Are Small Sats Still Small? Crossing the Gulf to Bigger Missions

Demo missions have been successful—so, what’s next?

Small sat companies now face the daunting task of bridging the gulf to larger, more complex missions. This transition raises a series of critical questions:

• Mission complexity: With a non-linear increase in satellite numbers, sizes, and customer demands, how can small sat companies keep up?
• Assurance and security: As missions scale, how do they ensure reliability and protect their systems?
• Trends in payload and fleet size: Are small sats redefining themselves as larger, more sophisticated platforms?
• Operations scaling: As operations become more complex, how can small sat companies scale up efficiently while maintaining cost-effectiveness and agility?
• Collaboration with traditional players: How has their relationship with established space companies evolved, and what role can these institutions play in helping new space companies cross the gulf to bigger missions?

Small sat makers are at a pivotal moment. To succeed, they must balance innovation with increased complexity, scale while maintaining agility, and build partnerships that can support larger ambitions.

This panel will explore the strategic moves needed to bridge this gap, offering insights that will inspire and challenge the audience.