The 2024 SpaceNews Icon Awards honor extraordinary achievements that are driving humanity’s exploration of space and shaping the future of the industry. Chosen by the SpaceNews editorial team following an open call for nominations, these awards recognize individuals, missions, and organizations whose work has redefined excellence across 10 categories.
This year’s winners represent the best of the space community, from record-breaking commercial spacewalks and innovative lunar landings to groundbreaking advancements in orbital safety, sustainability and education. Their stories reflect the determination, creativity and leadership that fuel progress in space exploration and beyond.
As SpaceNews marks its 35th anniversary, we are proud to showcase these achievements and the people who make them possible.
Lifetime Achievement: Richard DalBelloAdvancing orbital safety through decades of leadership.
Richard DalBello. Credit: DoCAfter three decades of work in the public and private space sector, Richard DalBello could have simply retired, again. Instead, the long commercial space champion took on the daunting challenge of leading the U.S. Commerce Department’s campaign to offer civil and commercial space traffic coordination services.
In some ways, it was a natural fit for DalBello, who helped establish the Space Data Association, an international nonprofit focused on improving safety by helping satellite operators exchange information on orbital location, when he was Intelsat General’s vice president of government relations.
Plus, DalBello’s lengthy career — as president of the Satellite Industry Association, assistant director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), director of the congressional Office of Technology Assessment, Virgin Galactic vice president of global engagement, among other jobs — made him uniquely qualified to work with industry, U.S. agencies and internationally to help the Office of Space Commerce begin offering services long provided by the U.S. Defense Department.
“He’s been everywhere, seen things from different perspectives and has maintained great relationships with people on both sides of the aisle for a long period of time,” said Scott Pace, director of the George Washington University Space Policy Institute and National Space Council executive secretary under President Trump. “He’s a generally nice guy. In Washington, that’s sometimes rare.”
Colleagues in Washington also credit DalBello with helping establish the Global Positioning System (GPS) as a free public service. While working in OSTP during the Clinton administration, DalBello assigned Pace, then at the RAND Corp., to delve into GPS applications and policy questions. The report, which anticipated widespread commercial, scientific and military applications for the positioning, navigation and timing constellation, attracted the attention of then Vice President Al Gore, who announced the first U.S. GPS policy in 1996.
“Rich was quite instrumental in opening access to GPS,” said Courtney Stadd, National Space Council commercial director for President George H. W. Bush and leader of the NASA transition team for President George W. Bush.
In spite of DalBello’s experience and accomplishments, setting up the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) has not been easy. The Trump administration instructed the Commerce Department in 2018 to offer “basic” space situational awareness (SSA) data and space traffic management services. DalBello was appointed director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Space Commerce four years later. Congress began providing funding for TraCSS in 2023.
Once money arrived, the Office of Space Commerce could hire people to tackle a multifaceted problem, requiring cloud-based infrastructure, applications and data from numerous U.S. government, commercial and international organizations, and mechanisms to share information. Through a series of pathfinder projects, DalBello and his staff are defining a basic level of service, grappling with uneven expertise among satellite operators and figuring out what space situational awareness products and services should cost, while maintaining spaceflight safety and trying not to undermine the commercial SSA market or vex government partners. Add on the government’s cumbersome hiring and acquisition processes, and it’s remarkable that the initial phase of TraCSS is delivering services to an initial group of satellite operators.
“In less than three years, Rich built an office, built a program and defined an international means of cooperating, because that’s absolutely essential to spaceflight safety,” said Janice Starzyk, Office of Space Commerce deputy director. “He has provided the vision for how the program should function and where it fits within not just the U.S. government and commercial industry but globally.”
Individual Achievement: Gen. Michael GuetleinLeading Space Force into a new era of collaboration.
Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein speaking at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington, in March. Credit: U.S. Air ForceIn an age when space is not just a serene backdrop but a contested domain, Gen. Michael Guetlein, the U.S. Space Force’s vice chief of space operations, is advancing a new paradigm in space defense — one built on international collaboration and commercial innovation.
Central to Guetlein’s approach is his belief that space security is a shared responsibility. His push for “allied by design” systems ensures U.S. space capabilities are interoperable with those of allied nations, laying the groundwork for seamless collaboration in this increasingly complex domain.
