The Space Industry

Episode 84 of The Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Laura Crabtree, CEO of Epsilon3, on how the company is approaching the adoption of AI to support process & resource management for complex space missions.

Epsilon3's software platform manages complex operational procedures, saving operators time and reducing errors. The platform supports a majority of a project's life cycle, from integration and testing through live operations.

In the episode, Laura speaks with satsearch COO Narayan Prasad Nagendra about a range of topics including:

• AI readiness and timing: the readiness of AI to handle process and resource management of complex space missions and whether this is the right time for AI adoption, despite the space industry's traditionally complex and conservative nature.
• Safety and anomaly detection: making AI-driven anomaly detection for mission-critical systems simultaneously sensitive enough to catch real problems and robust enough to avoid excessive false alarms.
• Procedure correctness and vetting: ensuring that AI-generated or imported procedures meet the extremely high requirements for correctness, detail, and adherence to regulatory standards for spaceflight operations.
• Data security and customer trust: the specific architectural and security measures Epsilon3 is implementing to guarantee that sensitive, often classified, customer data is never exposed to external AI services, thus building trust with cautious space engineers.
• Immediate practical applications: the possibility of immediate and practical applications like dynamic AI scheduling or a recommender system, that could significantly reduce manual workload or human error for operations engineers in the next 12-18 months.

You can find out more about Epsilon3 here on their satsearch supplier hub. And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global space supply chain, please take a look at our blog.

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Episode 83 of The Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Adrian Helwig, Analog Field Application Engineer, and Michael Seidl, Systems Engineer from Texas Instruments (TI), about designing space systems with integrated Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) strategies.

TI is a global electronics manufacturer with a wide portfolio of space-grade components to support space missions across the spectrum.

In the episode, Adrian, Michael and satsearch COO Narayan Prasad Nagendra discuss:

• FDIR as a complex, critical sequence in space system design: Since equipment in space cannot be manually repaired, systems must quickly and reliably detect faults, isolate the damaged unit (e.g., by switching it off), and recover mission operations, often by engaging a redundant unit.
• Trade-off between reliability, performance, and cost: Engineers face this trade-off particularly when selecting components that must withstand extreme environments (radiation, temperature cycles) and long missions (LEO vs. GEO/Deep Space). Using non-space-grade parts introduces significant risk and defeats the purpose of FDIR.
• Effective fault containment based on integrated, smart strategies: Strategies that avoid complexity, using methods like galvanic isolation, fast load switches, and highly-integrated space-grade components that incorporate diagnostics and can execute complex decision-making based on multiple sensor inputs (voltage, current, temperature) prevent fault propagation.

You can find out more about TI on their satsearch supplier hub. And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global space supply chain, please take a look at our blog.

[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]

Episode 82 of The Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Dr. Tamas Rev, Materials and Mechanical Lead at Acktar, about the world of coatings for space missions, canvassing state-of-the-art stray light mitigation and thermal management.

Acktar is a specialist provider of optical coatings and protective solutions, including space-rated ultra-black coatings and foils that improve the efficiency and performance of mission equipment.

In this episode, Tamas and satsearch COO Narayan Prasad Nagendra discuss:

• Deep space stray light mitigation: Acktar's Fractal Black™ coating is critical for stray light mitigation in high-profile, deep space observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope and Europa Clipper, which ensures optimal performance by minimizing unwanted light for clear data acquisition.
• Extreme environment thermal and stray light management: The BepiColombo mission uses a complementary pair of coatings: Acktar White™ for thermal management and Magic Black™ for stray light control, demonstrating a tailored approach to handle the combined challenges of intense heat and light in harsh environments.
• Lunar thermal regulation: The Chandrayaan-2 mission utilized the Nano Black™ coating to provide essential temperature regulation on the lunar surface, addressing a key thermal management concern for the mission's success.
• Small satellite optical contamination control: Spectral Black™ coatings are applied to smaller satellite platforms, like the CanX series and other LEO satellites, to reduce optical contamination and light pollution, which is increasingly important as the number of LEO satellites grows.

You can find out more about Acktar here on their satsearch supplier hub. And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch, please take a look at our blog.

[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]

Episode 81 of The Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Hans Martin Steiner, VP Institutional Space Business at Terma, about scalability and expandability of cutting-edge ground stations with SDR technology.

Terma's space business provides mission-critical electronics, software, and services for space applications.

In the episode, Hans and satsearch COO Prasad Nagendra discuss:

1. 💸 Scaling Shift - "Software Over Boxes": Traditional ground stations scale by adding costly physical modem hardware, a CapEx-heavy approach. Software-Defined Radio (SDR) technology flips this model, allowing operators to scale capacity instantly by adding compute power instead of new boxes, dramatically improving economic efficiency.

2. 🔄 Dynamic Adaptation and Flexibility: SDR technology empowers operators to dynamically change critical communication parameters, like frequencies or modulation schemes, post-launch via software updates. This capability is vital for optimizing spectrum use, mitigating unexpected interference, and extending a satellite's mission lifetime.

3. 🌐 Enabling Ground Station-as-a-Service (GSaaS): SDR is the key driver enabling ground stations to operate as a shared, virtualized service. This shift minimizes hardware investment and allows operators to move toward efficient, multi-mission models instead of maintaining dedicated, underutilized infrastructure.

4. 📈 Efficient Throughput Management: SDR's scaling flexibility efficiently addresses two extremes: small, specialized missions and high-throughput commercial operations. It allows a single station to support vastly different mission profiles instantly, ensuring maximum asset utilization across the board.

