Space Sustainability Challenges - Episode 56 - Audrey Schaffer, VP of Strategy and Policy at Slingshot Aerospace

In this episode of Satellite, Space & Defence Matters, brought to you by neuco, hosts Millie Hall and Laurie Scott are joined by Germán Castro, Head of Growth at Arcsec, a Belgian company developing high-accuracy Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) for small satellites and CubeSats.

In this episode of Satellite, Space & Defence Matters brought to you by neuco, hosts Callum Davis and Laurie Scott are joined by the full executive team of Finland's Aurora Propulsion Technologies: CEO Pekka Blomberg, Commercial Lead & CCO Aziza Ibrayeva, and CTO & Co-Founder Perttu Yli-Opas.

In episode 62 of Satellite, Space & Defence Matters, hosts Gia Thomas and Tom Wilding sit down with Dr Stephen Prior, founder of Hybrid Drones, for a story that runs from a DARPA competition win to one of the most capable heavy-lift drones in the UK, by way of a deeply personal beginning. Stephen discusses how a friendship with a rocket-propulsion colleague became a company, why competitions are the real test of any technology, what UK defence funding actually feels like for a five-person firm, and how the Hydra 400 is moving from R&D into commercial reality.

Laura LeMasurier and Clara Britton share how SES is building an inclusive, growth-driven culture following the merger with Intelsat. They discuss the four core values guiding the new SES, how the company fosters psychological safety and encourages smart risk-taking, what great leadership looks like in this transformation, and why diversity of thought is critical to innovation. This episode reveals the human side of SES's bold technological transformation.

Miquel Albiol takes us deep into payload innovation at SES, from digital beamforming technology enabling LEO-to-MIO data relay to the challenges of flying 5G base stations in space. He discusses how RF system requirements evolve across orbital regimes, the importance of engineers focusing on ultimate customer value, and exciting developments in optical communications, AI on-board processing, and software-defined satellites. This episode offers a technical deep-dive into the future of space communications. Key Topics Covered Digital beamforming breakthrough: Enabling LEO-to-MIO data relay for customer data 5G in space: The challenge of flying 5G base stations on every satellite RF evolution: How getting closer to Earth shifts focus from amplification to spectrum management Optical communications: Introducing hundreds of gigabits per second data transport in space Career advice: Don't focus excessively on standards - challenge them when they don't serve customer value Memorable Quotes "Last week we performed the first contact of LEO-MIO data relay. Our customer data is flying on board the LEO satellite and downloading through MIO to ground. That's possible thanks to digital beamforming technology." "The best engineers never lose focus of the ultimate objective: providing good service and maximizing value to your customers. Always challenge the requirements thinking about the ultimate objective." "Don't focus too much on meeting standards and following the rules. Use standards if they benefit you and the customer. In traditional space, meeting standards was maxima. If I had challenged that more, I would have delivered better products faster." About the Guest Miquel Albiol leads Space Systems and Payload Development at SES, where he's pushing the boundaries of what's possible in space communications. His expertise spans RF systems, digital beamforming, optical communications, and software-defined satellites. Miquel is passionate about challenging traditional aerospace standards when they don't serve ultimate customer objectives. He finds his happy place along the Mediterranean coast - Spain, France, Italy, or Greece - and enjoys Spanish music, particularly Arrutina.