Guetlein has also reshaped the Space Force’s relationship with the private sector. By championing hybrid systems that integrate government and commercial technologies, he has accelerated access to cutting-edge innovations and reduced reliance on traditionally lengthy development cycles. His pragmatic approach harnesses the agility of the private sector to bolster America’s space defense capabilities.
Resilience is another hallmark of Guetlein’s vision. He emphasizes systems that can withstand or recover quickly from adversarial threats, particularly those posed by hostile nations in space. This has led him to advocate for a modular architecture for U.S. space assets — one that allows for swift upgrades, replacements, or repairs without overhauling entire systems.
Guetlein has urged Space Force guardians to embrace a more adaptive mindset, one he describes as a “MacGyver” approach. This philosophy was applied to the successful Victus Nox mission, where the Space Force launched a satellite within 27 hours of receiving the order. This “tactically responsive space” capability is central to the notion of a Space Force that can react nimbly to dynamic threats and operational demands, an approach he hopes will embed speed and agility into the service’s very identity.
Another priority is to lower classification barriers on space- information, an effort aimed at building trust and enhancing collaboration with allied nations. Guetlein’s advocacy has already led to modest policy shifts that allow for greater data sharing, ensuring allies can build systems compatible with those of the United States. This is critical in a time when the U.S. seeks to build cohesive alliances that can deter or respond to adversarial actions in space.
Guetlein’s approach is informed by a career that bridges both defense and the commercial space sector. His experience as a military fellow at SpaceX, combined with roles at the National Reconnaissance Office, has given him insight into the power of private-sector innovation and the potential benefits of integrating commercial technology into military operations and of breaking down barriers between these traditionally siloed sectors.
By reimagining how the Space Force collaborates, innovates, and adapts, Guetlein is positioning the service to meet the challenges of an increasingly contested and dynamic space environment.
International Collaboration: Artemis AccordsUniting countries behind a shared vision of sustainable space exploration for all.
Representatives of Artemis Accords signatories meet at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan in October. Credit: UAE Space AgencyOfficials with NASA and the U.S. State Department say they are not keeping score on the number of Artemis Accords signatories. “The more, the better, but it’s never been, and it’s not about chasing a number,” said Valda Vikmanis-Keller, the State Department’s director of the Office of Space Affairs, during an April event.
Yet the numbers tell an impressive story. By mid-November, 48 countries had signed the Artemis Accords, with 15 joining in 2024 alone. Launched in 2020 by the United States and seven other nations, the agreement builds on the Outer Space Treaty, establishing principles for transparency, sustainability and cooperation in space exploration.
The recent growth in the Artemis Accords has moved beyond traditional spacefaring nations to ones with little or no presence in space, like Angola and the Dominican Republic. Their willingness to sign the Accords, advocates argue, is an endorsement of the principles of the document.
Signing the Artemis Accords marks the beginning, not the end, of a shared commitment to sustainable space exploration. At the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan in October, nearly all the Artemis Accords countries — 45 at the time — participated in a workshop to discuss how to implement the principles of the agreement. Topics included deconflicting activities on the moon and establishing broader rules of conduct for space exploration.
“We’re all facing a breadth and depth of space missions, which means that we urgently need to agree on the rules of conduct as humanity goes forward into the cosmos,” said Lisa Campbell, president of the Canadian Space Agency, during a briefing. “It’s through implementation of the principles in the Accords, we believe, that will positively impact the safety and sustainability of deep space exploration.”
The IAC meeting also addressed efforts to continue outreach on the Artemis Accords. These discussions focused on engaging nations that may have specific concerns about the document’s content or are simply unfamiliar with its principles. “This is one of our duties, one of our tasks: to let them know what does it mean, what are the advantages,” said Teodoro Valente, president of the Italian space agency ASI, during the briefing.
The Artemis Accords face competition from China’s International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) initiative, which has drawn 13 participating countries. While the ILRS principles have not been publicly disclosed, they appear to mirror many aspects of the Accords.
“From my perspective, China speaking about principles for responsible behavior in space is a good thing,” said Karen Feldstein, NASA associate administrator for international and interagency relations, at the Beyond Earth Symposium in early November. Emulating the Accords, she said, demonstrates “that the global community now insists that exploration be conducted safely and sustainably.”
