The Space Industry

Trends in the Earth Observation sector - with Aravind Ravichandran of TerraWatch Space

Episode 58 of the Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Aravind Ravichandran, founder of TerraWatch Space.

In the episode we discuss trends and movements in the Earth Observation (EO) sector, from a variety of perspectives. In particular we cover:

• New Earth Observation technologies and operating models coming online very soon
• How satellite data end users are approaching the market
• Insights into data fusion with terrestrial sources
• How deep space exploration is opening up new opportunities for EO suppliers
• And more

You can find out more about Aravind and TerraWatch here on the company's website https://terrawatchspace.com/ as well as on the links below:

EO Summit: https://eosummit.com/
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/aravindEO
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aravindravichandran/
Newsletter: https://terrawatchspace.com/newsletter/
Podcast: https://terrawatchspace.com/podcast/

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Episode 57 of the Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Adrien Saada, Operations Officer of the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR), based in Switzerland.

In the episode we discuss the progress that has been made in the industry to make space a safer and more sustainable operating environment - as well as all of the work still to do. In particular we cover:

• The current state of play with regards to space debris mitigation
• Thoughts on active debris removal
• How the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR) works and how it was developed
• Expectations on the evolution of debris mitigation and prevention initiatives in the future

You can find out more about the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR) here on the organization's website: https://spacesustainabilityrating.org/

Interested in finding out more about the rating? Feel free to contact the SSR team at contact@ssr.space

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In episode 56 of the Space Industry podcast by satsearch, our host Hywel Curtis spoke with Justus Parmar, CEO of Fortuna Investments, about investing in the space industry in 2024 and beyond.

Fortuna Investments is a US-based private investment company operating in various high growth sectors including, space. Int he podcast we discussed various aspects of investing in space companies in today's economy and business climate, including:

- The macroeconomic trends currently affecting the space industry
- The factors that space suppliers need to consider in order to navigate challenging market conditions
- Building the case for space to investors and stakeholders outside of the industry
- Fortuna Investments' work and plans in the sector

To find out more about Fortuna Investments please take a look at the company's website here: https://investfortuna.com/

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Episode 55 of the Space Industry podcast is a conversation with Kelli Kedis Ogborn, Vice President of Space Commerce & Entrepreneurship at Space Foundation.

Kelli is an experienced space industry professional who has worked in both the public and private sectors, so we discussed a wide range of issues and insights from both domains, and how they may affect space companies in 2024 and beyond.

In particular we covered:

• Trends in how companies are coming to market today compared to previous years
• How space entrepreneurs can balance hype and optimism
• How companies outside of our industry should think about their own space strategies, or even becoming a space company
• The evolving role of space agencies in fostering a dynamic industry
• The work of the Space Foundation

You can find out more about the Space Foundation here on their website.

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Episode 54 of the Space Industry podcast is a discussion with Adrian Helwig, Analog Field Application Engineer, and Michael Seidl, Systems Engineer from Texas Instruments, about how to develop a high-performing satellite communications payload.

The evolution of satellite communications technology has pushed the innovation boundaries of subsystems and payloads. Simultaneously, the applications and supply of electronic components and power systems have also advanced in line with new market demands.

NewSpace companies are tapping into these latest technologies in the satellite communications segment and utilizing it to open opportunities in markets such as laser communications. Therefore, in this episode, we will take a deep dive into the rising demand of high-performing satellite communications payloads, as well as the technical systems required to support these high-performance systems.

• Beamforming / electronically steered antennas, power density, and low board space are key requirements to enable it.
• RF sampling at high-frequency bands with high instantaneous bandwidth, high-speed ADCs are needed, extremely high quality clocking even more, RF amplifiers replace bulky baluns with even better linearity.
• High processing needs require efficient power supply as well as power generation capabilities.
• Advanced security is a key requirement for new missions (e.g. IRIS2 will use quantum key distribution)
• NewSpace technologies like laser communication, require high-speed data acquisition systems as well as precision pointing systems that require advanced motor control solutions

You can find out more about Texas Instruments here on their satsearch supplier hub.

