Schedule + Sessions | SmallSat Symposium 2019

Interpreting Small Satellite Industry Growth, Value and Size

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It is clear that the smallsat industry has gained significant momentum, proven its less capital intensive, quicker to market value proposition: it is here to stay. Not only are the applications diverse, but so are the investors, both financial and strategic. Traditional space companies and technology giants are looking at different smallsat solutions as part of their business extension to keep pace with the smallsat revolution. With the rise of smallsats, an entire ecosystem has also evolved, including a broad range of new launch service providers, rideshare arrangers, ground systems and system innovations. Not to mention the multiple planned mega-constellations. This panel will provide insights and predictions for market growth over the next ten years, and how what is being financed and on the drawing board matches up with market demand. Outside of the 4,000 planned broadband communication smallsats and the 1,500 planned earth observations satellites where are the largest underserved opportunities for secondary and tertiary suppliers within this marketplace?

Three ViewPoints — SmallSat Defense and Government Developments

Steve Jurvetson, Co-founder, Future Ventures & DFJ was to be our Keynote Speaker. Unfortunately he is unable to attend so he will do the introduction of this session via video. In lieu of Mr. Jurvetson's Keynote we have asked three respected speakers to give individual presentations on where smallsat developers should concentrate their efforts to best capitalize on the Government and Military markets.

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According to Euroconsult the following numbers describe smallsat activity: 40% Government. 30% Defense and 30% Commercial. Governments will remain the largest customer of the satellite and launch industries with 1,300+ satellites to be launched over the next 10 years for about 70 countries, for a market value of over $200 billion. With these numbers it is not surprising that General John Hyten, Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, said at an industry conference last year. “I won’t support the development any further of large, big, fat, juicy targets.....we are going to go down a different path.”

Constellations - Broadband Communications from SmallSats

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Announced players in this arena include SpaceX, OneWeb, Telesat, LeoSat, Hongyan, and Boeing. The general consensus in the industry regarding constellations is that too many are planned for the marketplace, and while at least one (maybe two) will make it to the finish line it is extremely unlikely that all constellations planned will come to fruition or be profitable. What are the unique approaches that each company is taking and how might those strategies underscore a winning strategy? What do you see as their differentiators? Are there unique applications that can be served by multiple operators simultaneously.

Earth Observation: SmallSat Innovations and Advantages

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Whether earth observation, remote sensing, geospatial imaging or big data analytics, smallsats have catapulted the sector further then ever before. Some own their own platforms, others purchase data from third parties and focus on their analytics differentiator. While several successful constellations have been launched and multiple applications are being developed every year, how many more competing constellations will the market (and spectrum resources) support? Some are based on video and others on radar and optical photography, and run the full gamut of types, resolutions, regions and philosophy of what is provided: automatically generated, specified targeting, raw versus processed data, and even the opportunity for dedicated mini-constellations. Our panel will examine the market trends and opportunities currently seen, and to be expected, in the upcoming year.

Technology Brief - Software Defined Network Systems

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How exactly will Software Defined Networking and Machine Learning affect the satellite communications industry? Our speaker will take aspects of these applications for solving the complexity of using spacecraft as a platform for providing abundant Internet access to the world. The key challenges in the operation of non-geostationary, multi-hop aerospace networks will be discussed. We are on the brink of an exponential growth in data production and analysis, with the monetization of this trend largely dependent on the ability to process this data – and these applications will be critical to that step.

Prime Contractors and the SmallSat Market

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Smallsat manufactures and operators often look to established (and larger) industry participants to support their programs, whether as investors, advisors, or strategic partners. Similarly, many traditional space players see smallsats as a significant part of the future of the industry, both for commercial and government programs, and see investments and strategic collaborations with smallsat players as the way to remain relevant and enter the newspace race. Our panel will discuss their insights as to the benefits and risks to those collaborations, including observations on the collaborations entered into to date with a particular focus on the structuring challenges that new entrants should expect when teaming with an existing, larger, industry partner.

