The Growing Need for Space Sustainability: Satellite Servicing's Role

The UK Space Agency and Secure World Foundation looked ahead to the Space Sustainability Summit, due to be held in London in June 2022. In this Salon, the focus was on the key topic of satellite servicing.  Speakers from across the sector discussed how industry and government can work together to develop new capabilities like active debris removal, life extension or orbital manufacturing, and their importance to a sustainable space economy.

Speakers

• Dr. Paul Bate, CEO, United Kingdom Space Agency: Dr. Paul Bate has been CEO of the UK Space Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), since September 2021. Prior to this, Paul was Vice President, Commercial at Babylon Health, working with healthcare organizations in the NHS and across the world. Before that, he was the Executive Director of Strategy and Intelligence at the Care Quality Commission. As a civil servant, he was the policy adviser for health and adult care for the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 – 2013. Paul has a PhD in Particle Physics. The UK Space Agency’s Chief Executive leads a team of more than 250 who provide technical advice on government’s space strategy and guide the UK space sector to deliver government’s vision.
The UK Space Agency designs and delivers programmes that implement government’s strategy, including as a sponsor of national capabilities and an early-stage investor in space research and development. They promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements, make connections to join up industry and academia, and represent the UK in international space programmes.

• Dr. Clare Martin, Executive Vice President, Astroscale: Dr. Martin joined Astroscale U.S. in August 2019 as Executive Vice President. She brings many years of experience in space technology management, operations, and engineering to support the foundation and growth of Astroscale U.S.
Dr. Martin previously held the position of the Director, Orbital Solutions at General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS). She was responsible for the management and technical performance of the engineering staff and delivery of projects, including planning and managing technical and programmatic solutions to ensure quality, business, and financial objectives were met. Dr. Martin earned a Master of Science in astrophysics and a Doctorate in mathematics and computational sciences from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She loves to explore and adventure the mountains in Colorado.

• Ms. Ezinne Uzo-Okoro, Asst Director for Space Policy, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy:Ezinne Uzo-Okoro determines civil and commercial space policy priorities for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Her portfolio includes Orbital Debris, On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM), Earth Observations, Space Weather, Aeronautics, and Planetary Protection. In 17 years at NASA, she contributed to over 60 missions and programs – as an engineer, technical expert, manager and executive – in earth observations, planetary science, heliophysics, astrophysics, human exploration, and space communications, which represent $9.2B in total program value.
She holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and masters degrees in Space Systems, Space Robotics, and Science & Technology Policy, from Johns Hopkins University, MIT, and Harvard University, respectively. She is completing a PhD at MIT, on the robotic assembly of satellites. She founded Terraformers.com to grow affordable food through productive and networked backyard gardens, as a precursor to growing food in space. Her immigration story is profiled in President George W. Bush’s book, 'Out of Many, One'.

• Moderator: Ian Christensen, Director of Private Sector Programs, Secure World Foundation: Ian Christensen is Director of Private Sector Programs at Secure World Foundation and has eight years of professional experience as a consultant and analyst focused on international and domestic commercial space, satellite, and aviation markets. Prior to joining SWF, Mr. Christensen worked at leading space-sector consulting firms Futron Corporation and Avascent.  In these positions he managed or served in lead analysis roles on market, business planning, and forecasting studies for numerous commercial space sector clients in the United States, Israel, and Europe. For government clients, Ian has provided space-related strategic and analytic services for NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Government of Australia. Mr. Christensen has supported consulting engagements with clients in Australia, Israel, the Isle of Man, Japan, and South Korea; and led in-country work in Brazil, Burkina Faso, Europe, and Japan.

Media 

• White House releases in-space servicing strategy

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This event was by invitation only. For more information, contact Director of Space Applications Programs and Summit for Space Sustainability Chair, Krystal Azelton. 

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