Space Minds Gabe Zimmerman on customer needs and scaling SmallSat production
Aug 13, 2025
Gabe Zimmerman, Director of In-Space at Ursa Major, shares insights from the SmallSat Conference, emphasizing the industry's evolving priorities. He discusses balancing cost with reliability amidst supply chain challenges. Zimmerman highlights the importance of volume production and strategic vertical integration to meet growing satellite hardware demands. He also reflects on the rapid proliferation of SmallSats and the exciting potential of hybrid propulsion solutions, showcasing the need for collaboration to navigate the booming landscape of satellite technology.
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Reliability Trumps Small Cost Cuts
- Customers prioritize reliability over tiny cost savings and expect hardware to work consistently in space.
- Ursa Major emphasizes early testing and visible hardware to demonstrate real-world readiness.
Match Requirements To Hardware Capabilities
- Align mission requirements with existing hardware capabilities to avoid bespoke slow builds.
- Co-develop design and production processes to reduce lead times and leverage reusable hardware.
Prepare Production, Don't Just Buy Components
- Build production equipment and repeatable processes before demand surges to avoid long supplier lead times.
- Combine selective vertical integration with partner expertise to strengthen supply chains rather than owning everything.