5. 🛡️ Securing the Virtualized Network: The shift to a software-defined network introduces unique cybersecurity challenges compared to traditional hardware setups. Implementing robust best practices, like Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), is essential to securing virtual data flows and protecting critical mission operations.

6. 💡 Future Paradigms and AI Integration: Looking ahead, SDR is positioned to enable the next generation of space communication, including AI-driven adaptive networks and seamless integration with optical links. These trends will fundamentally redefine the performance and economics of global satellite communication networks within the next decade.

You can find out more about Terma on their satsearch supplier hub. And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch, please take a look at our blog.

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Episode 80 of the Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Dr. Mattias Holm, Product Owner at Terma for the TEMU (Terma Emulator), about overcoming the challenges of space processor emulation for increasingly complex payloads and mission operations.

Terma's space business provides mission-critical electronics, software, and services for space applications.

In the episode, Mattias and satsearch COO Narayan Prasad Nagendra discuss the:

• critical importance of high-performance processor emulation for space missions, like Terma's TEMU, allowing for comprehensive validation and debugging of on-board computer (OBC) software and minimizing the risk of costly failures once a satellite is in orbit, and the
• challenges of high-fidelity simulation in accurately emulating complex modern space processors, especially multi-core architectures, to achieve real-time or faster-than-real-time performance, while maintaining instruction-level accuracy for reliable software development and operational training.

You can find out more about Terma on their satsearch supplier hub. And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch, please take a look at our blog.

[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]

Episode 79 of the Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Adrian Helwig, Analog Field Application Engineer, and Michael Seidl, Systems Engineer from Texas Instruments (TI), about the strengths of adopting standardized architectures for space missions.

TI is a global electronics manufacturer with a wide portfolio of space-grade components to support space missions across the spectrum.

In the episode, Adrian, Michael and satsearch COO Narayan Prasad Nagendra discuss:

• Standardized architectures in space missions that enable modular, interoperable system designs across suppliers, helping to reduce R&D costs, support component re-use, and foster a diverse supplier ecosystem.
• Harsher environmental and longevity challenges faced by space missions compared to automotive applications, which share principles like system modularity and cost-efficient R&D; however space applications require dedicated components, long-term support, and reliability over decades.
• Space-grade products offered by TI in two qualification levels — SEP and SP — to meet varied mission requirements, with benefits like pin-compatible options, broad portfolio coverage, and flight heritage from previously proven components.

You can find out more about TI on their satsearch supplier hub. And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global space supply chain, please take a look at our blog.

[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]

Episode 78 of the Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Isolina Pérez Donnelly, Sales Director at satsearch Trusted Supplier Alén Space, about the evolving nature of the nanosatellite market.

Alén Space, based in Spain and part of the GMV group, specializes in the design, manufacturing, and operation of small satellites. It offers cutting-edge technology for nanosatellites and microsatellites, as well as end-to-end mission development services.

In this podcast episode, Isolina and satsearch COO Narayan Prasad Nagendra discuss the evolving NewSpace market from a nanosatellite manufacturer's perspective including:

• How the CubeSat market has evolved over the last decade
• The nature of customers that exist in the market today
• Factors influencing architectures of nanosatellite platforms, and the importance of reliable service from space
• Missions Alén Space is involved, both in the realm of technology demos and commercial missions.

You can find out more about Alén Space here on their satsearch supplier hub.

And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global marketplace for space, please take a look at our blog here.

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In this episode satsearch COO Narayan Prasad speaks with Tamas Rev, Materials and Mechanical Lead at satsearch Trusted Supplier Acktar.

Acktar is a specialist provider of optical coatings and protective solutions, including space-rated ultra-black coatings and foils that improve the efficiency and performance of mission equipment.

In this podcast Tamas and Narayan discuss stray light in space, covering:

• The causes and effects of stray light in today's space missions
• How it can be reduced, mitigated, or protected from entirely
• The nuances in stray light impacts in different mission profiles (e.g. LEO vs. deep space)
• Acktar's extensive track record supporting mission teams to suppress stray light
• How the company is developing its portfolio to meet the changing needs of space missions and services

You can find out more about Acktar here on their satsearch supplier hub.

And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global marketplace for space, please take a look at our blog here.

[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA] 

This episode of the Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Laura Crabtree, CEO of satsearch Trusted Supplier Epsilon3, on how the company's system is helping mission designers all over the world by providing an all-in-one solution for spacecraft manufacturers and operators.

Laura speaks with satsearch COO Narayan Prasad and covers a range of topics including:

• Why spacecraft teams have outgrown spreadsheets and other legacy tools for managing manufacturing and testing
• How outdated tools can sometimes lead to mission-critical issues in space
• The importance of software tools and workflows in ensuring quality during development
• Advice and recommendations for manufacturers working toward quality certifications
• Laura's views on how the industry is changing and on the larger role that software is playing

You can find out more about Epsilon3 here on their satsearch supplier hub.

And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global space supply chain, please take a look at our blog.

[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA

Episode 75 of the Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Sergio Sanchez, a software engineer and the Product Owner of the Flight Dynamics System at satsearch Trusted Supplier Terma.

Terma is a Denmark based provider of aerospace and defense related products and their space portfolio features a variety of essential electronics and software tools for space missions. In the podcast we discuss various aspects of flight dynamics systems:

• The importance of flight dynamics in develop satellite constellations
• How they streamline operations, orbit determination, and reduce workloads
• Examples of formation flying in space missions
• Mission applications and future scenarios that such solutions enable

You can find out more about Terma here on their satsearch supplier hub.

And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global space supply chain, please take a look at our blog.

[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]