{"id":59530,"date":"2020-06-16T00:24:52","date_gmt":"2020-06-15T16:24:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/restart-your-engines-launchers-recalibrate-after-pandemic-pause\/"},"modified":"2020-06-16T00:24:52","modified_gmt":"2020-06-15T16:24:52","slug":"restart-your-engines-launchers-recalibrate-after-pandemic-pause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/restart-your-engines-launchers-recalibrate-after-pandemic-pause\/","title":{"rendered":"Restart Your Engines: Launchers Recalibrate After Pandemic Pause"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Rocket Lab\u2019s Electron rocket was on the launch pad at Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, just days away from the \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Me Now\u201d mission, when the small satellite launcher abruptly had to shut down after the New Zealand government called for most businesses to close to combat the COVID-19 pandemic on March 23. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe had the vehicle on the pad, the whole team, and even the activated customers there and everything. We were ready to go,\u201d Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck says, recounting the shutdown. \u201cWhen people\u2019s lives are at risk, it\u2019s hard to get a little bit too upset. I think it was the right thing to do for the country.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PSRuOJSTxaJvDZAr3nLp_VS_070120_Cover_DGTL-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PSRuOJSTxaJvDZAr3nLp_VS_070120_Cover_DGTL-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PSRuOJSTxaJvDZAr3nLp_VS_070120_Cover_DGTL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PSRuOJSTxaJvDZAr3nLp_VS_070120_Cover_DGTL-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PSRuOJSTxaJvDZAr3nLp_VS_070120_Cover_DGTL.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the July 2020 Issue<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-0 fs-smaller text-balance\">Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"offcanvas\" data-bs-target=\"#offcanvasMENU\" aria-controls=\"offcanvasExample\" aria-label=\"button\" style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tView More <i class=\"bi bi-arrow-right-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<p>Rocket Lab\u2019s launch complex and rocket engine factory were shut down as the New Zealand government took a tough stance on the pandemic. Beck called it a \u201cpretty crazy time,\u201d shutting down the rocket engine facility. But true to its name, the \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Me Now\u201d mission would go on to lift payloads for NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and the University of New South Wales Canberra Space to orbit on June 13. <\/p>\n<p>The launch symbolized a return normalcy in the launch market, which encountered disruptions like the rest of the space industry, and so many other facets of life. <\/p>\n<h3>Dealing with Delays <\/h3>\n<p>Beck says Rocket Lab\u2019s progress on the Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Wallops, Virginia has slowed due to the pandemic. With NASA in lockdown, certification of Rocket Lab\u2019s Autonomous Flight Termination System (AFTS) has been delayed. The launch company has also found it challenging to move employees between New Zealand and the United States. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6a45b5be1e4;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6a45b5be1e4 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6a45b5be1e5').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6a45b5be1e5'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cNew Zealand\u2019s border is closed. So it takes a government minister\u2019s approval to get anybody in. The U.S. border is not closed, but there\u2019s a two-week quarantine period. You have to add two weeks to every move that you do, which is just more challenging,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n<p>The CEO jokes that Rocket Lab now has a \u201cfactory full of rockets.\u201d As Launch Complex 1 is back up and running, the launcher projects a rapid cadence of launches for the rest of the year. Beck\u2019s goal for Rocket Lab in 2020 has been to launch once a month or more this year. Although the company has doubled its launch cadence each year in the past, he expects the effects of the pandemic to continue, and for 2021 to look more similar to 2020. <\/p>\n<p>Like Rocket Lab, Arianespace also experienced a spaceport shutdown. The European launcher suspended operations at the Guiana Space Center (CSG) in French Guiana on March 16, just ahead of its first dedicated Vega rideshare mission. Luce Fabreguettes, Arianespace\u2019s executive vice president of Missions, Operations and Purchasing said the company did what was necessary to protect its staff, customers, and the local population. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"flex flex-col justify-center items-center w-full image-block px-8\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Placeholder alt text\" class=\"w-full object-cover mx-auto\" src=\"http:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ydJXYsFtQSy8xYnsnDIj_Dont-Stop-Me-Now-launch-small.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"p-3 bg-gray-300 bg-opacity-50 italic mx-auto w-full\">Rocket LabRocket Lab\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Me Now\u201d mission, which was delayed by COVID-19 restrictions in New Zealand, lived up to its name and successfully took off on June 13.