It is a very complex process to book a launch (solo or rideshare), get payloads ready for launch, meet requirements, get licensed and insured, integrate with launch vehicles, manage delays, retain optionality to re-manifest to other launch vehicles, obtain an orbital transfer vehicle for preferred-orbit delivery, arrange for ground station services, etc.
Lou Zacharilla
Louis A. Zacharilla is Director of Innovation for Space & Satellite Professionals International www.sspi.org the world’s largest trade association for professionals in the commercial space and satellite community.
Mr..Zacharilla serves as strategist where he initiates new events and programs for the SSPI franchise. Mr. Zacharilla created the popular Better Satellite World campaign and hosts the popular Better Satellite World podcast. www.bettersatelliteworld.com
He has written hundreds of articles for trade and business publications, appears in the media regularly, moderates industry panels (like this one) and is co-author of three books, including Brain Gain.
He runs the monthly New York Space Business Roundtable in alliance with the New York Space Alliance.His company manages World Teleport Association www.worldteleport.org the industry trade association for teleport and ground segment operators where he founded and hosts the annual Teleport Awards for Excellence Luncheon in Washington.
He is co-founder of the Intelligent Community Forum think tank, which accelerates the relationship between broadband communications and economic growth among communication companies and smart cities.
Mr. Zacharilla holds a Masters Degree from the University of Notre Dame (USA) and lives in New York City.
Curt Blake
Curt Blake is president of Spaceflight’s launch services group and previously served as senior vice president and general counsel. Curt has led efforts to expand Spaceflight’s global network of launch service providers while building relationships with key commercial-, civilian- and defense-related customers. Over the last several years, Curt oversaw the company’s growth from its early commercial rideshare launches on the Antares and Soyuz vehicles to become the industry’s rideshare leader and the world’s first commercial spaceline.
Curt brings more than 25 years of executive experience in high-growth and tech industries, with past experience including a range of senior executive and general counsel roles at Microsoft, Starwave, Corbis and Aldus. He’s a current and active board member of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and the Seattle-based Pacific Science Center, as well as a contributor to numerous small-satellite conferences.
Growing up in Thailand and Ethiopia, Curt is a student of the world and still enjoys traveling for work and pleasure (but don’t ask him to take a middle seat).
Tom Choi
Thomas Choi is the founder and Executive Chairman of Saturn Satellite Networks and Curvalux. Mr. Choi was the Founder and CEO of ABS, a global satellite operator. Mr. Choi also is the founder and CEO of Speedcast, a global service provider. Mr Choi started his career in Aerospace at Rockwell International as a member of the Technical Staff and he was a marketing executive for Hughes Communications Incorporated. Mr. Choi has won the prestigious Via Satellite’s Satellite Executive of the Year Award in 2012. In 2017 Mr. Choi was inducted into SSPI’s Satellite Hall of Fame. Mr. Choi has degrees in Aerospace Engineering and MBA from the University of Southern California.
John Conafay
John Conafay is a Veteran of the United States Air Force and Co-Founder + CEO of Integrate Space Corporation. Conafay has been an early employee and interned at three space unicorns and is deeply familiar with both the launch and demand sides of the new space economy. Most recently, Conafay was Head of Business Development at ABL Space Systems leading the sale of launch services to Amazon Kuiper and onboarding to OSP-4. Prior to ABL, he was Director of Business Development at Spaceflight Inc., Business Development and Operations Manager at Astranis, Business Development Associate at BryceTech, and interned at Spire Global while Executive Director for Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, USA.
Kier Fortier
Raul Verdu
Raúl Verdú is Co-founder and COO of PLD SPACE with training in Industrial Engineering and more than 10 years of experience. Â
Spanish Scientific Asociation Plaque of Honor and recognized by the American association KAIROS SOCIETY as one of the 100 most influential entrepreneurs in the world.