
Constellations - Explore Space Network Technologies with Industry Leaders
Constellations is your connection to the innovators, business leaders, entrepreneurs and policy makers who are making—and remaking—today’s satellite and space networks.
Whether you’re in the industry or just have a desire to learn, this podcast is for you.
For more information and to subscribe to the biweekly newsletter go to www.ConstellationsMag.com
Latest episodes

Aug 2, 2023 • 25min
159 - Challenges with Geo-Registration, Advanced Remote Sensing and Utilizing AI
On the Constellations Podcast, we’ll discuss geo-registration incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve accuracy greatly. During this episode, Ken Campbell, President of Edgybees Incorporated, will talk about how geo-registration is aligning or matching digital maps and images to real-world locations on the Earth's surface. Ken talks about how crucial it is for navigation, remote sensing, and many other fields where precise location is essential. He describes ground control points and spatially referencing an image with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In addition, Ken addresses the ability to geo-registrate data into digitized maps or images for an accurate picture and location of where things are.

Jul 19, 2023 • 28min
158 - Space-Based Networking Infrastructure, Broadband Communication Ecosystem and the Speed of Light Is Too Slow
On the Constellations Podcast, we’ll discuss how future satellite, cellular, and Wi-Fi communication technology might evolve. During this episode, David Witkowski will talk about the evolving communication ecosystem. Hear David describe how the IEEE is considering satellite in the development of future releases of the 3GPP standard and how satellite broadband is already helping to close the digital divide. LEO broadband has already begun serving ground networks and David raises concerns about the network's capacity, and whether or not the LEO network can handle that amount of traffic.

Jul 5, 2023 • 29min
157 - Space investors, the Emergence of ChatGPT and the First Open-Source War
The past two years have been rocky for space investors. Matt O’Connell, operating partner at Data Collective Venture Capital, explains what caused this pause in space investment, and more importantly, what we should expect going forward. Matt will also discuss what space investors are looking for, and how those seeking investment can improve their investment pitches. He’ll also discuss the applications that will drive the market in 2023 and beyond, ChatGPT, AI, and the impact of government spending on the health of the space industry.

Jun 21, 2023 • 27min
156 - Big Demand, Smallsat Manufacturing and New Satellite Services
The smallsat industry is growing by leaps and bounds. Euroconsult estimates that one ton per day of smallsats will be launched on average over the next ten years. With this insatiable demand in the market, how is the manufacturing of smallsats keeping pace? To shed some light on this question, we have with us today, Mike Kaplan, the Vice President of Business Development for LeoStella, a specialized satellite constellation design and manufacturing company. Mike is an expert across multiple space domains with extensive experience in both government and commercial industries, previously holding senior leadership positions at NASA, Boeing, Raytheon Technologies, Ball Aerospace, and Space Systems Loral.

Jun 6, 2023 • 34min
155 – Facing Natural Disasters, Endless Grit and Closing the Digital Divide in APAC
Fifty-six spot beams, 25 countries, and 600 million people – with even more performance and capacity on the horizon. These are the numbers supported by next-gen satellite operator, Kacific, in their mission to close the digital divide by providing universal, fast, high-quality low-cost broadband access across the Asia Pacific (or APAC) region. Until 2020, there were millions of people in the region with little or no access to the Internet. Hear Christian Patouraux as he discusses the technology it takes to connect the unconnected within APAC.

May 24, 2023 • 23min
154 – Space Sustainability, International Collaboration and Commercial Partnerships
On this Constellations Podcast we’ll discuss space sustainability, what it means and how it is changing. During this episode, Dr. Brian Weeden, Director of Program Planning, Secure World Foundation will discuss working with governments, industry, international organization and others to hopefully avoid conflicts in space, supporting a safer, more sustainable space environment. Hear Dr. Weeden talk about the number of constellations currently in space and the role commercial industry has played in managing over 7,000 payloads. He raises concerns regarding how different constellations will operate close to each other and how they will interface - especially if they each have their own autonomous maneuvering systems. Dr. Weeden discusses the commercial industry offering more diversified sources of data collection and more information into how space awareness data is generated. With different objectives than the military, there is more transparency in the commercial industry.

May 10, 2023 • 28min
153 – Nanosatellites, IoT over Satellite and 5G IoT solving Industry Problems
We know that we can use satellite earth observation technology to better understand our world – but now it seems possible to leverage satellites to maximize operational efficiency across multiple industries. In this Constellations Podcast, we are joined by Sateliot CEO Jaume Sanpera to discuss nanosatellites, the evolution of IoT over satellite, and how 5G IoT can solve big problems in the agriculture, transportation, energy industries and more all over the world.

Apr 26, 2023 • 25min
152 – Mainstreaming Satcom, Convergence with Telco and Connectivity Everywhere
In the past satellites have often been viewed by telecom service providers as a last resort of transport. As satellite looks to move from being a niche application that holds 1% of the telecom market to becoming a mainstream part of the global telecom eco-system where there is a growing move towards convergence. In this Constellations podcast, a panel of experts will discuss the opportunities, challenges and new business approaches taken by satellite and teleport operators to deepen integration with terrestrial telecommunications providers.

Apr 12, 2023 • 36min
151 - Terrestrial Networks in Space, Inter-Satellite Optical Links and Free Space Optics
With billions of new devices coming online, satellite and network connectivity will become increasingly more complex and our expectations more demanding. In this episode of Constellations, we will look at what it will take to enable the new connectivity of the future. Our guests today are Rivada Space Networks' Chief Program Officer, Clemens Kaiser and Chief Commercial Officer, Ronald van der Breggen. Rivada is in the process of building a space network comprised of satellites linked by optical satellite technology. Our guests discuss the growth of optical technology and what it means for satellite data networks, the role of optical inter-satellite links in creating a space network, the trade-off between optical and RF technology and the implications of optical communications on satellite ground stations.

Mar 29, 2023 • 26min
150 - Virtual Signal Processing, Software-Defined Satellite Terminals and the Evolution of the Network Edge
Digitally transformative technologies have been making their way across the satellite industry. From the core to gateways, in orbit and on the ground – there’s no denying that space communications is starting to become more like space IT. Hear a panel of experts from XipLink, Kratos, and NSR, an Analysys Mason company, discuss how digital transformation is changing satellite communications at the remote terminal also known as “the edge.”