The 41st Annual SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition was held March 21-24 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington DC, welcoming 11,848 attendees and nearly 300 exhibitors and sponsors from 120 countries. SATELLITE marks a triumphant start to the satellite and space tradeshow season as mandates and travel restrictions begin to lift in the U.S. 

“The energy and excitement at SATELLITE was palpable for all who participated, and substantiated the resiliency that the industry has displayed over the course of the past two years,” said Lindsey Fuller, show director of SATELLITE and vice president of Access Intelligence’s Satellite and Healthcare Groups. “We are grateful that satellite and space professionals from around the world were able to attend SATELLITE 2022, and have the opportunity to reconnect in-person.” 

Highlights from the conference program included: 

• Monday kicked off with a double feature keynote luncheon program. Dennis Stone, project executive at NASA emphasized the opportunities for advancing science in space by working closely with innovative commercial partners. The second part of the luncheon, a fireside chat style conversation between Chair Jeffrey Hill and Ann Kim, managing director and head of frontier technology with SVB Financial Group, and Chad Anderson, founder and Managing Partner of Space Capital, revolved around the threat of climate change—and the opportunities for satcoms to mitigate environmental disasters.
• Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine spoke to attendees on Tuesday about the importance of preserving and managing space for future expansion and building a regulatory structure while watching out for any existential threats. His message is that space for all requires more careful development going forward, and we as a nation need to do what is right.
• During Tuesday’s Opening General Session, “A Defining Era for the Satellite Industry,” industry leaders acknowledged new opportunities for the satellite industry, while elaborating on how their organizations and partners are responding to global challenges and international needs—for affordable broadband, better cybersecurity and broader connectivity. The war in Ukraine was top of mind, and a constant theme throughout conversation.
• Via Satellite announced Tina Ghataore, CCO of Mynaric, as the winner of the prestigious 2021 Satellite Executive of the Year Award, and Astroscale’s ELSA-D mission as the winner of the 2021 Satellite Technology of the Year Award during the Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 8.

Highlights from the exhibition included: 

• The 6th Annual Startup Space pitch competition put 10 entrepreneurs on stage in front of a panel of judges for a chance to win access to private pitch meetings with a group of active space investors. This year’s winner, the German startup Vyoma, wants to revolutionize space object and satellite operations by fully automating the process.
• The Startup Pavilion on the show floor provided a dedicated area for new market entrants to showcase their innovative technologies to prospective investors, partners and buyers.
• Attendees got an insider’s look at leading companies’ latest products with live tech demos from executives at Inmarsat, Kratos, Redwire, COMSPOC, Gatehouse Satcom, Inmarsat and Keysight in the SATELLITE Unveiled Theater.

“This is just the beginning of what promises to be a strong year for the satellite and space communities,” Lindsey Fuller continued. “Business is moving forward and once again, SATELLITE 2022 is creating a forum for companies to launch their business plans, and setting the tone for the year to come.”

SATELLITE 2023 will be held March 13-16, 2023 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.