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cGiven the worldwide situation and what we knew at the time, we had no choice but to put operations on hold. Since we are known for doing everything reasonably possible not to delay launch activities, everyone was quite understanding and grateful for the measures we had to take. Protecting both teams and payloads remain our top priority, and this \u2018pause\u2019 helped us establish a reliable safety protocol for the long run,\u201d Fabreguettes says. <\/p>\n<p>Arianespace has instituted mandatory temperature and wellness checks, usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and social distancing. The company has also had to give special attention to staff from abroad entering French Guiana, including safety quarantines. At press time in mid-June, the French launcher is targeting June 18 for its Vega return to flight, the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) Proof of Concept (PoC) Flight. Arianespace\u2019s light-lift Vega rocket will orbit 53 satellites for the first occasion of its new service to address the small satellite market. <\/p>\n<p>Fabreguettes admits this will be a challenging year, and says it\u2019s too early to say how many launches Arianespace will do from the CSG. \u201cWhat is certain is that on top of the interruption of our campaigns in March, there could be delays that are out of our control, due to customers and manufacturers being in pandemic mode,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n<p>Arianespace\u2019s anticipated launch vehicle, the Ariane 6, could be impacted as well. European Space Agency (ESA) Director of Space Transportation Daniel Neuenschwander says the Ariane 6 rocket, which was slated for its maiden flight in 2020, is experiencing delays. He cites that the third static fire test of the P120C booster for Ariane 6 qualification was delayed, and work at the vehicle\u2019s construction site at Europe\u2019s Spaceport has had delayed progress, and industrial sites involved in the system\u2019s development and manufacturing have also experienced variations in productivity because of the pandemic. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cESA is working intensely, and very closely with all actors involved, industry and [the National Centre for Space Studies] CNES, to stabilize and consolidate the planning. Today we are daily addressing the preliminary impacts and preparing to return to a stable level of activity. We will fully consolidate the planning and assess the full impact of COVID-19 on Ariane 6 once we have more clarity on how the European economy will be able to function in the coming months,\u201d Neuenschwander says. <\/p>\n<h3>A \u201cRadically\u201d Different Future <\/h3>\n<p>In the United States, SpaceX pressed on with launches, completing three Starlink launches and its milestone Demo-2 launch for NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program on May 30. Yet even SpaceX has been impacted by the pandemic, as Argentina\u2019s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE) chose to postpone the launch of its SAOCOM 1B satellite, which was planned for March; and the U.S. Space Force pushed back the third GPS III satellite launch, which was scheduled for April. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6a45b5be79d;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6a45b5be79d = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6a45b5be79e').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6a45b5be79e'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>United Launch Alliance (ULA) proceeded with two Atlas V launches for the U.S. Space Force, lofting the sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) payload to orbit on March 26, and the X-37B spaceplane on May 17. ULA CEO Tory Bruno says the X-37B launch was not only on time, but ahead of schedule, and he attributes ULA\u2019s ability to complete the two missions amidst a pandemic to tackling the issue early and aggressively. <\/p>\n<p>At the beginning of March, ULA took steps to protect its staff by implementing telework when possible, disinfecting surfaces hourly, and having employees wear face coverings. Bruno holds a daily meeting on how to stay on top of the company\u2019s virus response. For the most recent launch, ULA used both the Atlas mission control and the Delta facilities in order to space workers out for social distancing, and kept its launch critical employees at home as much as possible, in a form of quarantine, before launch day. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are things that happen in the rocket business that are out of your control like hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Those events are more easily planned for because we have a business continuity plan, a rough outline of what we do. And those events come and go. They\u2019re transient and over in a relatively short amount of time. There really hasn\u2019t been anything like a global pandemic before,\u201d Bruno says. <\/p>\n<p>ULA went so far as to create an exercise like a war game, to practice its response to clearing out its Colorado engineering facility in the event of a confirmed COVID case. After running an open test, Bruno had a secret plan to run another test without revealing it was a test. But before that could happen \u2014 an employee at the site tested positive. \u201cYou can have your own plans, but sometimes COVID has a plan for you,\u201d Bruno says. Overall, ULA has had two positive COVID tests among its workforce. <\/p>\n<p>Bruno says he doesn\u2019t expect the pandemic to impact ULA\u2019s launch manifest because it services the government and large commercial customers. He says it has taken a \u201ctremendous amount of energy and work\u201d to keep the Vulcan rocket on track for a maiden flight in 2021, but it is on schedule.  <\/p>\n<p>Beyond changes to day-to-day operations, Bruno says the pandemic represents a chance for ULA and the space industry to reevaluate how work is done. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve shattered a lot of preconceived notions about what work looks like. When we return, it\u2019s going to be different. There will be a built-in element of telework at ULA moving forward. We figured out just how effective it can be when [employees] are working from home,\u201d he says. \u201cIn the space industry, we\u2019re conservative. Experimenting with radically different work models is just something that doesn\u2019t happen. But the pandemic gave us no choice, we had to learn how to do it.\u201d <\/p>\n<figure class=\"flex flex-col justify-center items-center w-full image-block px-8\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Placeholder alt text\" class=\"w-full object-cover mx-auto\" src=\"http:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/RtHqyQlTEi5GqrkL0sf0_49906942107_a130640d74_o.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"p-3 bg-gray-300 bg-opacity-50 italic mx-auto w-full\">United Launch AllianceULA\u2019s USSF-7 mission for the U.S. Space Force, carrying the X-37B spaceplane on May 17, was ahead of schedule. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On the other side of the globe in Japan, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) held remote meetings and reviews before a launch to the International Space Station (ISS), says Dr. Ko Ogasawara, vice president and senior chief engineer of MHI Space Systems. On May 21, when MHI launched the H-IIB F9, carrying its cargo transporter to the ISS, many engineers who would normally be at the launch site provided remote support instead. Ogasawara says it was \u201cunusual\u201d to have a large group of employees from MHI and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) working on the launch remotely, but now they have become accustomed to it and the situation could even yield cost savings in the future. <\/p>\n<p>Japan has lifted its state of emergency, and MHI employees are back in the office for half of each week. The launcher is preparing for three to four more launches this year, and Ogasawara says its factory is operating normally. Yet the launcher has experienced some delays in its supply chain. He shares an example with a specific structure MHI purchased from Europe. \u201cThe engineers of the manufacturer have to come down to Tanegashima launch site, but as you know, Japan shut down. We had to ask our government [for a] special allowance to let the engineers come to Tanegashima launch site,\u201d Ogasawara says. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6a45b5becdc;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6a45b5becdc = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6a45b5becdd').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6a45b5becdd'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>MHI is now in the final stage of development and undergoing tests for its next-generation, H3 launch vehicle, which is set for a maiden flight by the end of March 2021. <\/p>\n<h3>Other Contenders Look to the Future<\/h3>\n<p>Tiphaine Louradour took over as president of International Launch Services (ILS) in March, just as the pandemic was sweeping the globe. She says she spent her first week as president at the SATELLITE show in Washington D.C., and was in ILS\u2019s office for approximately half of a work day before the company transitioned to remote work. Now, she is video conferencing with customers around the world, instead of traveling for in-person meetings. <\/p>\n<p>ILS, which is based in the U.S. and owned by Russia\u2019s JSC Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center (Khrunichev), has not had a launch since the October 2019 Proton launch for Eutelsat. Louradour, who was previously head of global commercial sales at ULA, has ambitious plans to reclaim ILS\u2019s status in the commercial launch market. The launcher recently received approval from the U.S. State Department to promote commercial launch services on the Soyuz vehicle. There are two federal Proton launches for the Russian government, and several Soyuz launches planned for this year. <\/p>\n<p>Louradour says she is honing a strategy that will push marketing and sales activities, and focus on the reliability of the Proton vehicle. Moving forward, she says she wants to expand ILS\u2019s launch service offerings in order to meet customers broader demands. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDuring these uncertain times it is absolutely critical that we work closely with our customers and really understand their needs and challenges,\u201d Louradour says. \u201cAnd what\u2019s really standing out today is the need to offer flexible, reliable, cost-effective launch solutions. \u2026 I believe that is something we\u2019re well-positioned to do going forward with our ability to offer a broader set of launch solutions, working closely with GK Launch Services.