Communications networks underpin the services and applications that are critical to consumer well-being and business growth, which has amplified the impact of network outages. In this episode, Sergy Mummert, SVP, Sales Global Cloud & Strategic Partnerships at SES Networks, joins us to discuss how advances in satellite technology are enabling a more resilient network fabric.

While LEOs may be receiving most of the attention, an emerging technology is rising to the stratosphere in the form of High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS). HAPS have the potential to unlock the Earth's stratosphere and enhance global connectivity, offering significant opportunities across various industries, including telecommunications, high-resolution Earth observation, weather prediction, and modeling. Though both LEOs and HAPS are used for communication, surveillance, and data collection, they differ greatly in design, functionality, and use cases. To share insights into the similarities and differences between LEOs and HAPS, we are joined by Russ Van Der Werff, Vice President of the HAPS Alliance and VP of Stratospheric Solutions at Aerostar.

In this episode, we dive into the rapidly evolving space and satellite industry, covering both military and commercial sectors. Our guest, a space industry veteran with over 40 years of experience in the U.S. Air Force as a senior space researcher and leader, shares insights on the challenges of building large, custom satellites in the past. Highlighting the need for rapid satellite configuration and launch capabilities, he explains that commercial space has many advantages, as it tends to innovate faster than the military and emphasizes the critical role of space in modern warfare, where conflicts are measured in hours, not days or months.