Vice President and then President, and at Denver University, where she served as Executive Director.