A new race to space is happening right above our heads. But the destinations targeted today are not the Moon or Mars. Instead, entrepreneurs, nation states, and large corporations are sending small satellites into Low Earth Orbit (100 to 1,000 miles altitude) to track weather, provide broadband Internet access and telecommunications, support the Internet of Things (IoT), and perform military and security functions.
With so many potential LEO opportunities available, a gold rush mentality has driven scores of entrepreneurs and hundreds of millions of dollars of capital into the sector in recent years. Now, as the market begins to mature, investors are becoming more focused on rapid paths to profitability and less upon innovative technologies.
“The capital markets are no longer interested in funding science projects,” stated Frank Tobin, Executive Chairman of GomSpace North America on The Space Industry Podcast. “They are looking for business models that can be ramped up quickly and achieve cash flow positive status in a reasonable period of time.”
“This is why it’s critical that every company or agency planning a satellite mission focuses on their core technological competencies,” Tobin continues, “And outsources to flight-proven partners the nuts and bolts of building, launching, and managing one – or a constellation of – satellites. The sooner you can demonstrate in-orbit experience, the less equity you will have to give up in exchange for capital. Partnering accelerates that process.”
Listen to the interview:
Frank Tobin’s appearance on The Space Industry Podcast is the first in a series of such interviews he will be granting in the coming weeks and months to communicate his message of the power of partnering in space.
To listen to Tobin’s guest interview on The Space Industry Podcast, click this link.
About GomSpace North America
GomSpace is a manufacturer and operator of nanosatellites for customers in the defense, academic, government and commercial markets. GomSpace’s services include systems integration, nanosatellite platforms, constellation operations management and miniaturized radio technology.
About The Space Industry Podcast
The Space Industry Podcast features stories, educational material, and behind-the-scenes views into the real-world activity in today’s space industry. It is produced by satsearch – the global marketplace for space – which helps engineers from across the global industry find information on suppliers, products, services, and capabilities at all levels of the supply chain.