SES and Intelsat recently ordered C-Band replacement satellites. These satellite orders are the result of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission taking over 300 megahertz of spectrum for use in cellular 5G networks. The satellites will be used for mainly television broadcasting.
SES ordered two satellites from Boeing and two satellites from Northrop Grumman. Boeing will build the SES-20 and SES-21 satellites in Los Angeles, California, on all-electric 702SP platforms. Northrop Grumman will build its two satellite orders, SES-18 and SES-19, in Virginia, on its GeoStar-3 platform.
Intelsat ordered six satellites – four from Maxar Technologies to be called Galaxy-31, Galaxy-32, Galaxy-35 and Galaxy-36. The two satellites from Northrop Grumman are to be called Galaxy-33 and Galaxy-34. Intelsat is in negotiations with manufacturers for a seventh satellite.
Chris Stott
Chris Stott is the founder, Chair and CEO of ManSat, the world’s first, and now largest, commercial satellite spectrum firm and was also key in founding the multi-billion dollar space and satellite industry on the Isle of Man. He is presently Chair of the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), the largest professional association in the global space and satellite industry. He was named Celton Businessman of the year in 2010.
A founder of the International Institute of Space Commerce, he is also a passionate activist for STEM & STEAM education serving as faculty at the ISU and on the University’s Main Board and with the Conrad Foundation, Challenger Centers, and the United Space School. At ISU he teaches entrepreneurialism, networking, and other business topics and is a past Co-Chair of the School of Management and Business. He also teaches on the TED Fellows program.
Chris is also a co-founder of the Manna Energy Foundation and Geeks Without Frontiers, focused on bringing clean energy, clean water and clean telecoms (the ‘worldwide well’) to the developing world via sustainable enterprise, and recently completed the world’s first IEEE Certified Open Source 80211s Mesh Networks protocols with the support of Google, RIM, Microsoft, Laptop Per Child, Global Connect, and Nokia.
Chris serves on the Board of the AMAR US Foundation, having worked with Baroness Nicholson on AMAR in the early 1990s when AMAR was first founded. Chris was then working in the House of Commons for Emma when she was a Member of Parliament, having come to this position from interning and volunteering in the US Senate and on at a senior level on two US Presidential Campaigns.
He is a published author and produces the occasional movie, with three projects currently under work. His work has been featured in Forbes Magazine, the Financial Times, Le Monde, the BBC, and Wired Magazine. A fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, Member of the Reform Club, and the International Institute of Space Law, Chris is also a TED’ster and TEDx Curator (ISU, Douglas, and Sugarland).
After working in executive positions with Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Chris left Lockheed Martin in 2000 to become an entrepreneur in the space industry before it was trendy.
Born on the Isle of Man, Chris is a now an American Citizen by choice (having read way too much Jefferson). He resides in Houston, Texas with his wife, retired NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott, and their son. He is a keen shot (skeet, trap, pistol and rifle), SCUBA diver, and is currently working on his Rotor (Helicopter) pilot’s license.
Jordan Bletscher
Jordan Bletscher is the Chief Strategist for Boeing Space & Launch. He is responsible for integrating market and investment strategies across the full range of Boeing’s space portfolio. Prior to his current role, Jordan was the lead strategist for the Boeing Phantom Works space division, defining technology and growth strategies for government and commercial small satellite systems. Jordan has over 15 years of experience supporting government and commercial satellite programs across a range of mission areas. He has led satellite system design and analysis efforts in partnership with U.S. Government customers, pushing the boundaries of traditional satellite design to enable new more resilient mission architectures.
Paul Estey
PROFILE
Business leader with significant experience in operations and global supply chain management
Extenisve experience in managing exceptional engineering and manufacturing teams to successfully produce extremely technical products in very competitive markets
EXPERIENCE
Responsible for ensuring all of Maxar SS customer needs are being met from the early stages of business development through the completion of the mission
COO/Executive Vice President, Engineering and Operations
Engineering Consultant
Rob Shah
Mr. Shah is the Director of Communication Satellites Operating Unit at Northrop Grumman, where he oversees business operations for the unit, including program execution and business development activities. Mr. Shah has over 30 years of experience in the space industry spanning nearly all aspects in both government and commercial environments, including product development, program and engineering management, and strategic planning. Mr. Shah joined Northrop Grumman in 1997 and has been instrumental in identifying strategic opportunities, opening up new markets, and securing new business for Northrop Grumman’s GEOStar satellites. Prior to Northrop Grumman, Mr. Shah worked at Boeing Satellite Systems where he developed several major satellite systems. Mr. Shah currently holds four United States patents for his designs related to satellite systems. He graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.