Feldstein reiterated that the Accords are not about numbers but about the diversity of nations participating. “The actual number is really not the point,” she said. Even so, many expect a celebration when the number of signatories reaches 50.
Mission Excellence: Polaris DawnFirst commercial crew to conduct spacewalk, breaks Apollo 17’s altitude record.
The Polaris Dawn crew of (from left) Anna Menon, Scott Poteet, Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis. Credit: Polaris Program / John KrausCommercial spaceflight has been developing capabilities that were once solely in the realm of governments, from launching satellites decades ago to flying people more recently. In September, a mission added spacewalks to that list of private space achievements.
The Polaris Dawn mission, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, achieved several milestones during its five days in orbit. The flight reached a peak altitude of more than 1,400 kilometers, the highest altitude by a crewed mission since Apollo 17 went to the moon in 1972. The two women on board, SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, flew higher than any woman has to date (a record that will be broken as soon as next year when NASA astronaut Christina Koch flies around the moon on Artemis 2). The crew also tested laser intersatellite links with Starlink for broadband communications and performed dozens of experiments.
The highlight of the mission, though, was the first commercial extravehicular activity (EVA). Isaacman opened the hatch of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and went on a brief “stand-up” spacewalk, never floating free of Dragon but instead anchored in foot restraints on a structure in the hatch to brace himself while the rest of his body was outside. Gillis followed with her own brief stand-up EVA.
The short spacewalks required years of planning by SpaceX and the Polaris Dawn team. SpaceX worked on suit designs and planning for unique aspects of the spacewalks. Because Crew Dragon does not have an airlock, the entire cabin had to be depressurized, so all four members of the crew, including Menon and pilot Scott Poteet, wore suits even while staying inside Dragon.
The spacewalk was a success. “There were very few differences from what we predicted, which is great,” Isaacman said in a video presentation at the Beyond Earth Summit in early November. The suit used air cooling that, in early spacesuit designs in the 1960s, caused astronauts to become overheated, prompting NASA to switch to water-cooled designs; Isaacman said that, by contrast, he felt cold in his suit.
Polaris Dawn was a demonstration of the ability to develop suits without government backing and, presumably, without government budgets. “This was not funded by 4.5% of national GDP,” Isaacman said, a reference to the peak NASA budgets of the 1960s. “This was SpaceX saying that they needed to develop suits.”
The mission was billed as the first of three flights in a broader Polaris program funded by Isaacman, who previously flew to space on the Inspiration4 private mission in 2021. The final flight of the program, he has long said, will be the first crewed launch of SpaceX’s Starship.
What the second flight in the program will be is uncertain. At one point, NASA and SpaceX studied a Crew Dragon mission to reboost or service the Hubble Space Telescope that could have been flown as part of Polaris, but NASA said in June it is not pursuing any private Hubble servicing missions. Whatever the second mission is, it will likely include milestones that had previously only been accomplished by governments, if at all.
Commercial Space Achievement: IM-1First commercial spacecraft to land softly on the moon overcomes hard landing to deliver mission success.
The Nova-C lander, Odysseus, used during the IM-1 lunar landing mission. Credit: Intuitive MachinesThere’s an old saying in aviation: any landing that you can walk away from is a good one. In spaceflight, any lunar landing that returns data might likewise be considered a success.
On Feb. 22, Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission made history as the first commercial spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the moon, touching down near the Malapert A crater. A day later, however, the company revealed that the lander, Odysseus, descended faster than expected due to a malfunctioning laser rangefinder. The hard landing caused one of its legs to break, leaving the spacecraft tipped nearly on its side.
However, the mission was far from over. The company worked with NASA to recover as much data as possible from the lander and its mix of NASA and commercial payloads. Over the course of a week, Odysseus operated on the lunar surface, with every payload transmitting at least some data. Tim Crain, Intuitive Machines’ senior vice president, reported at an October conference that IM-1 returned 550 megabytes of data.
That was enough for both Intuitive Machines and NASA to declare IM-1 a success. Steve Altemus, Intuitive Machines’ chief executive, said in February that the mission’s primary goal was to land softly on the moon and return data. “Both of those objectives are met, so in our minds, this is an unqualified success,” he said.
“Odysseus is a success from NASA’s point of view,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson added as the mission concluded in late February.
