SSPI

This is the official podcast of the Space & Satellite Professionals International. On this channel, we release podcasts in two series: Making Leaders and Better Satellite World. Making Leaders interviews are part of our Promise2Purpose program, for which SSPI operates career education programs with student organizations in multiple countries which offer a bridge between university study and future careers in commercial space & satellite. We also work to improve the industry’s ability to engage and manage talent, and honor companies for commitment to the people whose talents make innovation happen. Better Satellite World episodes show the world why the space & satellite industry, though often invisible, is indispensable to modern life, through powerful stories & conversations with people whose work in space & satellite make a stronger economy, better society & lead to the sustainability of our home, the Planet Earth.

Better Satellite World: The Space Business is... In Asia: Welcome to ST Engineering iDirect Asia-Pacific 04/18/2025

Better Satellite World: The Space Business is... In Asia: Welcome to ST Engineering iDirect Asia-Pacific 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/36226110

Better Satellite World: The Space Business is... In Japan: Welcome to SKY Perfect JSAT 04/12/2025

Better Satellite World: The Space Business is... In Japan: Welcome to SKY Perfect JSAT 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/36106470

Better Satellite World: Everyday Guardians - Space Debris and Ethical Imperatives: A Buddhist Perspective 04/04/2025

SSPI-WISE Presents: Adileh for the WIN! 03/21/2025

Making Leaders: Movers in Our Orbit, Season 2 - Doing Impactful Work for Earth from Space 03/14/2025

Making Leaders: Movers in Our Orbit, Season 2 - Doing Impactful Work for Earth from Space 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/35701915

SSPI-WISE Presents: Accelerate Action 03/06/2025

SSPI-WISE Presents: Accelerate Action 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 , 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/35565750

Better Satellite World: Dr. David Parker FRAeS, 2024 Satellite Personality of the Year 02/28/2025

Better Satellite World: The Space Business is... In Bahrain: Welcome to Bahrain National Space Agency 02/21/2025

Better Satellite World: The Space Business is... In Bahrain: Welcome to Bahrain National Space Agency In The Space Business is... – the podcast series of 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 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/35382530

Better Satellite World: Ad Astra - Remembering Jim Oliver 02/13/2025

Better Satellite World: What It Takes to Make a Better World - A Conversation with Hughes' Dan Losada 02/07/2025

Better Satellite World: What It Takes to Make a Better World - A Conversation with Hughes' Dan Losada On the night of December 2, 2024 in London, SSPI and its UK Chapter held their annual Dinner to present 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/35197275

Better Satellite World: What It Takes to Make a Better World - A Conversation with Speedcast's Will Mudge 01/31/2025

Better Satellite World: What It Takes to Make a Better World - A Conversation with Speedcast's Will Mudge On the night of December 2, 2024 in London, SSPI and its UK Chapter held their annual Dinner to present 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/35103905

Better Satellite World: SATELLITE 2025 - What Can We Look Forward To This March? 01/24/2025

Better Satellite World: SATELLITE 2025 - What Can We Look Forward To This March? 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/34999165

Better Satellite World: The Space Business is... In Nigeria: Welcome to NIGCOMSAT 01/17/2025

Better Satellite World: The Space Business is... In Nigeria: Welcome to NIGCOMSAT In The Space Business is... – the podcast series of 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/34899410

Better Satellite World: What It Takes to Make a Better World - A Conversation with Andre L. Jones 01/10/2025

Better Satellite World: 2025 - Mojo or No-Go in Commercial Space? 01/03/2025

Better Satellite World: The Morning After . . . Investment, Convergence and Implications for Commercial Space 12/27/2024

Better Satellite World: The Space Business is... In Canada - Welcome to Spaceport Nova Scotia 12/20/2024

Better Satellite World: The Space Business is... In Canada - Welcome to Spaceport Nova Scotia In The Space Business is... - the podcast series of 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/34556700

Making Leaders: Charting New Territory at ATLAS and Beyond - A Conversation with 2024 Promise Award Recipient Paige Webster 12/13/2024

Making Leaders: Flying to Ever Greater Heights - A Conversation with 2024 Promise Award Recipient Bradley Williams 12/06/2024

Making Leaders: Leadership, Design Innovation and a Passion for Doing Things Right - A Conversation with 2024 Promise Award Recipient Mackenzie Mason 11/29/2024

Better Satellite World: Personalities of the Space & Satellite Industry, Episode 3 - A Conversation with Seraphim Space Fund's Mark Boggett 11/22/2024

Better Satellite World: Personalities of the Space & Satellite Industry, Episode 2: A Conversation with the ESA's Antonio Franchi 11/15/2024

Better Satellite World: Personalities of the Space & Satellite Industry, Episode 1: A Conversation with the UK Space Agency's Dr. David Parker FRAeS 11/08/2024

Better Satellite World: Personalities of the Space & Satellite Industry, Episode 1: A Conversation with the UK Space Agency's Dr. David Parker FRAeS 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 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/33853157

Making Leaders: A Mentor for Life - A Conversation with Joan Tang Mancuso, 2024 Mentor of the Year 11/01/2024

Better Satellite World: Getting it Done - Best Practices in Space-based Economic Development 10/25/2024

Better Satellite World: Mapping Space Industry Assets in New York 10/18/2024

SSPI-WISE Presents: Mentorship is the New Black 10/12/2024

SSPI-WISE Presents: Mentorship is the New Black 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. /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/33428342

Better Satellite World: New Ideas in Space Safety, Episode 4 - Rescues in Space 10/04/2024

Better Satellite World: New Ideas in Space Safety, Episode 4 - Rescues in Space 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.” /episode/index/show/sspipodcast/id/33336402

Better Satellite World: Bits, Bytes and AI, Oh My! - Episode 5 - Satellite Data in Real Time 09/27/2024

Better Satellite World: Bits, Bytes and AI, Oh My! - Episode 4 - Using Satellite to Transform the Digital Experience 09/21/2024

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