[SatNews] At a networking event hosted by Hogan Lovells on May 20 in Menlo Park, California, the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) officially launched a new chapter of the nonprofit association serving the “new space and satellite” industry in northern California. Like all SSPI chapters and affiliates around the world, SSPI Silicon Valley will provide members with opportunities to advance their careers through information sharing, outreach and professional networking in an informal social setting.
The inaugural event, for which SatNews served as media partner, included a meet-and-greet with industry leaders and a focused discussion of SSPI’s Better Satellite World campaign. Executives from a broad range of SSPI sponsors and supporters were in attendance.
“Our newest Chapter in Silicon Valley is a natural and most welcome fit for the Society,” said SSPI Chairman Chris Stott. “The energy at the event was palpable; networking at its best. You know the timing is right when you can’t believe we hadn’t done this sooner. An awesome new chapter bringing together our long standing and new satellite communities in the Valley.”
The launch event was endorsed by SSPI sponsors Arianespace, ASC Signal, Boeing, Eutelsat, Globecomm, Hughes, Intelsat, ManSat, Omnispace, Orbital ATK, SES, SSL, ViviSat, Telesat and Willis-InSpace, as well as many organizations not yet affiliated with the society.
“I am very excited to serve as a founding member and the interim President of the Silicon Valley chapter of the SSPI,” said Sean Casey, Founder of the Silicon Valley Space Center. “The valley has seen the rise of several entrepreneurial satellite companies including Skybox, Planet Labs, Spire, Satellogic, Aquila Space, and Deep Space Industries. In addition, we have seen venture investments in upcoming satellite launch providers and new satellite data analysis firms. With many established aerospace companies in Silicon Valley like Space Systems Loral, Boeing, Lockheed, and Northrop Grumman, a very healthy space-faring eco-system is taking root. Our new chapter members welcome the opportunity to join the global engineering, science, and finance community that SSPI represents and plan to support international activities from within our local Silicon Valley chapter.”
The Silicon Valley Chapter joins five other existing Chapters of SSPI located in the United States: the Northeast Chapter (serving the New York City metro area), the Mid-Atlantic Chapter (serving the Washington DC metro area), the Rocky Mountain Chapter (serving the Denver, Colorado metro area), the Southeast Chapter (serving the Atlanta Metro Area) and the Southern California Chapter (serving the Los Angeles metro area). Other international chapters and affiliates include the SSPI Brazil (serving Rio-Sao Paulo), the Isle of Man chapter, SSPI Japan (serving the Tokyo metro area), SSPI Nigeria and the Singapore Space and Technology Association Affiliate. For a full list of local chapters, visit. More information about the SSPI Silicon Valley Chapter can be found here.
The Society of Satellite Professionals International promotes the growth of the satellite by educating current and potential end-users and the general public about the indispensable contributions of satellites to business, government and human welfare, and by connecting satellite professionals worldwide through education, knowledge-sharing and fostering professional relationships. Publisher of the only international study of the satellite workforce, SSPI also leads a consortium of industry associations and organizations to promote the ways satellites make a better world.