Intuitive Machines succeeded where other private ventures had failed. Japan’s ispace attempted a lunar landing in 2023, but its lander crashed during final approach due to a software problem. In 2019, Beresheet, developed by Israeli organization SpaceIL, also crashed while trying to land on the moon. Just a month before IM-1, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander suffered a propulsion malfunction hours after launch, forcing the company to call off a landing.
For NASA, IM-1 was a validation of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which leverages commercial spacecraft to deliver science and technology demonstration payloads to the moon.
From its inception, CLPS embraced a “shots on goal” philosophy, recognizing that not all landings would succeed. An early shot making it into the net, even imperfectly, provided reassurance that the program was on the right track.
The success of IM-1 has fueled Intuitive Machines’ growth. In April, the company received one of three NASA awards to design a lunar rover for future Artemis missions. By September, it had secured a contract worth up to $4.8 billion to provide lunar communications and navigation services. In August, it also won a task order for a fourth lunar landing mission under the CLPS program.
The company’s next lunar lander mission, IM-2, is scheduled to launch in February 2025 as part of CLPS. This time, though, Intuitive Machines aims to score a perfect landing.
Technology Achievement: Varda Space IndustriesManufacturing the future in orbit.
The Varda W-1 reentry capsule was a private space capsule that successfully returned to Earth on Feb. 21, 2024. Credit: John Kraus PhotosWhen Varda Space Industries’ reentry capsule streaked through Earth’s atmosphere this February, it carried the promise of a new era in manufacturing. Bound for a controlled landing in the Utah desert, the 90-kilogram spacecraft — one of the few commercial vehicles capable of safely returning cargo from orbit — delivered crystals of an HIV medication produced in microgravity. This trailblazing mission marks a breakthrough that could lead to the production of everything from life-saving drugs to advanced electronics.
“Space manufacturing isn’t science fiction anymore,” says Will Bruey, who co-founded Varda in 2021 with Delian Asparouhov. “We’re making it a practical reality.” With this achievement, Varda has emerged as a leader in microgravity manufacturing, becoming only the third private company — alongside SpaceX and Boeing — to successfully return an intact spacecraft from orbit.
What sets Varda apart is its singular focus on turning Earth’s orbit into a manufacturing hub. While other space companies chase dreams of Mars colonization or space tourism, Varda is pursuing a more immediate goal: leveraging the unique properties of microgravity to produce materials that cannot be made on Earth.
The company’s first success came with Ritonavir, an antiviral drug whose crystalline structure — formed in the perfect stillness of space — could potentially make it more effective than its Earth-bound counterpart. This achievement marked the first time a private company has manufactured pharmaceuticals in orbit without relying on government infrastructure like the International Space Station.
Pharmaceuticals are just the beginning. Varda’s vision extends to producing high-performance fiber optics, advanced semiconductors, and other materials that benefit from space’s unique environment. “Think of it as an industrial park in orbit,” Asparouhov explains. “We’re building the infrastructure for an entirely new manufacturing sector.”
The company’s rapid progress has drawn interest from both private investors and government agencies. Backed by $90 million in venture funding and partnerships with NASA and the U.S. Air Force, Varda is scaling up its operations with ambitious plans for monthly launches. Its proprietary reentry capsules, designed to withstand speeds exceeding Mach 25, also serve as platforms for testing hypersonic flight technologies — a capability that has garnered particular interest from the military.
What sets Varda apart is its focus on practical, near-term applications. While space manufacturing has been a theoretical possibility for decades, Varda has made it commercially viable. Its small, efficient capsules and streamlined operations aim to significantly lower the cost of producing materials in space, opening up possibilities for the type of scaled production typically confined to research labs on Earth.
The implications could be far-reaching. Pharmaceutical companies are exploring how space-grown crystals might lead to more effective medications, while the semiconductor industry, constantly pushing the limits of silicon, sees potential in manufacturing chips in zero gravity. Even traditional manufacturers are watching closely, anticipating new materials that could emerge from Varda’s orbital factories.
As space increasingly becomes a commercial frontier, Varda represents a new kind of space company — one focused not on reaching space, but on putting space to work. With each successful mission, they demonstrate that the next industrial revolution might not unfold on Earth, but 250 miles above it.
