We’ve had some fun recently working with one of our clients on an exciting company announcement. Seattle-based Spaceflight Inc., a spaceflight logistics company reinventing the model for launching small satellites into space, recently secured a launch service agreement for the maiden voyage of its SHERPA platform. The SHERPA, a free-flying satellite platform and in-space tug developed by Spaceflight, will deliver up to 1,200 kg of customer small satellites into low-earth orbit in 2015.
For those of you not space-savvy, this is a unique move. Launching a satellite into space is widely seen as being expensive and inaccessible for all but the largest companies and space agencies. The standard model involves a company purchasing an entire launch vehicle to deploy a single satellite. This is an inefficient use of resources and often prices out small-satellite customers working with smaller budgets— universities, startups, emerging space programs and others.
Spaceflight is changing up the norm and improving access to space for small-satellite customers by offering launch rideshare services. Instead of requiring customers to pay for an entire launch vehicle, Spaceflight piggybacks multiple small-satellites onto the extra capacity of a single launch vehicle. This translates to cheaper launch services and improved access to space for the customer as well as increased revenue for the launch service provider—a win-win.
Spaceflight’s own SHERPA platform builds on this unique approach with the capability to deploy multiple small satellites at considerably lower cost than was previously possible. To support the announcement, we targeted influential local, national and space industry outlets and reporters with the news, leveraging both Spaceflight’s unique business model and the SHERPA story. This strategy was successful, resulting in substantial industry and media interest as well as editorial coverage in many of Spaceflight’s key markets.
Here is a sampling of the articles generated by the news:
- Via Satellite
- Aviation Week & Space Technology (requires subscription)
- SpaceNews
- Puget Sound Business Journal
- Satnews
- SatellitePro
- Parabolic Arc
- NewSpace Watch
- Satellite Evolution Group
The best part about our job as PR professionals is supporting companies that are making the world a better place—in Spaceflight’s case, improving access to space for more people and organizations. Spaceflight has even more exciting plans in place for the road ahead and we look forward to continuing to support its business and communications initiatives.
For more on how Spaceflight’s shaking up the industry, check out www.spaceflightservices.com.