In January, I attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Among other things, the tremendous opportunities within the new space economy were discussed at multiple panels and in private conversations I had with attendees from governments and the commercial sector. Part of the conversation was around the results of the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer, which found trust in institutions on a precipitous downward trend. While the decline in trust was concerning news, the increasing interest and enthusiasm about emerging space technologies a steep uptick in interest even compared with last year was quite validating to the Maxar strategy. Last year, the discussions were about how space technologies could impact industry, governments and the global society at large. This year, the conversation was about how space technologies are currently impacting society and beyond.
Another point of interest, which I wrote about in my previous blog, was that according to the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer survey, 64 percent of respondents said they look to business, rather than to government, to lead positive change. I had the honor of participating in the WEF Aerospace Governors Meeting, where leaders discussed the opportunities and challenges in our industry in deep space exploration, Earth observation and satellite communications―all segments served by Maxar’s end-to-end capabilities. PC Magazine called out the new economy space panel as one of the most interesting and important of this year’s World Economic Forum. (Watch it here.)
Maxar Technologies is positioned precisely in the right place at the right time. We exist at that nexus of the burgeoning new space economy and in this era where trust matters. We are the industry leader in many commercial space technologies, a disruptor with our end-to-end capabilities, from space systems, to autonomous robotics, to our massive archive of imagery and data growing daily, and our use of machine learning and AI. We are also a purpose-driven organization focused on enabling our customers and unlocking insights. We exist to create the connections and intelligence that power a better world.
Here are just a few examples of how we unlock infinite possibilities, advance our purpose and are a source of truth and “quality, expert-driven information.”
DigitalGlobe sponsored a GBDX Sustainability Challenge to solicit bold ideas of how to use our Geospatial Big Data platform (GBDX) in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. (Read about the winners here.)
Radiant Solutions was asked to support a relief operation in October to deliver critical supplies to remote areas of Puerto Rico weeks after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. The team synthesized geospatial, elevation and human geography data from multiple sources, including campaigns on our Tomnodcrowdsourcing platform where volunteers tagged blocked roads, debris and infrastructure. And within 48 hours of the request, the team determined safe ground-travel routes and helicopter landing zones to enable the mission. (Read more here.)
In December, MDA posted RADARSAT-2 imagery of areas in Southern California affected by wildfires. Access to this imagery provided decision-makers with critical information about damage caused by the fires. (More information on the MDA website.)
Maxar takes a news bureau approach to sharing credible data with the media. (Read the press release.) We recently provided Associated Press reporters with imagery for context and visual evidence that corroborated first-hand reports and ground photos of previously unknown mass graves containing hundreds of murdered Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. (Read the AP stories here and here.)
SSL-built communications satellites were launched in 2015 and 2016 to bring high-speed internet to residents of remote, rural areas of Australia not served by other communications alternatives. The “Sky Muster” service provides fast broadband to hundreds of thousands of households and businesses, and enables reliable access to real-time online medical assistance and education. This videoshows how two children living on a remote sheep station in Gum Creek, South Australia attend school online and go on virtual fieldtrips thanks to the communications enabled by Sky Muster.
Next up, I will write more about our individual space brands and how together we are changing the commercial center of gravity for the space industry.
If you have a comment or question, I’d like to hear from you. Send me a note at SPACEO@maxar.com.
SpaceView is CEO Howard Lance’s regular blog series about Maxar Technologies and how its four industry-leading commercial space brands are unlocking the connections and intelligence that Build a Better World.