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In episode 53 of the Space Industry podcast Hywel Curtis speaks with Frank Tobin of nanosatellite manufacturer GomSpace North America about the pros and cons of working with external partners in space missions today.

The ‘build vs. buy’ question is faced by engineers at all levels of satellite and spacecraft development. And it isn’t always simple to answer – there are more options on the market than ever, along with greater pressure to deliver high performance.

In this podcast we discuss how to go about making that choice in a few key areas of space mission development. We cover:

• How partnering can speed up the deployment of a constellation
• The effects on raising finance that agreements (whether binding or principle) with external providers can have
• The pros and cons of partnerships in key areas such as the ground segment and software-defined radio (SDR) use
• How the market could continue to mature and develop in years to come

You can find out more about GomSpace here on their satsearch supplier hub.

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In episode 52 of The Space Industry podcast, Hywel Curtis speaks with Laura Crabtree, Co-founder & CEO of Epsilon3.

Epsilon3 is a US-based software solutions company providing services in the space as well as other commercial industries. Epsilon3 modernizes space missions by building the industry standard of operational software. Its software platform manages complex operational procedures, saving operators time and reducing errors. The platform supports a majority of a project’s life cycle from integration and testing through live operations.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How communication between the engineering team and other decision-makers is crucial to ensure the success of the end-to-end space mission development process
• Set up your organization to make decisions
• Empower people to make a decision, even if it's the wrong one
• Be ok with mistakes, and learn from them

You can find out more about Epsilon3 here on their satsearch supplier hub.

And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global marketplace for space, please join our newsletter.

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In Episode 51 of the Space Industry podcast Hywel Curtis speaks with Joshua Western, CEO of Space Forge, and Lloyd Damp, CEO of Southern Launch.

Space Forge is a UK-based company aiming to develop reusable on-orbit fabrication capabilities in order to carry out in-space manufacturing procedures, offer microgravity as a service, and return materials to Earth. Southern Launch owns and operates the only rocket launch ranges in Australia approved by the Australian Space Agency for space launches.

In the podcast we discuss:

• How Space Forge aims to reliably and cost-effectively bring materials and equipment back to Earth from space
• What will differentiate Space Forge from private space station use and other in-space manufacturing concepts
• The regulatory aspects of operating launch and return facilities for space missions
• How the two companies are partnering to develop a commercial service for the future
• What sort of applications and business opportunities could be viable in-space manufacturing targets

You can find out more about Space Forge and Southern Launch here on the company websites.

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In episode 50 of the Space Industry podcast our host Hywel Curtis speaks with Charles Miller, co-founder and CEO of Lynk about the rapidly growing satellite-to-phone (Sat2Phone) sector.

With the potential of connecting billions of new customers on the table, several new and established companies are looking into this area, with Lynk being one of the most established players. In the podcast we discuss:

• The current structure of the Sat2Phone market.
• The specific technical requirements that make a Sat2Phone system operate effectively and consistently.
• The role of regulators and how space companies can better engage with them.
• Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the modern space industry.
• The future outlook for satellite connectivity and the Sat2Phone market.

You can find out more about Lynk here on the company website.

And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global marketplace for space, please join our newsletter.

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Episode 49 is a conversation with Adrian Helwig, Analog Field Application Engineer, and Michael Seidl, Systems Engineer from Texas Instruments, about the trends in space electronics.

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor manufacturing company with expertise in analog and embedded processing chips. The company was founded in 1930 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas. In this episode, we discuss:

