Space Mission 1: Utah, Silicon Valley, LA

Space Mission 1 (8-14 August 2015), the first mission in the Space Mission UK series, saw 7 innovative UK entrepreneurs working in the space and nanosatellite applications sector attend the trade mission to the US visiting Utah, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles. The mission was supported by Innovate UK and DIT (UKTI), and organised by Chinwag.

 

 

Mission Programme

Saturday, 8th August

  • Flights London to Utah // arrive Logan

Sunday, 9th August

INFORMAL NETWORKING & MISSION BRIEF

    • Acclimatise, Taggart Student Center Campus accommodation

 

  • Informal brunch/ late lunch – location tbc

 

Monday, 10th August

WORKING LUNCH – JET PROPULSION LAB

  • 11.00 – 13.00:  NASA JPL Working Lunch, Edith Bowen Lab School (EBLS) 243

JPL grew up with the Space Age and helped bring it into being. It is a place where science, technology, and engineering intermix in unique ways: to produce iconic robotic space explorers sent to every corner of the solar system, to peer deep into the Milky Way galaxy and beyond, and to keep a watchful eye on our home planet. Analyzing the data pouring back from these machine emissaries, scientists around the world continue to discover how the universe, the solar system, and life formed and evolved.

AIAA/USU SMALL SATELLITE CONFERENCE

  • Afternoon: Small Satellite Conference (schedule), Taggart Student Center

Truly effective small satellite missions require success across multiple systems. These systems include: launch, satellite, payload, ground network, mission operations and data analysis. Over the past few decades, satellite mission and systems developers have made critical advancements in each of these areas. These advancements have proven the utility of small satellite missions in military, civilian, and commercial endeavors. The 29th AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites will explore the current state and future possibilities within the critical systems that support mission success.

Tuesday, 11th August

AIAA/USU SMALL SATELLITE CONFERENCE

Small Satellite Conference (schedule) – innovative technologies or full-up systems (hardware/software) for ground networks, mission operations centers, or science/data analysis centers that significantly advance mission utility. See full schedule for details of sessions available.

Evening: Transfer and flights to San Francisco

Wednesday, 12th August (Northern California)

LOCKHEED MARTIN COMPANY VISIT (schedule)

  • 11.00 – 14.00: Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center company visit, Lockheed Martin, Palo Alto

Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 112,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Delegates will meet with representatives of the Advanced Technology Center team and the corporate team.

O’REILLY ALPHATECH VENTURES VC ROUNDTABLE / PITCH

(schedule)

  • 15.30 – 17.30: Investment meeting – O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, San Francisco

O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures (OATV) is in the business of funding disruptors, innovators, and hackers of the status quo. Along with their partner, O’Reilly Media, they invest in the “alpha geeks” who explore technology for the fun of it. These relationships drive their investment themes at OATV, spanning data, Makers, the new networks of things, quantified self and the industrial internet. They are both excited and privileged to help entrepreneurs take the world from where it is today to where it should be tomorrow. OATV’s portfolio includes ground-breaking satellite application, Planet Labs.

Evening: Transfer and flights to LA

Thursday, 13th August (Southern California)

USC SPACE TECH BRIEFING &
ROUNDTABLES WITH LOCAL SPACE COMPANIES

(schedule)

  • 10.00 – 14.00 University of Southern California Working Lunch, Marina Del Rey, LA

Co-chaired by the British Consulate-General, Los Angeles and USC’s Space Engineering Research Center (SERC), this event is a chance for US and UK companies to express their views and thoughts on the state of the small satellite and space industry today.  Hosted by the USC SERC Director, Prof David Barnhart (Department of Astronautical Engineering), companies will have a chance to interact and provide direct perspectives on technology, markets and trends in small satellites today.  

Brief discussion on International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) – presented by Ministry of Defence (MOD), will help showcase collaboration between US and UK businesses and challenges faced to make this happen.

SPACE ANGELS PITCH EVENT

  • 16.00 – 18.00 Space Angels Network Investment Focus

Space Angels Network is a global network of accredited investors, focused specifically on aerospace startups. Space Angels offers insider access to the emerging private space industry and sophisticated investment opportunities across diverse market segments, with the expertise and network connections to cultivate stellar returns on investment.

NETWORKING RECEPTION

 

  • 18.00 – 21.30: Networking Reception – Space Mission & invited guests, Hyatt Regency Century Plaza

Friday, 14th August

VIRGIN GALACTIC COMPANY VISIT

(schedule)

  • 09.30 – 13.30: Company Visit – Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic is comprised of hundreds of dedicated and passionate professionals — including rocket scientists, engineers, and designers from around the world — united in creating something new and lasting: the world’s first commercial spaceline. A spaceline for Earth. Our team brings decades of experience from organizations like NASA, traditional aerospace firms, and other Virgin companies. We are here because we believe we are at the vanguard of a new space industry that is defining the future of exploration and that we will ultimately make space accessible to more people and for more purposes than ever before. It is a large and difficult undertaking; but through our efforts, we believe we can help inspire future generations and make it possible to see the beautiful planet we call home from a new perspective.

  • PM: Return to UK

 

For information on the companies who attended, see the Space Mission 1 Companies Page