{"id":68267,"date":"2017-05-15T19:06:19","date_gmt":"2017-05-15T11:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/top-launch-execs-focus-on-smallsat-impact-and-opportunities\/"},"modified":"2017-05-15T19:06:19","modified_gmt":"2017-05-15T11:06:19","slug":"top-launch-execs-focus-on-smallsat-impact-and-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/top-launch-execs-focus-on-smallsat-impact-and-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Launch Execs Focus on SmallSat Impact and Opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The launch market is entering an unprecedented era of diversity. This was one of the main conclusions of the highly anticipated launchers panel on Wednesday afternoon at SATELLITE 2017. Executives from all the major launch providers all seemed to agree that the satellite market will continue to quickly diversify as smaller satellites become more popular and demand for connectivity ramps up.<\/p>\n<h2>SmallSat Market Explosion<\/h2>\n<p>Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services President Steven Skladanek expressed his disinterest on the GEO side. \u201cWhat we see is the traditional large GEO birds are not a real growth market right now. That particular customer set is struggling with their economic models \u2026 The LEO market, however, is growing tremendously,\u201d he said. Skladanek stated that he\u2019s very encouraged by the amount of money being invested in LEO constellations, and expects smaller satellites to become more dominant as time progresses.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/K4dUFuzITRarxdHQFXcn_ShowDaily17_Cover_Wrap_DGTL-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/K4dUFuzITRarxdHQFXcn_ShowDaily17_Cover_Wrap_DGTL-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/K4dUFuzITRarxdHQFXcn_ShowDaily17_Cover_Wrap_DGTL-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/K4dUFuzITRarxdHQFXcn_ShowDaily17_Cover_Wrap_DGTL-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/K4dUFuzITRarxdHQFXcn_ShowDaily17_Cover_Wrap_DGTL.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the Show Daily 2017 Wrap Up 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>Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX COO, also noted this explosion in the smallsat market and warned that newer, smaller launch service providers could become fierce competitors, much like SpaceX did a decade ago. Stephane Israel, CEO of Arianespace, was not so certain. \u201cI do not believe they will all materialize and survive,\u201d he said, pointing out that Arianespace\u2019s Vega C will have space to accommodate smaller and lighter satellites, likely as secondary payloads.<\/p>\n<p>Kirk Pysher, president of International Launch Services (ILS), still believes GEO satellites will play a role. \u201c[By] 2022, we believe that the launch market customer needs are going to be extremely diverse, from LEO constellations to MEO and of course GEO,\u201d he said. \u201cWe spent the last year and a half working with customers and understanding what their needs are. As a result, we introduced the Proton variants in the fall of last year, which will be ready first quarter 2018.\u201d Pysher believes the company will be very well suited to address the spread of new, more experimental satellites coming to the market, particularly the heavier High-Throughput Satellites (HTS). Still, he is looking to address the smallsat market with Angara 1, which he said can deliver up to 3.5 tons to LEO.<\/p>\n<h2>A Push for Low-Cost Launch<\/h2>\n<p>The panelists highlighted there is downward pressure on launch prices due to companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, which are pushing for what Blue Origin President Rob Meyerson calls \u201coperational reusability.\u201d Skladanek also said that United Launch Alliance (ULA) is looking at ways to recover the first stage engine for the Vulcan, as well as making improvements along the production line.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67d7c0ebcb4;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_6a67d7c0ebcb4 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67d7c0ebcb6').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67d7c0ebcb6'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt makes sense to reutilize the most expensive parts of the rocket \u2026 The rest of it is a big dump tank,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re working on newer manufacturing technologies like 3D printing. We\u2019re shortening the span it requires to assemble, test and prepare he rocket which allows for more launch opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Arianespace does not plan on being left behind in pricing, as Israel has the ambitious goal of reducing the cost for Ariane 6 compared to Ariane 5 by \u201c40 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Reliability and Talent<\/h2>\n<p>As for the long-term future, the panelists agreed that reliability will remain paramount. Ko Ogasawara, VP and director of integrated defense and space systems at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), hopes to reach 50 consecutive launch successes by 2022, while Israel is determined to finish his company\u2019s new rockets on schedule. \u201cWe must remain reliable; I think this is the key for us. We have to deliver Ariane 6 and Vega C on time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Shotwell is all too familiar with the financial consequences of delays due to technical difficulties, but expressed confidence that SpaceX will catch up on its launch manifest before the end of the year. \u201cWe are investing hundreds of millions in production capacity,\u201d she said, and expects the company to ultimately reach a biweekly launch rate once its second launch pad is in working order.