Varda’s success also highlights a shifting paradigm in space entrepreneurship. By prioritizing practical, near-term applications of space technology, the company has positioned itself to generate revenue more quickly than many space ventures. This approach has helped Varda navigate the challenges of space startup funding, appealing to investors often wary of the long timelines and high risks associated with the industry.
As Varda plans its next series of missions, the company stands at the forefront of space commercialization. Its success could signal the dawn of a true space economy — one where orbit is no longer just a destination or vantage point, but a place for creating value that benefits life on Earth.
Space Safety and Security: Slingshot AerospaceUsing AI to keep satellites safe.
Slingshot’s vice president of strategy and policy, Audrey Schaffer. Credit: SlingshotOn Aug. 7, 2024, Slingshot Aerospace solidified its role as a leader in space domain awareness when it became the first to detect a Chinese rocket breakup in low Earth orbit (LEO). The incident followed the launch of 18 G60 satellites onboard a Long March 6 rocket, intended for the Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Group’s burgeoning megaconstellation. The event underscored a growing challenge: while megaconstellations offer connectivity benefits, they also increase the risks of collisions.
“If even a fraction of the launches needed to field this Chinese megaconstellation generate as much debris as this first launch, the result would be a notable addition to the space debris population in LEO,” warned Audrey Schaffer, Slingshot’s vice president of strategy and policy.
Such incidents highlight the importance of not only mitigating space debris mitigation but also strengthening tracking capabilities.
Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Slingshot Aerospace is pioneering advanced tools to provide a unified, dynamic view of space. Its platform equips government and commercial operators with the technology to enhance situational awareness and reduce risks in an increasingly congested environment.
As megaconstellations proliferate, with the added risks of interference and adversarial actions, Slingshot’s offerings are meeting a pressing need. This year, the company bolstered its position in space and terrestrial security through innovations such as Agatha AI and DEEP.
Agatha AI, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence platform developed in partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, processes vast datasets from thousands of satellites to detect potential threats. By analyzing decades of simulated data, it can identify subtle anomalies in satellite behavior — vital in a domain where adversarial actions masquerade as routine operations. The system can flag spacecraft exhibiting signs of weaponized capabilities or spy satellite behavior, providing operators with early warnings.
AI-driven maneuver detection algorithms further strengthen Slingshot’s ability to monitor unconventional satellite behavior. For instance, Russia’s Luch (Olymp) 2 — notorious for approaching other geosynchronous satellites and suspected of intercepting communications — is one of several such objects flagged by Slingshot’s technology. By providing early warnings of such behavior, Slingshot gives clients an edge in safeguarding their assets.
An advocate of safety in spaceflight, Slingshot Aerospace also developed Beacon, a centralized collision avoidance communication platform. Beacon enables real-time data sharing among satellite operators, helping to coordinate maneuvers and minimize the risk of debris-generating incidents. By fostering collaboration among operators, Beacon supports sustainable and manageable operations for the long term.
Beyond its space tracking activities, Slingshot’s DEEP (Data Exploitation and Enhanced Processing) platform is addressing terrestrial security threats. Currently utilized by U.S. Space Command, DEEP excels at detecting GPS jamming activities — a growing concern in modern conflict zones where navigational disruption has both military and civilian impacts. By pinpointing jamming sources, DEEP delivers actionable intelligence to protect crucial navigation systems.
Space safety is a shared responsibility, and Slingshot Aerospace plays an active role in shaping the future of orbital sustainability. Beyond developing advanced monitoring tools, the company contributes to space traffic management standards and promotes best practices across the industry. Its open-access platform fosters transparency and cooperation by providing satellite operators with the situational awareness to avoid collisions. These efforts aim to unify government, private companies, and stakeholders in ensuring a safe and accessible orbital environment for all.
Slingshot’s successes have not gone unnoticed. In September, Trinity Capital committed $30 million to support Slingshot’s growth and innovation. Positioned at the nexus of national security and space sustainability, Slingshot Aerospace is advancing a vital mission: to protect and preserve the space environment as humanity enters a new era of orbital expansion and technological progress.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact: GHGSatRising to meet the growing climate challenge.
