On Orbit

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The Roadmap to the Satellite-Connected Car with BMW Group and 5GAA Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

While the satellite connected car has long been seen as a future market for the satellite industry, it hasn't broken through into the mainstream yet. But recent developments in standards and technology are bringing this closer to reality. This week's episode features two experts in vehicle connectivity from BMW Group, Olaf Eckart and Georg Schmitt, for a discussion on the path to integrating satellite connectivity into vehicles.

Eckart and Schmitt explain the use cases where satellite makes sense for vehicles, some of the challenges specific to the automotive industry, and the roadmap for integrating satellite into vehicles from narrowband, wideband, to broadband. The first mass market applications with non-terrestrial network (NTN), narrowband IoT applications are expected to be deployed from 2027 on.

They are part of the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), and the discussion covers vehicle demonstrations that 5GAA recently hosted with satellite companies in Paris. The automotive industry is looking to benefit from the work that has been done to integrate satellite into mobile networks, and Eckhart and Schmitt talk about how standards have driven new momentum in the work between automakers, MNOs, and satellite players.

Unveiling the Universe: How NASA's James Webb Telescope Changed Our Understanding of Space Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

NASA's James Webb Telescope has captivated the public with incredible discoveries that include dying stars, distant galaxies, and signs of life on other planets. The telescope launched in December of 2021 after 25 years in development. In this episode, we explore the history of the James Webb project, its journey to space, its breakthrough findings, and potential follow-up programs that could build on its success.

Via Satellite Executive Editor Jeffrey Hill interviews Scott Willoughby, who served Northrop Grumman's vice president and program manager for the James Webb Space Telescope, and Dr. Bhanu Sood, deputy chief technologist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Sood has served as NASA's risk assessment process owner for microelectronics on a number of flagship programs including JWST.

This episode is part of the Future Space Economy webcast series, sponsored by MDA Space.

How Cuts to NWS and NOAA Could Impact the Upcoming Hurricane Season May 27, 2025

Show notes

With the start of hurricane season fast approaching, recent reports show that cuts and staff vacancies at the National Weather Service and NOAA could impact public safety services. Earlier this month, CNN reported that a number of NWS weather forecast offices do not have a meteorologist-in-charge due to layoffs, early retirements, and vacancies.

In this episode, On Orbit interviews Dan Harkins, COO of Tropical Weather Analytics, about how the upcoming hurricane seasons could be impacted by cuts and vacancies, and the critical role that government weather satellites play in keeping the public safe.

While the U.S. is talking about investing in a massive-scale Golden Dome for missile defense, Harkins argues the country should consider a similar investment into weather monitoring capabilities — given how extreme weather events lead to loss of life, and disruption for both people and businesses. Aside from cutbacks, Harkins talks about what is missing in government weather monitoring capabilities, and how commercial companies play a role.

Building Africa's Satellite Ecosystem With Phemotron Systems CEO Femi Ishola May 06, 2025

Show notes

On Orbit interviews Femi Ishola, founder and CEO of Phemotron Systems, winner of the 2025 Startup Space competition at SATELLITE. Ishola is from Lagos, Nigeria, and has worked and studied all over the world including in Japan, Australia, and the U.S. Now he is taking his global experience developing space systems to use small satellites to solve challenges in Africa.

Phemotron Systems plans to launch its first satellite next year, an Earth observation satellite with an AI engine for onboard edge computing, called AI-Motherbox-1. Ishola wants to establish the company as a key satellite integrator in Africa, help grow the space industry, and expand Africa countries' access to satellite solutions. He hopes his startup space win encourages more investment in the African space industry.

Investors' Outlook on Future Space Economy Applications Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

The third season of the Future Space Economy series kicks off with a discussion about the financial outlook for new and upcoming applications that fall under the "Future Space Economy" category. These include: space transportation, space stations, tourism, research, robotics, and Moon/Mars missions.

This episode features guests Dara Panahy, partner in the Milbank LLP Transportation and Space group; MDA Space CEO Mike Greenley; Meagan Crawford, managing partner of SpaceFund, Raphael Roettgen, general partner of E2MC Ventures; and Dave Diaz, a Loudon County, Virginia, economic development official.

This episode was recorded at SATELLITE 2025, and includes a live Q&A segment from the webinar rebroadcast. Check out some of the ideas for upcoming 2025 Future Space Economy webcast episodes.

How the Ground Segment Enables Innovation in Space With Comtech's Daniel Gizinski Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

As innovation has accelerated in satellite communications in the past five years, it has put pressure on hardware and software providers to deliver greater performance and more flexible capabilities. While technology in space tends to get a lot of attention, its hardware on the ground that makes delivering services from space possible.