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Two future competitors in the smallsat launch market, Firefly Aerospace and Skyrora, both say that their vehicle development has not been exceedingly hampered by the pandemic. <\/p>\n<p>Skyrora, based in the United Kingdom, recently completed a full static fire test of a mobile launch complex with a Skylark L rocket. The company hit this milestone while also manufacturing face masks and hand sanitizer for the COVID-19 relief effort in the U.K. \u201cIf we can go through the compliance for sending a rocket to space \u2014 for getting a face mask certified, [we were] in a unique position to push that forward,\u201d Dr. Jack-James Marlow says. Skyrora has been able to retain all members of its staff during the pandemic, and even hired two graduates to assist with face masks and hand sanitizer production. <\/p>\n<p>Marlow says Skyrora hit its test milestone with a delay of only a few weeks, and is on track to launch the sub-orbital Skylark L rocket from a British spaceport as early as Spring 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Firefly Aerospace is planning later this year for the inaugural flight of its Alpha launch vehicle, which will also serve the small-satellite market. COO Robb Kulin says despite the pandemic, the timeline is on track, and the first and second stages are well into integration. The company has implemented remote work when possible, and split shifts for social distancing, and even found that it has improved communication channels across the company, and given employees better opportunities to focus. Kulin says there have been supply chain disruptions, and Firefly has dealt with it by bringing those orders in-house, and has even hired new employees for that work. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6a45b5bf1f0;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6a45b5bf1f0 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6a45b5bf1f1').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6a45b5bf1f1'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Firefly\u2019s Director of Commercial Business Development Eric Salwan says that while the economic situation created by the pandemic will likely create short-term pressure on startups and would-be customers, he expects the market for smallsat launch customers to continue to expand in the long term.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s going to be a weeding out of companies. This might accelerate some of it,\u201d Salwan says. \u201cBut the entire cislunar economy is growing so quickly, and there\u2019s going to be many more thousands of satellites being launched over the next five to 10 years. \u2026 There\u2019s going to be a substantial market out there for Firefly to go after and capture our share of the market.\u201d <\/p>\n<h3>Smallsat Specialists Were Built for This<\/h3>\n<p>Grant Bonin, senior vice president of Business Development for Spaceflight, a launch services and mission management provider, says his company and customers built contingencies for delays into their business plans. Spaceflight was directly impacted by the Guiana Space Center shutdown, as it provided mission management and rideshare integration services for four organizations on the rideshare mission, comprising 28 payloads. <\/p>\n<p>Bonin says overall, Spaceflight is seeing customers that want to move between launches, while others are rethinking the number of spacecraft they want to fly and the cadence with which they want to fly them, while others are pushing forward to create value as quickly as possible.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have customers that come to us who will say, \u2018The most important thing for us is flexibility. We don\u2019t know when we\u2019re going to be ready. So we want to be able to hop on the earliest ride available.\u2019 And then in turn, the launch vehicle providers don\u2019t always know when they\u2019re going to be ready. So this is a great place for us to be, we create a lot of value for customers by being able to give them that flexibility,\u201d he says. \u201cIn times of uncertainty, flexibility is worth its weight in solid components.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Not everyone has had to make major adjustments to their business operations during the pandemic. Rob Spicer, CEO of TriSept, which also provides launch integration and program management services, says most of the company\u2019s customer launch and mission programs secured essential personnel status and maintained forward progress on upcoming launches, despite some COVID-19-related delays. TriSept completed integration for NASA\u2019s ELaNa 32 ANDESITE mission just as the pandemic shut things down mid-March in the U.S. That payload, on Rocket Lab\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Me Now\u201d mission, has since been launched. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny COVID-related delay was minor,\u201d Spicer says. \u201cExisting launchers have been able to continue with launches [in the continental U.S.] during the pandemic, while new launcher companies have proceeded with engine testing and most of their production and manufacturing phases. The near-term effects appear to be minimal across the small satellite and launch industry.\u201d <\/p>\n<h3>Moving Forward <\/h3>\n<p>While the launch sector hasn\u2019t been hit as directly as the travel and hospitality markets, Fabreguettes of Arianespace says it\u2019s clear the commercial satellite market has been affected and that impact will be felt in the long-term. OneWeb and Intelsat, both global satellite operators that have recently filed for bankruptcy, are also both Arianespace customers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is clear that the commercial market is shaken by the pandemic,\u201d she says. \u201cNevertheless, the crisis showed growing needs for connectivity and space-based networks \u2013 which will definitely play a pivotal role in the future. More than ever, we need space to live better on earth. We hope that our customers which have been weakened by the crisis will recover quickly.