GHGSat’s latest three satellites were built by Spire Global, which also operates them as part of its space-as-a-service business. Credit: GHGSatInformation is key in the fight against climate change, and GHGSat is on a mission to beam much more of it from space to help turn rhetoric into action.
The Canadian venture specializes in tracking greenhouse gases, primarily methane, a potent contributor to rising global temperatures. With a constellation of 12 satellites in low Earth orbit and plans to nearly double its fleet, GHGSat is ramping up its ability to detect and quantify emissions worldwide.
While this constellation includes what GHGSat touts as the first commercial carbon dioxide sensor, the company’s primary focus remains on methane because it traps significantly more heat in the atmosphere over the short term.
GHGSat’s traction with businesses seeking to manage their emissions amid increasingly stringent regulations, including from accidental leaks, is accelerating its growth. In November, GHGSat announced plans to nearly double its fleet, adding nine satellites within two years.
“The expansion is part of our commitment to measure emissions at every major industrial site worldwide, every day, in near real-time,” GHGSat senior vice president of strategy Jean-Francois Gauthier told SpaceNews.
Launching additional satellites is critical to this ambition. Improved revisit times and expanded coverage enable GHGSat to identify greenhouse gas leaks faster, empowering companies and governments to take swift action.
“With the data from our current constellation, we can see clearly that methane emissions remain concerningly prevalent around the world,” Gauthier said. “A more frequent revisit time and more robust coverage will unlock a level of understanding about greenhouse gas emissions that was previously unimaginable — and the ability to mitigate them.”
GHGSat reports its constellation made more than three million observations across 85 countries in 2023, identifying nearly 16,000 emissions exceeding the “super-emitter threshold” of 100 kilograms of methane per hour.
The company’s constellation expansion announcement came as global delegates gathered in Azerbaijan for the 29th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP29, where reducing methane emissions was a top agenda item. More than 150 countries have pledged to cut methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030, underscoring growing urgency for data-driven solutions.
Since COP28 last year, GHGSat has identified more than 20,000 super-emitter plumes — 4,000 more than in 2023 alone — highlighting the ongoing scale of the challenge.
According to Gauthier, 47% of detected emissions last year stemmed from oil and gas sites, 33% from waste management, 16% from mining, and 4% from other sources, including agriculture.
GHGSat is engaging manufacturing partners to add satellites and improve monitoring capabilities with funding from investors and internal finances.
Beyond expanding its constellation, the company is finding ways to automate the detection and monitoring of methane super-emitters. By combining its satellite data with observations from space agencies, GHGSat aims to streamline information sharing and enhance its offerings.
GHGSat currently licenses its data to organizations including the United Nations, NASA, European Space Agency, and government departments in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. On the industry side, it counts Chevron, Shell, and Aramco among notable customers.
In July, GHGSat received approval to share methane emissions data for scientific research through NASA’s Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition program.
According to the 2024 Global Methane Budget report by the Global Carbon Project, atmospheric methane levels have risen over the past five years at their fastest rate since records began in the 1970s.
But while cutting methane emissions offers immediate climate benefits, addressing carbon dioxide remains a long-term challenge requiring systemic changes across energy, industry and transportation sectors.
GHGSat plans to expand its monitoring capabilities to include carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, driven by growing customer demand and the need for comprehensive climate data solutions.
Emerging Space Company: AST SpaceMobileDirect-to-smartphone hopeful hits its stride.
A Block 1 BlueBird spans about 64 square meters, featuring the largest solar array commercially deployed to low Earth orbit. A Block 2 BlueBird would be nearly 3.5 times larger to improve performance. Credit: AST SpaceMobileAST SpaceMobile’s journey to the forefront of direct-to-smartphone satellite connectivity has been anything but smooth.
After going public in April 2021 through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), the company faced intense market skepticism that sent its shares plummeting. Supply chain challenges further delayed its first Block 1 BlueBird satellites, and the broader decline in SPAC performance threatened to derail its plans.
Early 2024 marked a turning point. Prepayments from AT&T and Verizon for early access to AST SpaceMobile’s constellation reignited investor confidence, pushing its stock to new heights. The company leveraged this momentum to raise capital, advance production, and secure launches for its upgraded Block 2 BlueBird satellites.
