Inaugural Event To Be Held June 8th

ATLAS Space Operations has announced the confirmation of panelists for the inaugural Michigan Space Forum being held June 8, 2018 at Northwestern Michigan College, in Traverse City, Michigan.

The Michigan Space Forum will host prominent speakers and panelists from the space and tech industries, including entrepreneurs, aerospace engineers, and business leaders. Headlining the event as Keynote Speaker is Jim Cantrell, who will speak on a new model for space launch, likening rockets to racecars. Cantrell has a distinguished pedigree of space entrepreneurship. In addition to being the co-founder and CEO of Vector Launch, his distinguished career also includes co-founding SpaceX as well as Moon Express.

Topics for the panels during the Michigan Space Forum will include space entrepreneurialism, vehicle diversity for the launch segment, Michigan’s space industry, viewing earth from space, and the data acquisition via the Internet of Things (IoT).

Space entrepreneurs, a.k.a. “Astropreneurs,” are a different breed of business person. Compelled by curiosity, these “Astropreneurs” are talented problem-solvers who are driven to set lofty goals, challenge the norm, and achieve impossible. This panel will explore the concept of Astropreneurs and what differentiates them from other entrepreneurs, as well as discuss the foundation for developing a pipeline that cultivates personnel with Astropreneurial DNA. Contributors for the panel, entitled “Developing Future Astropreneurs,” include Dan Jones, CEO of Beyond Horizons Space Consulting; Scott Taylor, Founder and President of Soloshot Inc.; and will be moderated by Russell Schindler, Founder of SampleServe and TCNewTech.

The panel on vehicle diversity in the launch segment will discuss the growing number of launch and rocket companies that have evolved over the past several years. Launch isn’t just the most rapidly expanding segment for the space industry, it is the most technologically diverse. This panel will seek to answer the question, “Does this diversity in method and technology actually strengthen the launch vertical, and if so, then how?” Contributors for this panel, entitled “Vehicle Diversity in Launch Segment,” include Monica Jan, Senior Director of Strategy and Customer Experience at Virgin Orbit; Chuck Lauer, Vice President of Business Development at Rocketplane Global; Jim Cantrell, Co-founder of both Vector Launch SpaceX; Ellen Chang, Co-Founder of LightSpeed Innovations; and will be moderated by Mike Rendine, Co-founder of ATLAS Space Operations.

The panel on Michigan’s budding space industry will discuss and highlight Michigan-based companies that are already disrupting the space-industry, and it will offer perspective on how policy makers can improve Michigan’s position. Contributors for it panel, entitled “The Michigan’s Space Industry,” include Brad King Ph.D, CEO for Orbion Space Technology; Steve Gains, Chief Engineer for Atlas Space Operations; Jerry Miller, Founder and CEO of LTM Systems; and will be moderated by Kristin Rice, Founder and President of Constellation Networks.

The panel on viewing Earth from space will examine the technologies used for viewing the Earth from space, and it will highlight sensor designs being fielded and developed by many of today’s leaders in this vertical for the space industry. Contributors for this panel, entitled “Who’s Looking and How?,” include Jasper Wolfe, Director of Space Systems at Hypercube; Tomas Svitek Ph.D, Chief Technical Officer (CTO) for Vinsight; Barbara Plante, Founder and President of Boreal Space; and Chris McCormick, Co-Founder and CEO of PlanetiQ.

The panel on the technological advancements that are rapidly bringing the world towards complete connectivity for all things, will discuss the infinite possibilities for data acquisition, storage, and analysis, seek to quantify how these technologies are contributing to building a better world for our future. Contributors on this panel, entitled “What’s It Good For?,” include Blair DeWitt, Founder and CEO of Lunar Station Corp.; Wes Fahler, CEO of Miles Space; John McClure, Co-Founder and CEO of PlanetiQ; and will be moderated by Fredrick Jenet, Ph.D, Founder and Director of Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy.

(Source: Michigan Space Forum news release)

FMI: www.michiganspaceforum.com