Keynote Speaker — Mike Safyan, VP of Launch, Planet

In 2011, Mike Safyan joined the eight-person founding team at Planet (known as "Cosmogia" at the time) where the company was building the first iterations of its Dove smallsats in a Cupertino garage. Since then, Planet has expanded to a global organization leading the NewSpace industry, with 400 employees and the world's largest fleet of Medium-resolution and High-resolution Earth Imaging satellites. Mike is responsible for Planet's Launch strategy and has overseen the launch of over 300 Planet satellites across 20 launch attempts working with a variety of different launch providers and launch vehicles.

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Financing SmallSats – Underserved Financing Sources vs. Overextended Players

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Over the past 20 years, we have seen the evolution of satellite solutions complementing, competing and/or being replaced by alternative platforms, whether terrestrial or, more recently UAS. Broadband and connectivity needs, together with growing sophistication and use of big data analytics, will continue exponentially. Large, geostationary satellites, as well as alternative ground and air-based platforms, are often evaluated side by side with the smallsat solution for a particular needs case. Including with respect to particular industry needs and tradeoffs with each type of information delivery platform: Agriculture, Environment, Energy, Infrastructure, Maritime, Aviation, Government Security purposes and many more. The panel will discuss different models being pursued and implemented, and the trade-offs considered, in the alternative models.

Technology Brief - Batteries and Power Systems

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While the battery industry has exploded in recent years terrestrially, have there been significant advancements in space system batteries, and what can we expect to come online soon? While there have been significant advancements in GEO battery and power systems over the last several years, the demands and requirements for LEO satellites – particularly shorter life-span, higher cost prohibitive iterations – are significantly different.

Smallsats in the Technology Sandbox: How SmallSat solutions play together with other information platforms

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The Role that Small Satellites Play (now and in the future) in Defense

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How can smallsats change government missions (disaggregation, resiliency)? SmallSats can provide an enhancement layer for the capabilities of larger national security spacecraft, and as the existing systems become more vulnerable, technologically aging, and expensive to maintain, the appeal of smallsats will increase considerably. The new DARPA Blackjack program for private companies to pitch to develop a satellite constellation leveraging commercial capabilities to meet military needs is perhaps one of the largest opportunities for all sectors in the smallsat market. What are the best opportunities for small businesses/ smallsat startups to help the government mission? What is the role of legacy integrators in serving the same space?

Ground System Manufacturers and Service Suppliers

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We will hear from leaders in these fields as to the what is different with the smallsat ground ecosystem. While significant advancements have been made in the reduction of cost and the increase in sophistication of smallsats, what is going on with the ground system suppliers to keep up with the space-based technology advancements and the less capital intensive business plans? With rapid consolidation in the industry and significant cost and technology advancement pressures, how are the ground system elements keeping up. How “off the shelf” and open network are the ground elements today, and how is the industry evolving. What obstacles are most important to be cautious of, and where to focus in these next stages of growth.

The Evolving Business Case for Small Satellites

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Lessons Learned: What elements of the business case have been tested and what remain uncertain? What have we learned from the challenges faced and tools used in the development of a smallsat business (including all the service provider elements), including what has worked and, perhaps more importantly, what hasn't. While it has become clear to many that there is demand for both imaging and communications constellations, will smaller, niche applications have significant opportunities for growth in the industry? Will the period of rapid technology evolution and growth continue, or will consolidations and more market maturity be the next wave for smallsats?

Technology Brief - The Changing Architecture of Satellites

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Whether optimally serving EO satellites or providing innovative 2-way cloud connectivity, today’s satellite and space environment must evolve into a more distributed and flexible architecture. As service models evolve from network-centric to application/data centric, space must leverage the same SDN principles as terrestrial networks to play an active role within this highly dynamic networking environment. This session will discuss how flexible satellite payloads, electronically steered antennas, software defined gateways and new cloud carriers will all work in concert to create the new face of space as well as what it will mean to service providers and users.

