I'd never been to Space - My first year in orbit...
- Peter Gillespie
- Feb 3
- 4 min read
In the autumn of 2024, after a pretty successful early career in media and ‘digital’ I had just finished taking a lot of time out to deal with a pretty large family crisis and, after a bit of light consultancy work I was ready for something new. A valued friend I had known and admired for over 10 years had been doing exciting things in developing a whole new technology and market opportunity in the space technology sector. He, and the solution, were really ahead of its time. I had supported, mentored, advised and chatted over coffees for years, then gone back to my day job.
Then the phone rang and, for him that ‘time’ was now feeling very close. My friend asked, ‘would I like to join him’ to help make it happen? ‘Next week’ wouldn’t be too soon. Sometimes in life (although all too infrequently) timing and opportunity just come together. This was one of those exciting days. Me, working in the ‘Space’ sector? Damn right! Time for take-off.
With a range of experience across various sectors I’ve always looked for a challenge and taken pride in always being ready to learn new markets, new technologies, develop new solutions and solve new problems (often old problems just with new clothes on). Launching myself into developing innovative new technology solutions in the space sector? Well, as challenges go, it felt like a biggie. And, in what feels like no time at all I’ve already been with Space Aye now for a year. Every day really has been a school day.
From an initial blur of jargon, new technology, new industry ‘politics’, various events, exhibitions and seminars, I started to find my feet and really understand the huge opportunities available for us, and others in the Space sector.
Although the space sector appears sexy, different and endlessly innovative to the outsider (me, a year ago), it can’t escape human nature. ‘Legacy’ issues and attitudes are at play much like any other sector, and the EO imagery market was appearing to stall a bit after years of huge speculative investment and stellar growth. With 30-40%+ annual growth and c.2,500 Earth Observation (EO) satellites now in orbit more investors were asking, ‘where are the returns going to come from?’. This ‘stalled’ market narrative seemed to gather some traction a few months ago. However, I’ve come to learn those worries are unfounded.
While an EO image makes for a lovely picture, the real question is what can do you do with it to create real commercial, defence or societal benefits (or, a ‘return’)? Emerging data analysis and AI tools and, innovative capabilities like Space Aye’s are creating a whole new level of utility and huge real, tangible benefits. And these will increase exponentially with the greater availability and regularity (and reduced latency) of EO imagery - with current estimates predicting growth to c.10,000-12,000 EO satellites in orbit by 2030-31.
The ’legacy’ models of big up-front government & defence contracts deals and higher ‘cost per imagery’ will and, are changing.
Imagine identifying and tracking your shipment or asset using it’s unique IoT data tag anywhere on the globe in almost ‘real-time’? You don’t have to imagine, you can. Locate and identify survivors of an earthquake or natural disaster using that same data in a real-time EO image to rescue them? Identify those at risk from a wildfire (and the assets & locations of those that can put it out), in the EO image in real-time? Protect remote assets and identify (& track) undesirables who pose a threat? It can all be done, now. Imagine a ‘Google Earth’, but ‘live’, where you can identify everything on it, whenever you need. Imagine the ‘returns’ on that? It’s closer than you may think.
These new innovative applications have re-energised the sector and the exponential growth is continuing, because the utility and benefits this capability provides is just as exciting as I always hoped ‘space’ would be. This is reflected in projected growth for the global sector from the current c.$613bn to c.$1.8tn by 2035 (*McKinsey, 2024). The UK government already estimates that 18% of UK GDP is reliant on space services in 2025, so imagine again the growing influence on the growth of our national output as these new applications and commercial benefits come into play!
‘Change’ is still hard, for some, so listening, adapting, re-focusing and above all, demonstrating persistence and flexibility has been just as important as in any other sector. And new AI, and related data analytics tools - and Space Aye’s unique patented capability and new platform - really do represent huge change and real innovation, in almost every sphere of our life.
Every single day of the last year has been a huge learning experience. I’ve listened, learned, persisted and watched in admiration as my colleagues have persevered, adapted and persisted to help create something truly unique and game changing in what is a fast-evolving, rapidly growing sector. Dodging the ‘doom-mongers’ and finding and building relationships with the visionaries and fellow innovators has been uniquely rewarding.
What a year! Personally, while some things have stayed the same, a lot more has changed. The aspiration, the focus on growth and continuous innovation to create ‘new’ commercial and societal benefits and capabilities has been genuinely inspiring. Working with incredibly bright, capable, inspiring people has also been a huge breath of very fresh, rarified air.
2026 really looks like a big year for the Space sector and downstream EO imagery data in particular and, at Space Aye we’re all ready for take-off!
Thanks for making that phone call Chris.
Peter Gillespie,
Chief Operating Officer,
Space Aye
