Session
Technical Session I: Private Endeavors
Abstract
As the conference theme suggests, new business opportunities, rising demand for satellite based services, and particularly emerging nation markets have sparked the imagination of established providers and new space entrepreneurs to capitalize on the unique abilities of small satellites in bringing to market new businesses or government services. Specifically, the emergence of new satellite manufacturers and service providers around the globe has focused attention on the potential benefit of mergers, acquisitions and partnerships to thrive within the space industry. The pan-Asian and Middle-Eastern markets are among the liveliest sectors where demand for small space systems is rising. In reaction to these market forces, ATK Space Systems has undertaken to establish a regional marketing and production collaboration that draws upon the established electronics expertise available from Singapore to better enable our ability to service these markets at a performance level and price point surpassing all of the competition. The collision of a Silicon Valley business philosophy with the continued miniaturization of space technologies has given birth to a fresh set of New Space businesses, some of which have generated significant buzz in the venture capital community. Importantly, many of these new entities plan to rely on constellations of small satellites to produce a capability unachievable from one or two large satellites, and which offer the potential for profit margins far out pacing what can be earned from government contracts. Emerging nations are one of the most rapid growing sectors in the space market where particularly challenging performance targets are desired at price points well below conventional space bus products. Industry trends are leading to cross-market partnerships that enable higher performance small satellites at lower acquisition costs. Coupled with this reality, there is an enduring trend toward improving performance from space platforms that continue to shrink in physical size and mass. What are these trends and how do they affect the commerce of small satellites in the world economy? What must an entrepreneurial space company do to capture market share with superior best-in-class performance at price points consistent with the limited space budgets of smaller nations? This paper will address these questions and the approach ATK and ST Electronics are taking to meet the demand.
Presentation
Global Commerce in Small Satellites Trends and New Business Models
As the conference theme suggests, new business opportunities, rising demand for satellite based services, and particularly emerging nation markets have sparked the imagination of established providers and new space entrepreneurs to capitalize on the unique abilities of small satellites in bringing to market new businesses or government services. Specifically, the emergence of new satellite manufacturers and service providers around the globe has focused attention on the potential benefit of mergers, acquisitions and partnerships to thrive within the space industry. The pan-Asian and Middle-Eastern markets are among the liveliest sectors where demand for small space systems is rising. In reaction to these market forces, ATK Space Systems has undertaken to establish a regional marketing and production collaboration that draws upon the established electronics expertise available from Singapore to better enable our ability to service these markets at a performance level and price point surpassing all of the competition. The collision of a Silicon Valley business philosophy with the continued miniaturization of space technologies has given birth to a fresh set of New Space businesses, some of which have generated significant buzz in the venture capital community. Importantly, many of these new entities plan to rely on constellations of small satellites to produce a capability unachievable from one or two large satellites, and which offer the potential for profit margins far out pacing what can be earned from government contracts. Emerging nations are one of the most rapid growing sectors in the space market where particularly challenging performance targets are desired at price points well below conventional space bus products. Industry trends are leading to cross-market partnerships that enable higher performance small satellites at lower acquisition costs. Coupled with this reality, there is an enduring trend toward improving performance from space platforms that continue to shrink in physical size and mass. What are these trends and how do they affect the commerce of small satellites in the world economy? What must an entrepreneurial space company do to capture market share with superior best-in-class performance at price points consistent with the limited space budgets of smaller nations? This paper will address these questions and the approach ATK and ST Electronics are taking to meet the demand.