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Rocket Lab CEO Beck doesn\u2019t expect to see any pre-revenue venture capital released for the next nine to 12 months, as Silicon Valley has gone into hibernation. And in terms of the market for smallsat launch, he only sees room for one rideshare company, and one dedicated launch vehicle, despite the wave of dedicated smallsat launchers with plans to enter the market. <\/p>\n<p>Spaceflight\u2019s Bonin agrees, and says there had been an expectation that downward macroeconomic pressure would affect the space industry, which has now exacerbated the COVID-19 crisis \u2014 but it\u2019s not all bad news. \u201cThe commercial space industry has enjoyed a very long, pleasant summer. We\u2019re preparing now for a Canadian-type of winter,\u201d Bonin says. \u201cBut at the same time, great companies and great ideas find money and they find customers, almost regardless of the circumstances. \u2026 Healthy companies that are viable, will succeed. They will thrive, and they will need to be launched.\u201d<strong class=\"Annotation -strong\"> VS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"widget-title\">In This Issue<\/h2>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406032:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8aCmGnr3RZ2n0faq1KaU_VS_070120_Recruiting-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8aCmGnr3RZ2n0faq1KaU_VS_070120_Recruiting-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8aCmGnr3RZ2n0faq1KaU_VS_070120_Recruiting-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8aCmGnr3RZ2n0faq1KaU_VS_070120_Recruiting-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8aCmGnr3RZ2n0faq1KaU_VS_070120_Recruiting.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tBack to the Mission: Post-Traumatic Recovery for the Satellite Industry\u2019s Workforce<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406038:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jWqy3zEQRWEUnHSfpgmA_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-300x300.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jWqy3zEQRWEUnHSfpgmA_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jWqy3zEQRWEUnHSfpgmA_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jWqy3zEQRWEUnHSfpgmA_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jWqy3zEQRWEUnHSfpgmA_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jWqy3zEQRWEUnHSfpgmA_Opinion_Bubbles_Web.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tBackhaul Vertical is Key to Satellite\u2019s Future Success<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406046:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WLBjqRYHQYaLCU2Br58d_EdNote_Header_Web-300x167.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WLBjqRYHQYaLCU2Br58d_EdNote_Header_Web-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WLBjqRYHQYaLCU2Br58d_EdNote_Header_Web-800x446.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WLBjqRYHQYaLCU2Br58d_EdNote_Header_Web-640x357.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WLBjqRYHQYaLCU2Br58d_EdNote_Header_Web.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tMaking Sense of the New Virtual World<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406043:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8scf49UFRQ6kSdibmz1t_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-300x300.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8scf49UFRQ6kSdibmz1t_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8scf49UFRQ6kSdibmz1t_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8scf49UFRQ6kSdibmz1t_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8scf49UFRQ6kSdibmz1t_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8scf49UFRQ6kSdibmz1t_Opinion_Bubbles_Web.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tNavigating Maritime Connectivity in Turbulent Waters<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406020:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"211\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7ObefeCQk6eD4ZZtyctQ_VS_070120_Cover_Image-300x211.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7ObefeCQk6eD4ZZtyctQ_VS_070120_Cover_Image-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7ObefeCQk6eD4ZZtyctQ_VS_070120_Cover_Image-800x563.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7ObefeCQk6eD4ZZtyctQ_VS_070120_Cover_Image-640x450.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7ObefeCQk6eD4ZZtyctQ_VS_070120_Cover_Image.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSatellite Players See Backhaul Market Ripe for Further Growth<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406023:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BnBZqUxkTvaHNRKI7VPf_VS_070120_Backhaul-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BnBZqUxkTvaHNRKI7VPf_VS_070120_Backhaul-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BnBZqUxkTvaHNRKI7VPf_VS_070120_Backhaul-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BnBZqUxkTvaHNRKI7VPf_VS_070120_Backhaul-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BnBZqUxkTvaHNRKI7VPf_VS_070120_Backhaul.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tTelcos Talk Bluntly About Satellite\u2019s Backhaul Future<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rocket Lab\u2019s Electron rocket was on the launch pad at Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, just days away from the \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Me Now\u201d mission, when the small satellite launcher abruptly had to shut down after the New Zealand government called for most businesses to close to combat the COVID-19 pandemic on March 23. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":59531,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59530"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59530"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59530\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}