Spaceflight, an integrated space services company and client of Communiqué PR, is reinventing the model for launching satellites into space and driving a new space revolution designed to democratize space access.
Since 2010, Spaceflight has been innovating and investing in programs to foster a new era where space access is a service. A full-service launch provider, Spaceflight provides a straightforward, cost-effective, and comprehensive suite of products and services, including state-of-the-art satellite infrastructure, rideshare capabilities, and global communications networks that enable commercial and government entities to achieve their mission goals. To date, Spaceflight has launched 81 satellites and the company has contracts to deploy more than 135 satellites through 2018.
Through the contributions of Spaceflight and other commercial satellite companies, the space industry is experiencing a massive shift, where private companies can not only partake in the exploration of space, but take the lead in driving innovations across the industry. Spaceflight is helping drive access to space for commercial, scientific and non-profit entities and promises to bring new information with incredible uses for every industry, from energy to agriculture, finance, government, human rights, defense and more. This commercialization and heightened access to global big data will make satellite imaging, data, and communications less expensive and more prevalent, thereby enabling almost anyone to explore our world in ways that were previously not possible.
Spaceflight Awarded First GSA Schedule Contract for Satellite Launch Services
Earlier this year, Spaceflight became the first launch services provider to be awarded the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Professional Services Schedule (00CORP). As a recipient of the contract, the federal government recognized Spaceflight as a preferred launch services vendor fully authorized to conduct business directly with federal government agencies. As a result, the company will provide its services to federal agencies at a pre-negotiated fixed rate, enabling them to quickly and easily secure small satellite launch contracts online and cut through red tape to receive services faster, ultimately saving a significant amount of time and tax-payer money.
Spaceflight has enjoyed a long, successful history of providing innovative launch services to federal agencies, including NASA and the U.S. Air Force. However, as U.S. government agencies such as NASA and the Department of Defense increasingly look to commercial satellite companies to support their missions, Spaceflight sought a way to streamline the vetting process and secure preferred vendor status with the GSA. In order to receive the GSA Schedule contract, Spaceflight had to undergo an extensive and rigorous approval process, including the negotiation of fair and reasonable prices, as well as ensuring its services are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Deploying the News
Communiqué PR understood that securing the GSA Schedule contract was not only a significant endorsement for Spaceflight, but for the next generation of launch providers dedicated to helping more organizations increase their understanding of our world. As such, we believed there would be strong interest in the news within space industry and developed a strategy to inform the industry and drive awareness of the new contract with readers of government trade publications.
Our approach involved developing a targeted press list focused on journalists covering the space industry as well as those tracking government contracts. We also worked with Spaceflight to finalize a press release that expressed the significance of Spaceflight’s role as the first launch provider to receive the GSA Schedule contract and communicated how the contract will reduce administrative costs and enable federal agencies to quickly and easily order a CubeSat or MicroSat launch online. We then offered the news under embargo to targeted media in order to ensure accuracy and drive coverage around the news.
Coverage Lifts Off
Within two days of crossing the wire, Spaceflight’s news was covered by 16 media outlets. Here is a list of the coverage secured thus far:
- Xconomy, “Seattle Week in Review: Space, VR, Machine Intelligence”
- Financial News, “Spaceflight Awarded First GSA Schedule Contract for Satellite Launch Services”
- SpaceRef, “Spaceflight Awarded First GSA Schedule Contract for Satellite Launch Services”
- SpaceNews, “Spaceflight offers smallsat launch services on government contract schedule”
- SpaceNews, “Mold contamination delays Orbital ATK cargo flight to ISS”
- Satnews, “Spaceflight Awarded First GSA Schedule Contract For Satellite Launch Services…Easy… Order CubeSats Online”
- Law360, “Spaceflight Wins 1st GSA Contract For Easy Launch Orders”
- Space Daily, “Spaceflight Awarded First GSA Schedule Contract for Satellite Launch Services”
- Executive Biz, “Spaceflight Added to GSA’s Consolidated Professional Services Schedule”
- Northwest Innovation, “Spaceflight Industries Gets GSA Contract”
- Seattle Times, “US approves Spaceflight for simplified satellite-launch deals”
- GeekWire, “Spaceflight’s online price list makes it easier for the feds to buy a launch”
- Parabolic Arc, “Spaceflight Awarded First GSA Schedule Contract for Satellite Launch Services”
- Puget Sound Business Journal, “Spaceflight lands major contract with federal government”
- Room, “Spaceflight Awarded First GSA Schedule Contract for Satellite Launch Services”
- NewSpace Watch, “Spaceflight Industries gets GSA Schedule contract for smallsat launch services” (article behind paywall, link to RSS feed)
We congratulate Spaceflight on this significant achievement and look forward to telling its story as it continues to lead an innovative era of space exploration that fosters a better understanding of our world.