• While power is a very precious good in space satellite applications continue to become even more power-hungry in the future:
  • More intelligence/processing power for telecom and data routing applications
  • AI for pre-processing on-board on optical and radar imaging payload to reduce data rates even though resolution goes up  
  • Electrically steered antennas replace classic mechanical antenna pointing system, RF to bits (RF sampling)
  • Small satellites autonomous maneuvering for debris avoidance, etc.
• Designers must increase total power capabilities / power density and bring efficiency up. Efficiency is very important as any improvement will bring a double benefit: power that is no longer wasted does not have to be produced anymore. Reduced power losses save efforts in cooling. With higher efficiency, there is also greater power density possible. TI’s products enable such higher power density to also enable savings in the board area.
• The high quality of the voltage rails is increasingly challenging to meet: e.g. Only 0.8V core voltages with tens of Amperes but +/-3% tolerance leaves only mV intolerance; Power distribution network requires a high amount of capacitance which adds cost and board area. highly precise instruments and very high-throughput communication systems require super-low noise levels on the supply voltage. 
• The power tree is fundamentally important for the overall robustness and availability of the satellite. TI provides a high level of radiation hardness (especially against heavy ion impacts which are challenging for power devices) combined with several protection solutions – integrated into the actual power devices but also as discrete functions to complement the actual power supply solution. Tight control of the voltage rails is very important to assure the reliability of the system. For e.g. a 10% transient applied to a downstream device can easily damage it or degrade its longevity. With -SEP and QMLP/QMLV the right level of cost & rad hardness. Fault Detection, Isolation & Recovery
• Full portfolio and strong roadmap, including eFuses, all to power density, protection, integration 
• Strong design support capabilities; Stability analysis, pricing, and availability via web store; PMP designs; EVMs; TIDAs… All radiation reports, quality data, materials, etc. are available online.

You can find out more about Texas Instruments here on their satsearch supplier hub.

And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global marketplace for space, please join our newsletter.

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Episode 48 is a conversation with Giovanni Pandolfi Bortoletto, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Leaf Space, about Ground Segment as-a-Service and its benefits to the space industry.

Leaf Space is a ground segment developer, operator, and service provider based in Italy. In this podcast, we discuss:

• It is never too early to start planning your ground segment. RF Licensing is mandatory and can require months to be issued and it is good practice to avoid problems near to launch date
• The amount of money and time saved by choosing a GSaaS solution is really not negligible and still, an excellent quality of service is delivered
• By selecting a Ground Segment as-a-Service provider, satellite operators easily avoid financial uncertainties and unknown risks related to the ground segment's deployment and maintenance

You can find out more about Leaf Space here on their satsearch supplier hub.

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Episode 47 is a conversation with Maria Marante, Presales Engineer at Alén Space, about the advantages of new communication payloads to face the challenges of modern space missions.

Alén Space is a small satellite product manufacturer and service provider based in Spain. In this podcast, we discuss:

• The industry growth and challenges in LEO communication missions
• Evolution and development of a new SDR to respond to the market needs
• How new horizons (missions/applications) are achievable with a new modular SDR

You can find out more about Alén Space here on their satsearch supplier hub.

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Episode 46 is a conversation with Peter Mendham, CEO of Bright Ascension, about space software development.

Bright Ascension is a Scotland-based software company that builds tools, model-based platforms, and solutions for space engineers and other stakeholders. In the podcast we discuss:

• Typical timelines for software development in different types of space mission
• The common bottlenecks that slow down development and how to mitigate them
• The risks that ineffective software can bring to missions and services
• How to streamline software and communication across different areas of engineering

You can find out more about Bright Ascension here on their satsearch supplier hub.

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Episode 45 of the Space Industry podcast is a discussion with Michael Seidl, Systems Engineer with a focus on space applications, and Adrian Helwig, Analog Field Application Engineer, of satsearch member Texas Instruments (TI).

TI is a global electronics manufacturer and innovation company with a strong interest in space. In this podcast Michael and Adrian delve into the myriad of decisions that face engineers looking to develop optimally-performing data acquisitions system for space. We cover:

• The typical compromises that designers face when developing solutions for data acquisition system function
• How to assess the entire signal chain to boost performance
• Guidance on implementing effective fault detection and protection protocols
• Advice and resources for assessing different circuit setups and data architectures to optimize performance

You can find out more about Texas Instruments here on their satsearch supplier hub.

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Episode 42 of the Space Industry podcast is a discussion with Fedor Antonov, CEO of Anisoprint.

