Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #WSBW
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Big launch panel coming up at #WSBW, with executives from Arianespace, Blue Origin, ILS, MHI, SpaceX and ULA.
SpaceX’s Tom Ochinero: trying to get to a little over 60 launches this year, and 100 next year. Includes 6 Falcon Heavy launches in next 12 months.
Tiphaine Louradour, ILS: both the US and Russian governments could choose to end ILS if they chose, but we believe they recognize this venture has value. (But who will buy Proton launches these days?)
In a #WSBW finance panel, Peter Cannito of Redwire Space says a drop in valuations of space companies “creates an opportunity for companies like ours” that has acquired such companies in the past.
Vaibhav Lohiya, Deutsche Bank Securities: consolidation for the sector is good; helps companies reduce and rationalize capital expenditures. Also growing interest in vertical integration to secure their supply chains. #WSBW
Lohiya, on rumors of an SES-Intelsat merger, notes it would make sense for rationalizing their fleets and reducing long-term capex. A challenge is that Intelsat is not considered “investment grade” given its recent Ch. 11 restructuring. #WSBW
European Space Agency director general @AschbacherJosef:
"We are having completely new sectors of technologies that are coming to the surface" in the space business, accelerated by everything from venture capital to public institutions like ESA. #WSBW
"We are having completely new sectors of technologies that are coming to the surface" in the space business, accelerated by everything from venture capital to public institutions like ESA. #WSBW
@AschbacherJosef Aschbacher: ESA has to be "much faster" and "more dynamic" in the way it interacts with businesses, noting that investment and growth in the space industry "has really been driven forward by the U.S."
@AschbacherJosef Aschbacher: "We have to really adjust significantly the way how we do business with this new space world -- and believe me, I'm very determined to make this happen."
SpaceX’s Jonathan Hofeller says in a World Satellite Business Week panel that they’ve gotten a “super positive” response so far to the Starlink beta test. Preparing to expand into other countries, starting with Canada. #WSBW
Michael Schwartz, Telesat: we want to emulate fiber as much as possible. Spent a lot of time burning down risks. Will announce vendor for the satellites later this year. #WSBW
Hofeller: we decided to go direct to consumer with Starlink, but we will keep an open mind about third-party relationships as we grow internationally. #WSBW
Israël also skeptical about a purely commercial market for “microlaunchers”, noting Rocket Lab’s work with US Gov’t agencies: If they were relying only on commercial market, they would have a problem with the business case. #WSBW
Mowry: we’re responding to customer demand with New Glenn, and they want to fill its 7-meter payload fairing to launch dozens of satellites at a time. #WSBW
Shotwell: despite operating our own constellation, would love to get launch business from Telesat LEO and other constellations. #WSBW
Up next at #WSBW: a launch panel with SpaceX, ULA, Arianespace, ILS, Blue Origin and MHI. Should be interesting…
SpaceX’s Gwynne Shotwell: had a great win rate on satellite launch competitions this year. Perhaps demand for connectivity will stimulate more satellite and launch orders. #WSBW
ULA’s Tory Bruno: we’ve sold more than 30 Vulcan launches already. Progress on the vehicle is going great. #WSBW
Panel of satellite operators CEOs at #WSBW is largely optimistic about their businesses; pandemic has demonstrated the importance of broadband, they argue, and satellite’s role as a provider.
Intelsat’s Steve Spengler says everything “on track” right now to meet accelerated clearing milestone for C-band spectrum; he expects FCC to commence auction of that spectrum for 5G on Dec. 8. #WSBW
Hughes Network Systems CEO Pradman Kaul says he expects OneWeb (in which Hughes is an investor) to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a couple weeks. #WSBW
