“What’s the difference between a satellite and a spacecraft?” – Why We Need Holistic Sat-Comms Training
There is a lingering and often ignored problem for the sat-comms sector. Despite being the most dominant sector within the commercial space economy, a key element of global trade, and a decisive factor in defence, many people do not understand it. That is true for many people even within the sat-comms sector. Several years ago I spoke with a seasoned employee at a sat-comms company and he told me about one of the all-staff meetings. It had been another hour-long talk by the boss. He talked in nautical terms, of headwinds and stormy conditions, of satellites and spacecraft, markets and missions. Hundreds of people sat there diligently, silently, and unquestioning. This man then asked me shyly, “…but what’s the difference between a satellite and a spacecraft?” It’s a fair question. I explained…
