As part of our special coverage of the 34th Annual Small Satellite Conference, SpaceNews is doing daily webinars Aug. 3-6 to bring you live newsmaker interviews, panel discussions and reporter roundtables in order to help bring you the full SmallSat experience (minus the Aggie’s ice cream, unfortunately).

All “SN @ SmallSat” webinars start at 11 a.m.  Eastern/ 9 a.m. Mountain

Monday, Aug. 3 |  Launch industry panel + SmallSat  preview

Tuesday, Aug. 4 | Blackjack: DARPA’s Big Bet on Small Satellites

Wednesday, Aug. 5 | Innovation in National Security Space: Smallsats in the Future Architecture

Thursday, Aug. 6 | SmallSat builders panel + SmallSat wrap-up

Launch industry panel + SmallSat  preview

Monday, Aug. 3, 11 a.m Eastern/9 a.m. Mountain

SpaceNews Senior Staff Writer Jeff Foust talks with executives of several launch companies about the state of the smallsat launch sector. Panelists include:

  • Peter Beck, CEO of Rocket Lab
  • Brad Schneider, chief revenue officer of Firefly Aerospace
  • Dan Hart, CEO of Virgin Orbit

The webinar begins with a brief interview with SmallSat conference organizer Marianne Sidwell about how to get the most out of this year’s virtual Small Satellite Conference.

The session concludes with a SpaceNews reporter roundtable about what to expect in the week ahead.

Blackjack: DARPA’s Big Bet on Small Satellites

TUESDAY, AUG. 4, 11 a.m Eastern/9 a.m. Mountain

DARPA’s Blackjack program plans to build a network with as many as 20 satellites to demonstrate a proliferated LEO constellation that the U.S. military will use to communicate, share data and detect targets.

Blackjack Deputy Program Manager Stephen Forbes will discuss the latest developments in a SpaceNews webinar moderated by National Security Reporter Sandra Erwin.

Forbes will be followed by an all-industry panel featuring executives from companies that are developing, producing and integrating technologies for the Blackjack program.

  • Bill Schum, Blue Canyon Technologies
  • Eric Goodman,  Lockheed Martin
  • Andrew Berg, Loft Orbital
  • Jason Kim, Raytheon Intelligence & Space

Among the questions this webinar will explore:

  • How is DARPA leveraging commercial smallsat technology in the Blackjack program?
  • What are the next critical steps in the program leading up to a demonstration in 2022?
  • How are companies collaborating under DARPA’s “plug and play” approach to building satellites?

Innovation in National Security Space: Smallsats in the Future Architecture

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5, 11 a.m Eastern/9 a.m. Mountain

The Space and Missile Systems Center, the technology arm of the U.S. Space Force, is where the next generation of military space systems are being designed and developed.

SMC Portfolio Architect Col. Russell Teehan and Director of Innovation and Prototyping Col. Joseph Roth will discuss the future of the national security space architecture and future capabilities in a conversation with Sandra Erwin, SpaceNews national security reporter.

The webinar will explore the following topics:

  • What is the SMC Portfolio Architect’s role in designing an integrated space architecture?
  • How do proliferated LEO systems fit into the architecture?
  • What are SMC’s plans to partner with commercial, allied and government agencies?
  • What are some new experimentation and prototyping approaches SMC is using to develop satellites and concepts for more resilient constellations?

Download SMC’s slides from the Aug. 5 webinar »

Sponsored by

Building Small Satellites for Big Missions + SmallSat Wrap-up

Thursday, Aug. 6, 11 a.m Eastern/9 a.m. Mountain

SpaceNews Staff Writer Caleb Henry and Silicon Valley correspondent Debra Werner lead a panel discussion with a cross section of smallsat builders. Panelists include:

  • Marco Villa, Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems COO
  • Brian Rider, LeoStella CTO
  • F. Brent Abbott, NanoAvionics US CEO
  • Craig Clark, AAC Clyde Space founder and chief strategy officer
  • Tim Lynch, L3Harris Technologies Space and Airborne Systems Multi-Domain Architecture Group executive director
  • Chester Gillmore, Planet vice president of spacecraft development and manufacturing

The webinar concludes with a 15-minute SpaceNews reporters roundtable on key takeaways from this year’s Small Satellite Conference.

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