Shaping and Scaling Space Strategy

Welcome to the fourth edition of The Vector?newsletter, a quarterly roundup of content, resources and insights for the global space ecosystem brought to you by Space Foundation’s Space Commerce Institute. Read on for the following highlights:

?? ?Fresh insights on space investment, entrepreneurship and more from the?39th Space Symposium

?? ?Exclusive episode of?The Vector,?shot live at Space Symposium, offers two guest perspectives on the space workforce of the future?

?? ?Takeaways from an?“Audacious” Life on Mars?community?

?? ?Newly announced?SpaceEdge?program looks to build a multi-hub business accelerator, with a focus on Biomedical innovation

Spotlight on the 39th Space Symposium

Space Investment Panel?

During Space Foundation’s 39th annual Space Symposium, Space Commerce Institute opened new avenues of engagement for entrepreneurs, investors and space-forward nations to grow their presence in the global space ecosystem.

Vice President of Space Commerce and Entrepreneurship Kelli Kedis Ogborn started the week leading the Space Investment Analysis panel, diving deeper into the insights and topics recently published in the?Q1 2024 Space Report. Live at the Broadmoor, the conversation spanned private capital activities, international competition, workforce trends, and market sustainability and scale. Other panelists included:?

• Justin Cadman, Quilty Analytics?
• Mariel Borowitz, Georgia Tech?
• Ian Christensen, Secure World Foundation?

Missed it? Visit the Symposium 365 website to watch the latest episode and past analyses.

U.S. and Italian Commercial Roundtable

Following the successful inaugural U.S. and Italian Commercial Roundtable held at Italian National Space Day in December, in Washington, D.C., Space Commerce Institute supported the second installment at Cheyenne Mountain Resort on Monday, April 8.

The event allowed companies to share successful strategies for international engagement and partnership, as well as pitfalls that hinder scale and global integration of ideas and capabilities. These ideas were shared with the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) and the U.S. Department of Commerce to help inform their government-to-government roundtable discussion to be held this Fall in Rome.?

Space Symposium: Innovate

On April 10, Space Commerce Institute hosted Space Symposium: Innovate, the first-ever pitch event at Space Symposium in collaboration with Starburst Aerospace. Eight companies from diverse markets presented their business pitches in front of a panel of judges experienced in space investment, commercial growth and national defense. After much deliberation and a close tally, Alex Haro from Hubble Network was selected as the winner. The Hubble Network will receive two tickets to next year’s 40th Space Symposium, five consulting hours from Space Commerce Institute, and a year’s subscription to Space Foundation’s Space Report.?

Following the pitch competition, the audience was treated to an overview of the space economy by Space Foundation’s Lesley Conn and a vibrant discussion with industry giants. The panelists offered advice and best practices to assist the companies with their growth goals. The event concluded with a lively reception, giving attendees the opportunity to connect with the panelists, judges, other entrepreneurs and audience members.?

Space Commerce Institute extends our thanks to the following professionals who participated in the event.

Pitching Companies

• Dr. Nicole Wagner, LambdaVision
• Mike Grace, LONGSHOT
• Trevor Smith, Atomic-6
• Dr. Solange Massa, Ecoatoms
• Matthew Goodman, The Exclosure
• Lee Rosen, ThinkOrbital
• Alex Haro, Hubble Network
• Ed Tate, Virtus Solis Technologies

Judges

• Dr. Kam Ghaffarian, IBX
• Natasha Ahmed, Disruptive
• Sara Jones, Honeywell Ventures
• Vinny Pande, SpaceWERX Ventures
• Benjamin Zeitoun, Starburst Aerospace

Panelists

• Carissa Bryce Christensen, BryceTech
• Debra Facktor, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense
• Peter Hughes, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• Sonia Phares, IGNITE at Lockheed Space
• Elizabeth Reynolds, Starburst Aerospace

Now Available: The Vector Episode 16 –?Driving Momentum in Space Workforce Progress

In a special edition episode of The Vector filmed at Space Symposium,?we dove into the workforce of the future and the solutions driving momentum through two back-to-back firesides. Tune into the episode, released on April 23, for digestible and dynamic insights from Mel Stricklan of the Space Workforce 2030 initiative and Mike French of Aerospace Industries Association.???

• Watch Episode 16
• Listen as a Podcast
• Discover Space Workforce 2030

Life on Mars: Takeaways from Audacity

Space Commerce Institute’s inaugural Life on Mars, hosted in collaboration with the Alan B. Levan Center in January 2024, generated a new and diverse community who dubbed themselves “Audacians.”

Experience Audacity with the?video recap?below and review the participants' report,?Life on Mars White Paper.

Up Next

Multi-hub Accelerator with Biomedical Focus

Space Commerce Institute is partnering with Arizona State University, Vanderbilt University, University of Florida, and University of Central Florida to launch SpaceEdge: a 12-week virtual multi-hub accelerator program. Designed with a focus on the biomedical industry, SpaceEdge will educate participating companies on the space ecosystem and equip them with skills and information to develop scalable and sustainable business models.?Read the full press release here.

Space Sustainability with Secure World Foundation

Enhance your awareness of space sustainability by tuning in to the upcoming episode of the Vector, featuring Secure World Foundation’s Dr. Peter Martinez. The episode will stream on LinkedIn on Thursday, May 23 at 12 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. MT — join live for the chance to have your questions answered! ?

Don't miss an episode,?subscribe here!

Global Business Radar

The space economy is experiencing an unprecedented boom. Here's what should be on your radar to stay ahead of the curve:

• New NASA Strategy Envisions Sustainable Future for Space Operations – NASA?
• USSF Releases Commercial Space Strategy to Increase Competitive Advantage – United States Space Force?
• Space Investors Question the Merits of Vertical Integration – SpaceNews??
• NASA Sets Path to Return Mars Samples, Seeks Innovative Designs – NASA?
• Billionaire Kam Ghaffarian Sets His Sights on the Stars with a Range of Space Companies – CNBC?
• China to Leverage Growing Commercial Space Sector to Launch Megaconstellations – SpaceNews??
• Space ISAC Stands Up LEO Owner Operations Affinity Group – SPACE ISAC?
• World Economic Forum Report Paints Bright Future for the Space Economy – Via Satellite?
• UK Space Agency Brings Financial Boost to Startups – Via Satellite?

The Vector is a product of Space Commerce Institute, a department of Space Foundation.

Space Foundation's four decades of advocacy for the global space community allows Space Commerce Institute to provide accessible, actionable, and tangible programming that facilitates growth into and within the evolving space ecosystem. Learn more.

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