Now, AST SpaceMobile plans to deploy up to 60 satellites by the end of 2026 under a new multi-launch deal, moving closer to its goal of delivering continuous 5G services directly to smartphones across the United States. Analysts have called the emerging direct-to-smartphone market the biggest opportunity in satellite communications history.
Partnerships with AT&T and Verizon have bolstered AST SpaceMobile’s position as it seeks regulatory approval to offer beta services from the five Block 1 BlueBirds launched in September. These partnerships highlight the potential of direct-to-smartphone connectivity, which eliminates the need for specialized devices by enabling standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites.
While competitors like SpaceX and Apple are also pursuing space-enabled mobile connectivity, AST SpaceMobile’s focus on delivering 5G services sets it apart. SpaceX, working with T-Mobile, recently demonstrated its capability by restoring connectivity in hurricane-affected areas. Apple’s current iPhone-only Globalstar-enabled service is limited to emergency text messaging, with future constellation plans still under development.
AST SpaceMobile’s vision extends beyond intermittent texting to full-scale voice and data streaming. Achieving this requires a dense constellation of satellites and overcoming significant technical and regulatory hurdles, including concerns about interference with terrestrial networks.
The company’s upcoming Block 2 BlueBird satellites, slated for launch starting in mid-2025, represent a major performance leap. These satellites will feature antennas nearly four times the size of Block 1’s and in-house chips capable of delivering 10 gigahertz of processing bandwidth per satellite — 10 times their predecessors’ capacity. With peak data rates of 120 megabits per second (Mbps), Block 2 BlueBirds aim to turn the promise of the direct-to-smartphone market into reality.
To support this expansion, AST SpaceMobile has booked a significant portion of its Block 2 satellites on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, which is large enough to deploy eight Block 2 satellites at a time. However, New Glenn has yet to make its maiden flight, adding uncertainty to AST SpaceMobile’s deployment schedule.
AST SpaceMobile faces ongoing challenges, including rising production and launch costs. The company has applied for financing through the U.S. Export-Import Bank to address these expenses.
The competitive landscape also adds pressure. SpaceX has launched over 100 Starlink satellites equipped for direct-to-smartphone services and has access to its own rockets for rapid expansion. Analysts note that while AST SpaceMobile is well-positioned, the market’s complexity and vast potential leave room for multiple players to thrive.
Founder and CEO Abel Avellan remains confident in AST SpaceMobile’s trajectory, pointing to the company’s technical advancements and strategic partnerships. “The New Glenn is designed to be reused 25 times, and there are multiple of them being built,” Avellan reassured analysts during a Nov. 14 earnings call.
Direct-to-smartphone satellite connectivity is widely regarded as one of the most significant opportunities in the history of satellite communications. By bridging gaps left by traditional ground-based infrastructure, this technology promises to redefine how people stay connected.
AST SpaceMobile’s ambitious plan to deploy a full-scale 5G network in orbit reflects the growing demand for universal connectivity. While challenges remain, its ability to secure key partnerships, advance its technology, and raise critical funding positions it as a serious contender in this transformative market.
Educational Outreach and Advocacy: Students for the Exploration and Development of SpaceInspiring generations of space professionals through innovation and community.
tudents for the Exploration and Development of Space, Texas A&M Chapter, undergoing launch certification testing at the South Texas Regional Airport. Credit: Texas A&M SEDSFor more than four decades, the nonprofit Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) has exposed tens of thousands of graduate, undergraduate, and high school students to the space sector. Alums of SEDS, the world’s largest student-run space organization, work in government agencies and research organizations and provide talent for established companies and startups.
The founders of Advanced Space, Astranis, Blue Origin, Brooke Owens Fellowship, the International Space University (ISU), Outpost, Patti Grace Smith Fellowship, Space Adventures, XPrize Foundation, Zed Factor Fellowship, and Zero Gravity Corp. are SEDS alumni. As is Jeff Foust, SpaceNews senior staff writer. Foust participated in SEDS at the California Institute of Technology and served as SEDS USA co-chair while earning a PhD in planetary sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
SEDS was founded in 1980 with chapters at MIT, Princeton University and Yale University to expose students to the breadth of the space sector and connect them with space projects and professionals. National organizations, including SEDS USA, and SEDS International followed.
“SEDS was a beacon to like-minded students around the world who wanted to pursue careers in space,” said Bob Richards, SEDS Canada, SEDS International, Moon Express, and ISU co-founder.