Anisoprint is a Luxembourg-based provider of continuous fiber 3D printing solutions and in this podcast we delve into additive manufacturing processes for, and in, space. We discuss:

• What we've learned about 3D printing in space in the last 10 years
• The applications for in-space fabrication and the current state of the market
• In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and how it could support space exploration
• What suppliers across the ecosystem should pay attention to in this field

You can find out more about Anisoprint here.

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Episode 44 of the Space Industry podcast is a discussion with Michael Aspetsberger, Head of Aerospace, at Cloudflight, on building digital products that incorporate AI.

Cloudflight is a digital innovation and solutions provider working across many sectors, including space. In the podcast we cover:

• The key roles that data processing algorithms play in satellite missions and services
• How AI can help when hardware alone isn't adequate and you need to use routines that go beyond standard toolkits
• What companies need to think about when they are building and developing products using AI
• Other ways that AI and advanced processing can be utilized in space mission development and manufacturing

You can find out more about Cloudflight here on their satsearch supplier hub.

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Episode 43 of the Space Industry podcast is a discussion with Stefan Frey, Co-founder of satsearch member Vyoma, on space situational awareness (SSA).

Vyoma is a space debris monitoring company, based in Germany, developing solutions designed to ensure safe passage through space. In the podcast we cover:

• An overview of the current space debris environment in LEO, MEO and GEO
• The pros and cons of space-based and ground-based Space Situational Awareness (SSA) sensors and systems
• How fast and accurate satellite operator threat assessment notices can be
• How space assets can be maneuvered to avoid collisions
• SSA insights and recommendations for satellite developers, mission operators, and the insurance industry

You can find out more about Vyoma here on their satsearch supplier hub.

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Episode 41 of the Space Industry podcast is a discussion with Gonzalo Crespo, Aerospace Manager at satsearch member EOSOL Group.

EOSOL Group is a global engineering and technical assistance services company. With experience in more than 40 countries around the world, the company operates in the strategic energy, industry, automobile, civil works, telecommunications, space, and defense sectors.

In this episode we discuss the development of ground segment antennas and feeds, and their uses in modern space missions and services. We cover:

• The architecture of a ground station and the different kinds of ground antenna on the market today
• The differences in requirements of NewSpace missions vs. traditional space missions
• The innovations in the ground segment driven by the growing demand for higher frequency communications
• How ground stations can provide flexibility for the market while maintaining performance and cost-effectiveness
• The major trends in ground antennas and feeds, and what these mean for space missions

You can find out more about EOSOL Group here on their satsearch supplier hub.

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Episode 40 of the Space Industry podcast is a discussion with Michael Seidl, Systems Engineer with a focus on space applications, and Adrian Helwig, Analog Field Application Engineer, of satsearch member Texas Instruments (TI).

TI is a global electronics manufacturer and innovation company with a strong interest in space. In this podcast Michael and Adrian delve into how to enhance the performance of phased array antennas in satellite communications (satcom) applications by optimizing beamforming using gigahertz-clocking tree solutions. We cover:

• The typical challenges that designers face in the development of phased array antennas
• How clocking solutions can achieve higher performance while maintaining tight synchronization across all channels
• Use of the JESD204 standard for high-speed data-capture designs using FPGA
• How gigahertz-clocking tree solutions in phased array antennas in space applications may evolve in years to come

You can find out more about Texas Instruments here on their satsearch supplier hub.

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Episode 39 of the Space Industry podcast is a discussion with Rifath Shaarook, Chief Technology Officer at Space Kidz India on procurement in the modern space supply chain.

Space Kidz India is a Chennai, India, based company that develops satellite and high-altitude balloon missions, technology demonstrations, educational programs, and a range of other initiatives in the space industry.

In the podcast we discuss:

• Space Kidz India's origins and missions carried out to date
• What the company looks for in a new supplier
• How space companies can better share information on their products and services with prospective buyers
• Some of the bottlenecks in procurement and how they can be overcome
• Space Kidz India's upcoming work and future plans

You can find out more about Space Kidz India here on their website.

And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global marketplace for space, please join our weekly newsletter.
 
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