Last month during SATELLITE, On Orbit interviewed Daniel Gizinski, president of Comtech's Satellite and Space Communications Segment about changes happening in the satellite ground segment, and how Comtech is evolving its offerings along with those changes. This conversation digs into what's new in Comtech's Elevate 2.0 VSAT platform, and digital common ground modem line. Gizinski also talks about the customer needs that drove these products, like sovereign communications, and reconfigurability.

This episode of On Orbit is sponsored by Comtech. For more information, visit comtech.com

Navigating the Space Regulatory Environment in 2025 With River Advisers CEO Alexis Martin Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

Navigating the space regulatory environment can be one of the biggest challenges for companies whether they are startups or established operators. Consulting firm River Advisers is trusted for its strategic regulatory advice to satcom operators, assisting with market access, licensing, and spectrum management.

On Orbit host Rachel Jewett spoke with River Advisers CEO Alexis Martin on the first day of the SATELLITE conference in D.C. about some of the most pressing regulatory issues impacting the satellite sector right now, like developing regulatory regimes for direct-to-device connectivity and differences in the international regulatory landscape. He also details growing interest in commercial communication services around the Moon and how this will require coordination at the next World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-27. Martin also talks about how River Advisers, formerly known as ManSat, is evolving how it services clients.

This episode of On Orbit is sponsored by River Advisers. For more information, visit riveradvisers.com/

Storytelling for Space: Sarah Cruddas on Communicating the Value of Space Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

Space journalist and TV personality Sarah Cruddas joins the On Orbit podcast this week ahead of her appearance as guest host at SATELLITE 2025.

Sarah has had an exciting career in space journalism and communications from being a weather presenter and science correspondent to being a TV personality, industry consultant and author. She's extremely passionate about how space technology can make life better on Earth, and wants to see the industry get out of its bubble and do a better job of communicating why space technology matters.

Sarah tells the story of how she covered the final Space Shuttle launch and landing in 2011 using a satellite dish to send a signal back to the BCC, and how she took a scientific look at reports of alien activity and UFOs as part of her work on two TV shows. We also talk about what she's looking forward to at SATELLITE, from the keynotes, GovMilSpace program, and networking opportunities to connect with folks in the industry.

This episode is sponsored by AvL Technologies. AvL Technologies is a leading manufacturer of multi-band and multi-orbit satellite communications ground terminals, serving both government and commercial markets. With terminals ranging in size from 60 cm to 4.6 m AvL provides efficient, cost-effective solutions for voice, video, and data connectivity without the need for specialized training.

AvL's innovative and visionary approach to engineering and design ensures the critical requirements of today's missions are met. For more information please visit avltech.com, or visit AvL at the SATELLITE Show at Booth 2118 in the Exhibit Hall.

The Satellite Industry's Policy Priorities for Trump 2.0 With Madeleine Chang Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

This week on On Orbit, we hear from Madeleine Chang, director of policy for the Satellite Industry Association about the policy priorities SIA is advocating for with the new Trump administration. SIA has put together a set of priorities with agreement from its more than 50 member companies, representing a broad swath of the satellite industry. These priorities include streamlining regulations, curbing space debris, and improving space procurement, and spectrum management.

The second Trump administration is widely expected to be bullish on space capabilities, but the outlook is changing day-by-day with issues like changes in federal funding and tariffs. Madeleine points out that when SIA advocates for the satellite industry, it's not just to advance business in the satellite industry, but because of how satellite supports critical use cases that satellite supports like PNT, national security, reliable communications, disaster relief, and more.

Not Your Dad's Space Domain Awareness, With Brien Flewelling of ExoAnalytic Solutions Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

We often hear space described as congested and competitive but Dr. Brien Flewelling likes to describe the situation in space as dense, dynamic, and deep. This means that space traffic is getting denser as there are more spacecraft in orbit; it's deeper with spacecraft in more orbits; and more dynamic as spacecraft maneuver more frequently. It's "not your dad's space domain awareness," he says.

Brien is the director of Strategic Program Development at ExoAnalytic Solutions. He joins the On Orbit podcast this week for a conversation about space domain awareness (SDA) and how NATO coordinates SDA. He shares his takeaways from the NATO Edge and Spacepower conferences in December, about how NATO can have better coordination in space domain awareness with greater adoption of commercial capabilities.

He answers what really happens when a satellite breaks apart in orbit, how decision-making in space is evolving to be more autonomous, and what's needed to keep pace with everything being launched to orbit today.

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