In recent years, SEDS USA has expanded its vision.
“All our competitions at the national level bring in students from business, the liberal arts, chemistry and other majors to bring home the idea that space is for everyone,” said Sara Alvarado, SEDS USA executive director.
From left: Bob Richards, Peter Diamandis and Todd Hawley with Sir Arthur Clarke (seated) at Clarke’s home office in Columbo, Sri Lanka. Credit: Students for the Exploration and Development of Space“Chapters are no longer just building rockets,” said Theodore Courtois, chair of the SEDS USA board of directors. “They’re starting astrobiology projects. They’re doing K through 12 outreach programs. Or they’re doing research on building a Mars gateway or recreating the program management schedule of the International Space Station’s construction.”
Asia, Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East have active SEDS chapters with their own strategies and priorities. In Nepal, SEDS links space enthusiasts throughout the country. SEDS Canada works closely with the Canadian Space Agency and the National Research Council of Canada. SEDS India’s 15 chapters help students “meet like-minded people and grow as a community,” said Arjun Raizada, SEDS India chair.
Many SEDS organizations offer scholarships and hold annual conferences, where students network with space-sector professionals and take part in workshops and competitions.
“I absolutely would not have had a career in aerospace if not for SEDS,” Will Pomerantz, AeroVironment head of space ventures and former Virgin Orbit vice president, said by email. “I entered college with no plans to work in space, nor really any knowledge there was an actual space industry to work in beyond the seemingly super-human role of astronaut. By lucky coincidence, I found myself at an introductory meeting of my college’s SEDS chapter early in my freshman year.”
Through SEDS, Pomerantz learned of his first space internship and eventual graduate school program.
“With active chapters around the country, SEDS is as strong as ever,” Pomerantz said. “It keeps the heart blood of our industry pumping.”
Honorees Rollcall: 2024 SpaceNews Icon Awards FinalistsThe SpaceNews Icon Awards celebrate the most iconic achievements in space exploration, innovation and sustainability. This year’s finalists exemplify the ingenuity and determination that define the space industry. Below are the honorees considered for this year’s awards.
Lifetime AchievementJean-Yves Le Gall: Advanced European space capabilities as leader of CNES and Arianespace, driving Ariane 5’s success.Simon “Pete” Worden: Pioneered reusable rocketry, championed smallsat innovation and led Breakthrough Initiatives in the search for life.
Individual AchievementCarissa Christensen: Led BryceTech in delivering space insights and mentoring future leaders.Steve Isakowitz: Strengthened national security space as CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, with leadership roles at NASA and Virgin Galactic.
International CollaborationArctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM): Delivered secure Arctic broadband via a multinational partnership.Intelsat: Advanced global connectivity through a 5G collaboration with SoftBank.
Mission ExcellenceCAPSTONE Team (Advanced Space): Operated the first commercial cubesat at the moon, advancing lunar navigation.Hera: ESA asteroid mission advancing planetary defense research.
Commercial Space AchievementStarlink: Expanded global connectivity and direct-to-cell mobile services, supporting disaster response.Umbra: Delivered high-resolution SAR imagery with strategic partnerships.
Technology AchievementNASA Deep Space Optical Communications: Demonstrated high-bandwidth laser communications with the Psyche spacecraft.Orbital Sidekick: Delivered hyperspectral imagery for critical infrastructure monitoring.
Space Safety and SecurityATLAS Space Operations: Enhanced secure satellite communications with integrated networks.Millennium Space: Advanced missile warning capabilities with innovative MEO satellites.
Sustainability and Environmental ImpactAstroscale: Demonstrated orbital debris remediation with the ADRAS-J mission.Northrop Gumman’s SpaceLogistics: Extended satellite lifespans with the Mission Extension Pod.
Emerging Space CompanyAstranis: Expanded affordable broadband with innovative MicroGEO satellites.Impulse Space: Demonstrated advanced orbital transfer capabilities for rapid-response missions.
Educational Outreach and AdvocacySpace Generation Advisory Council: Engaged young professionals worldwide in space policy and industry collaboration.U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation: Awarded scholarships to nurture geospatial and space talent.
This article first appeared in the December 2024 issue of SpaceNews Magazine.