{"id":65850,"date":"2018-03-14T01:13:57","date_gmt":"2018-03-13T17:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/smallsats-face-a-lack-of-rides-to-space-2\/"},"modified":"2018-03-14T01:13:57","modified_gmt":"2018-03-13T17:13:57","slug":"smallsats-face-a-lack-of-rides-to-space-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/smallsats-face-a-lack-of-rides-to-space-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Smallsats Face a Lack of Rides to Space"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As the panel on \u201cNew Launch Options to Orbit Part 1\u201d ensued, moderator, Kendall Russell, assistant editor for Via Satellite, noted the huge growth that the smallsat sector has recently been through. 2017 was an important \u2014 and a breakthrough \u2014 year for the small satellite sector with more than 200 launched. The potential for this market is literally huge. Cheap to build, lighter in mass so cheaper to launch yet hugely capable, the smallsat market is set for growth, but the same challenge is constantly echoed \u2014 there are not enough launch options available to get these satellites into orbit.<\/p>\n<p>Russell opened up the discussion with a simple question from the conference poll: What are you most dissatisfied with about launch today? The answer was a lack of launch options. <\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/pKm41XVIQ1aGAaggD9X6_ShowDaily18_Cover_Day3_DGTL-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/pKm41XVIQ1aGAaggD9X6_ShowDaily18_Cover_Day3_DGTL-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/pKm41XVIQ1aGAaggD9X6_ShowDaily18_Cover_Day3_DGTL-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/pKm41XVIQ1aGAaggD9X6_ShowDaily18_Cover_Day3_DGTL-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/pKm41XVIQ1aGAaggD9X6_ShowDaily18_Cover_Day3_DGTL.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the Show Daily 2018 Day 3 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>Jenny Barna, director of launch for Spire, was first to comment. \u201cIt\u2019s not surprising at all,\u201d she said. \u201cThere is a hole in the market for smallsats.\u201d Sustainable and successful launch businesses are needed but, in terms of launch rate, a critical mass needs to be achieved. Rich Pournelle, vice president of business development at Nanoracks, explains that this is key to competitiveness in the marketplace: \u201cIf you look at SpaceX, they went from launching just once every 18 months to once a week. When you have multiple companies with high rates of tempo it will become the marketplace that we want it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Virgin Orbit\u2019s President and CEO Dan Hart, commented that \u201cthe market is thirsty for launch and this is reflected in Virgin Orbit\u2019s launch manifest, which is busy for the first couple of years and is only expected to grow significantly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For a customer like Spire, who is looking for a monthly launch, on average, it can be extremely challenging finding a ride to space. Barna explained that, as a secondary payload, anything can happen. For Spire, of 12 launch opportunities that came to light, just 7 of these actually materialized. More launches are desperately needed.   <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a69effb9cef2;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_6a69effb9cef2 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a69effb9cef3').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a69effb9cef3'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is not enough capacity right now across all the different launch vehicles out there. It\u2019s a complex analysis as it\u2019s spread across all different types of vehicle,\u201d said Curt Blake, president at Spaceflight.<\/p>\n<p>Barna also explained that, from Spire\u2019s perspective, the company is currently tracking three different sizes of launch vehicle at different price points. So, for smallsat operators that wish to go into orbit, they often need to simply take what they can get. If they do want to go to a specific orbit at a specific time, it\u2019s not an easy task.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of competition, these are interesting times. Both China and India are looking into the development of launch vehicles specifically for the smallsat market. Hart sees competition ahead. \u201cThere will be fierce competition. But we don\u2019t feel like the large launchers are competition. It\u2019s a different market and a different service. As you get smaller, competition will grow. It\u2019s a natural progression,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>The other panelists agreed that there will be competition from Asia and that companies are gradually becoming more comfortable with the idea of launching on Indian or Chinese rockets. This will potentially change the dynamic in smallsat launches, but the question is whether operators will be prepared to ship their satellites all the way to Asia for a launch when there are going to be much easier and more convenient options.<\/p>\n<p>Firefly\u2019s CEO Thomas Markusic also believes that the rocketry available in the United States will be difficult for China or India to rival. And although this competition may bring down prices, Spire\u2019s Barna says that price is not the number one factor \u2014 it is control over your launch that is important.<\/p>\n<p>Launch risk also emerged on the panel as an extremely important factor and spreading the risk is becoming all the more important. Launch in itself is inherently risky but having the choice of spreading that risk across multiple launch vehicles is increasingly critical. Barna likens the risk to rolling a dice after Spire has experienced multiple failures and lost significant amounts of satellites as a result. <\/p>\n<p>Conversation then turned to whether it is better to put yourself out there as a new launch service provider. With so much risk involved, is it wise?<\/p>\n<p>Markusic pointed out that, as a startup, it is important to make some noise. \u201cAs a startup company you have to create a buzz and momentum,\u201d he said. \u201cTo develop these small launchers is a $100-million project. External comms have a lot to do with fundraising.