Securing Capital and the M&A Market

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As the pace of M&A activity continues, so does both the emergence of startups entering the industry and new interest in the industry from established players from other markets. For various stages of growth, from startup to market dominance, what are the options for financing success, and what changes are occurring today that are of interest to companies making moves in the industry. Are there new ways to leverage government resources, or are there large companies hungry to get involved that have significant investment capital available? Learn the latest trends and best opportunities to open the doors for securing your next stage of growth.

What Role do Heavy Lift Large Rockets Play in the Small Satellite Industry

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Most of the heavy lift launch service providers have, or are planning, to develop a smallsat launch capability, including Arianespace, ISRO, SpaceX, MHI, and ULA either directly or with third party rideshare aggregators. For launching a large number of satellites in a relatively similar position, heavy lift rockets may prove more cost effective per kg, and more reliable due to their track record. With the use of specialized dispenser technology will large launchers continue to compete in the smallsat arena, in light of the number of smaller launch vehicles with more frequent launches on the horizon? Learn from those developing the infrastructure and business models to accommodate this changing landscape.

Small Launch Vehicle Mission Differentiation

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Stimulated by the growing demand for small satellites, as well as the interest in dedicated launch services many small launch vehicles are in development. Small launch vehicles are less expensive to develop and launch, and therefore in the reach of more companies who do not want to be bundled with, and dependent on the timing of, multiple smallsats. Agencies like NASA, the NRO, the Air Force and DARPA are offering funding and other incentives to small launch vehicles and trimming regulations in areas like procurement. Our panelists will discuss the new launch vehicles on the horizon and market capacity (and competitive advantages and risks) in the marketplace.

Recruitment, Retention and Team Building

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To grow or shift a company from one growth phase to the next (start up to mature business) is hard. Many smallsat companies start with technically advanced personnel and may lack the skills to manage and recruit people to grow. Where do you find the people you need? What people do you need? What draws the best and brightest to work for your organization? The panelists will discuss evolution of the workplace, challenges and opportunities and thoughts for young professionals as they face the future.

The panel will discussion will include:
- Hiring challenges from the viewpoint of employers and from the viewpoint of candidates
- The Millennial hiring factor
- Hiring technology using automation
- Complexities when international companies expand and hire in the US

Spectrum Use and Optical Alternatives

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Is there a shortage of spectrum for smallsat operators? Can spectrum historically used by smallsat operators continue to be coordinated? Are incumbent government or commercial operators incentivized to coordinate spectrum? What can be done to facilitate coordination efforts? Do organizations such as the Commercial Smallsat Spectrum Management Association (CSSMA) have a role to play? Do intersatellite links or optical links provide a solution for possible spectrum scarcity?

Integration and Cooperation between NASA, DISA, DARPA and the Proposed Space Force – Is this still a thing?

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How far along has the process gone for a legitimate Space Force? If implemented how will the reorganization of the armed forces effect government cost and how will said changes affect commercial suppliers? Is there a possibility of improving communication and coordination with smallsat operators? How much work have these established government organizations put into this concept? New smallsat companies struggle with a government acquisition system that appears slow, cumbersome and unable to match the pace of change – how do we open these barriers to entry?

Orchestrating Space, Standards and Regulations

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Regulatory and legal requirements are core to the satellite industry, smallsats included. Most rules were created at a time before global smallsat constellations were imagined, and regulatory requirements (including access to spectrum) were not written to envision or address the current business environment. This ranges from questions on the governing agencies, the application processes, spectrum coordination among smallsat entrants, and how different types of technologies (such as optical, radar, geospacial imaging) including their spacecraft and customer deliverables should be regulated. Export controls and government security interests also play a major role in required approvals and restrictions for developing and deploying new technologies. In addition, new advanced technologies both create and seek to solve different regulatory challenges created on a global scale (such as orbital debris). Our panel of international regulatory experts will provide insight into what we know and what we do not know yet, and the upcoming developments on the horizon.