<\/p>\n<p>For Skladanek, it seems his biggest concern for the far future is ensuring interest and innovation in space continues on into younger engineers and entrepreneurs. \u201cA lot of the heritage workforce who have been part of the rocket industry for years [are] now ready for retirement, self included. The thing that worries me is we\u2019re not doing enough to ensure we\u2019re transferring talent to this new generation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2>Going Beyond Earth Orbit<\/h2>\n<p>Both Shotwell and Meyerson seem less interested in satellites specifically, and instead outlined their plans to focus on developing the capabilities of human activity in space. \u201cWe believe it\u2019s time for humanity go back to the Moon, and this time to stay,\u201d Meyerson said. He noted that any human settlement on the moon is going to need a cargo delivery service and hopes to address that with Blue Origin\u2019s recently announced Blue Moon program.<\/p>\n<p>Shotwell also has her eyes on our closest celestial neighbor, referencing SpaceX\u2019s literal \u201cmoon shot\u201d mission to take two passengers around the far side of the Moon and back. Furthermore, Shotwell reiterated the company\u2019s goal of reaching Mars, and stated it is currently developing a vehicle large enough to carry 100 people to the Red Planet as a part of its Interplantery Transport System (ITS).<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 325:  \/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\/2017\/01\/BBJCSvWQ5G5JRimCLKIT_Ship_Network-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/BBJCSvWQ5G5JRimCLKIT_Ship_Network-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/BBJCSvWQ5G5JRimCLKIT_Ship_Network-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/BBJCSvWQ5G5JRimCLKIT_Ship_Network-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/BBJCSvWQ5G5JRimCLKIT_Ship_Network.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\tExecs See Need to Differentiate and Innovate in New Maritime Environment<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 299:  \/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=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/75IW0DOPTdmBEc70XCMn_Marquee-header-02102017-Final-300x169.png\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/75IW0DOPTdmBEc70XCMn_Marquee-header-02102017-Final-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/75IW0DOPTdmBEc70XCMn_Marquee-header-02102017-Final-800x450.png 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/75IW0DOPTdmBEc70XCMn_Marquee-header-02102017-Final-640x360.png 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/75IW0DOPTdmBEc70XCMn_Marquee-header-02102017-Final.png 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\tFast Forward: How to Win the Race for Business Opportunity<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 322:  \/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\/L5LWZ7DeRC0JeaVUr7DA_DSC_0492-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/L5LWZ7DeRC0JeaVUr7DA_DSC_0492-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/L5LWZ7DeRC0JeaVUr7DA_DSC_0492-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/L5LWZ7DeRC0JeaVUr7DA_DSC_0492-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/L5LWZ7DeRC0JeaVUr7DA_DSC_0492.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\tFinal Panel at SATELLITE 2017 Raises  Familiar Issues<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 326:  \/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\/yFDLbhjTZmHcWbmndobb_SDJ_4090-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/yFDLbhjTZmHcWbmndobb_SDJ_4090-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/yFDLbhjTZmHcWbmndobb_SDJ_4090-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/yFDLbhjTZmHcWbmndobb_SDJ_4090-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/yFDLbhjTZmHcWbmndobb_SDJ_4090.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\tLEO vs GEO: Top Regional CEOs Engage in Heated Debate<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 323:  \/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\/vOKijU4SIqkYHAnZ8uFm_Sat17_1182-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/vOKijU4SIqkYHAnZ8uFm_Sat17_1182-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/vOKijU4SIqkYHAnZ8uFm_Sat17_1182-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/vOKijU4SIqkYHAnZ8uFm_Sat17_1182-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/vOKijU4SIqkYHAnZ8uFm_Sat17_1182.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 2017: Important Lessons and Some Surprising Takeaways<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 321:  \/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\/jhtkgIR3ToamrU32Ra3N_ThinkstockPhotos-595322430-300x199.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/jhtkgIR3ToamrU32Ra3N_ThinkstockPhotos-595322430-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/jhtkgIR3ToamrU32Ra3N_ThinkstockPhotos-595322430-800x531.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/jhtkgIR3ToamrU32Ra3N_ThinkstockPhotos-595322430-640x425.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/jhtkgIR3ToamrU32Ra3N_ThinkstockPhotos-595322430.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\tWhere Will Satellite Fit in the Internet of Things?<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The launch market is entering an unprecedented era of diversity. This was one of the main conclusions of the highly anticipated launchers panel on Wednesday afternoon at SATELLITE 2017. Executives from all the major launch providers all seemed to agree that the satellite market will continue to quickly diversify as smaller satellites become more popular [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":68268,"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-68267","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\/68267"}],"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=68267"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68267\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}