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Russell then steered the conversation to the government market. \u201cThe demand for satellite launches from government is growing and they need more options,\u201d explained Blake. \u201cThere are not many U.S. vehicles out there and we are struggling to find capacity for government launches.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a69effb9d63d;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_6a69effb9d63d = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a69effb9d63e').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a69effb9d63e'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Government will eventually be a good customer for small satellite launchers, according to Hart. \u201cGovernment will need smallsat launchers because of cost and resilience. There is concern that if you have large satellites, they are prone to attack. However, if you spread it cross 50 satellites this is cheaper to launch and they can be easily and cheaply replenished. In the future, there will be many more smallsats for government projects,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>However, panelists also agreed that government needed earlier engagement with industry in terms of making the design of their satellites for suitable launch vehicles. <\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, this is a booming sector of the satellite industry, but more launch options are desperately needed and a better overall customer experience. Let\u2019s hope that these new and promising launch vehicles will bring the smallsat market its ride to space. <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 342:  \/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=\"139\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/6oLhhxDQPiSfZgHeTiBU_IMG_9040-300x139.jpeg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/6oLhhxDQPiSfZgHeTiBU_IMG_9040-300x139.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/6oLhhxDQPiSfZgHeTiBU_IMG_9040-800x371.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/6oLhhxDQPiSfZgHeTiBU_IMG_9040-640x297.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/6oLhhxDQPiSfZgHeTiBU_IMG_9040.jpeg 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\t#SatShow Insights \u2013 Day 2<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 339:  \/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\/2017\/01\/UWMnJywzRmClGc5rzCnE_40522766652_2ef0c730d5_k-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/UWMnJywzRmClGc5rzCnE_40522766652_2ef0c730d5_k-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/UWMnJywzRmClGc5rzCnE_40522766652_2ef0c730d5_k-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/UWMnJywzRmClGc5rzCnE_40522766652_2ef0c730d5_k-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/UWMnJywzRmClGc5rzCnE_40522766652_2ef0c730d5_k.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\tBig or Small: Traditional Rocket Companies Will Launch Them All<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 338:  \/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=\"221\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/0Myt9cCLTC8O7nX5ksiw__MG_9606-300x221.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/0Myt9cCLTC8O7nX5ksiw__MG_9606-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/0Myt9cCLTC8O7nX5ksiw__MG_9606-800x591.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/0Myt9cCLTC8O7nX5ksiw__MG_9606-640x473.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/0Myt9cCLTC8O7nX5ksiw__MG_9606.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\tContent Providers on the Future of OTT, IOT and High-Stakes Markets<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 341:  \/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=\"180\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/eYXZAOqvQ6ahnMi2EZF0__MG_9297-300x180.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/eYXZAOqvQ6ahnMi2EZF0__MG_9297-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/eYXZAOqvQ6ahnMi2EZF0__MG_9297-800x479.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/eYXZAOqvQ6ahnMi2EZF0__MG_9297-640x383.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/eYXZAOqvQ6ahnMi2EZF0__MG_9297.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\tNew Economic Realities Will Impact Constellation Buildout<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 337:  \/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=\"192\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/bSCD8Ky0RFKpRwb1uAJT_Story2_MG_9336-300x192.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/bSCD8Ky0RFKpRwb1uAJT_Story2_MG_9336-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/bSCD8Ky0RFKpRwb1uAJT_Story2_MG_9336-800x513.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/bSCD8Ky0RFKpRwb1uAJT_Story2_MG_9336-640x411.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/bSCD8Ky0RFKpRwb1uAJT_Story2_MG_9336.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\tWhat Will It Take to Boost Satellite Stock Prices?<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 336:  \/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=\"199\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/7oleYhcaR26aYzMuc4aD__MG_0014-300x199.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/7oleYhcaR26aYzMuc4aD__MG_0014-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/7oleYhcaR26aYzMuc4aD__MG_0014-800x531.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/7oleYhcaR26aYzMuc4aD__MG_0014-640x425.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/7oleYhcaR26aYzMuc4aD__MG_0014.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\tWhile Demand is There, Operators Need to Better Understand End Users<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the panel on \u201cNew Launch Options to Orbit Part 1\u201d ensued, moderator, Kendall Russell, assistant editor for Via Satellite, noted the huge growth that the smallsat sector has recently been through. 2017 was an important \u2014 and a breakthrough \u2014 year for the small satellite sector with more than 200 launched. The potential for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":65852,"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-65850","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\/65850"}],"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=65850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65850\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}