Satellite Innovation is inviting new startups for four minute presentation slots. After the four minutes, our moderator will ask a few questions that with he or the audience feels need an answer. Any innovative new startup that can benefit the satellite industry is of definite interest.
Dr. Bryan Benedict
Dr. Bryan Benedict serves as Senior Director of Innovation & Spacecraft Programs at SES Government Solutions. During his career he has worked extensively within both the DoD and US Civil Agencies to socialize the advantages of hosting imaging payloads on commercial spacecraft. Additionally, Dr. Benedict has been a key advocate in the commercial industry for the use of space robotics for both recovery and life extension of geosynchronous satellites.
Prior to his current position Dr. Benedict served as the Product Line Manager for Commercial and Civil Hosted Payloads at Intelsat General Corporation, Director of Hosted Payloads at Intelsat, Director of Engineering for Satellite Bus & Launch Service Acquisitions at PanAmSat and was a System Engineering Manager at Hughes for the BSS601HP product line.
Dr. Benedict started his career as a chemical engineer in the petroleum industry – inventing and patenting several catalysts still used for stabilization of jet fuels. Dr. Benedict earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1986, where he conducted research on the stabilization of high energy materials within crystalline lattices.
Dr. Benedict has been awarded a number of patents throughout his career – the latest for delivery of microsatellites to orbit piggybacking on the nadir deck of geosynchronous communication satellites.
Stewart Bain
Stewart, an engineer and business development specialist, has been at the forefront of commercializing disruptive aeronautical and space technologies since 1996. Stewart was part of the original engineering design team for RadarSat 1 and 2, and created the optical systems center of excellence at CAL Corporation (now Honeywell).
Over the past 7 years, Stewart has been leading the development of NorthStar, the world’s firstcomprehensive Earth & Space information services platform.
He holds an MBA from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and a Master of Engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa in Canada.
Alexandros Christou
Space Talos is developing a practical active shielding device that protects satellite electronics from space radiation. This technology can reduce total ionisation dosage and allow more applications to use commercial off the shelf electronics and sensors in radiation-heavy environments; a current limitation of the industry.
Negar Feher
Negar Feher is the VP of Product and Business Development at Momentus — a pioneering newspace company providing shuttle service for small satellites. Feher holds an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford University and has over a decade of experience in the space industry, having been instrumental in establishing services that support both newspace startups and legacy players. Momentus has recently announced supporting services for NanoRacks as well as orbital repositioning aboard the first SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare.
Ron Lopez
Ron joined Astroscale as Managing Director in April 2019 to lead the company’s business operations in the United States.
Ron brings over 25 years of government and industry experience, encompassing systems engineering, program management, sales and marketing, technology/research and development management, and strategy formulation.
Ron started his career as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Air Force, serving as the focal point for Space Situational Awareness capability development at Air Force Space Command’s Space Control Division. He then joined Boeing and worked on various
programs as a Systems Engineering Manager within Boeing Research & Technology and Phantom Works and led business development activities for the Network & Space Systems division throughout the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining Astroscale, Ron led
the Defense & Space Asia Pacific sales team at Honeywell Aerospace, helping the company achieve significant sales growth and expansion into new markets.
Over half of Ron’s career has been spent working and living in Japan, and he is an active member of The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation’s U.S.-Japan Space Forum.
Ron earned a Bachelor of Science from The United States Air Force Academy in 1993.
Jim Simpson
Mr. Simpson, a 38-year veteran in the aerospace industry, is the CEO for Saturn Satellite Networks Inc with the objective to provide economical space communications at the “Nation-Country” level. Prior to joining Saturn, he was CEO for ABS Satellites, SVP-Strategy forAerojet Rocketdyne, and VP-Business Development and Strategy for Network and Space Systems at Boeing whereduring his 35-years also served as the President of Boeing Satellite Systems Int’l Inc..