Guest:  Dr. Pat Patterson; Topics:  An overview of the small satellite industry & a preview of this year's SmallSat Conference.  Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com.  Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.

We welcomed Dr. Pat Patterson back to the show to discuss both the incredible growth in the small satellite industry plus this year's SmallSat Conference.  This year's conference is August 6-11 in Logan, Utah.  The conference website is www.smallsat.org.  Please follow along with us during our conference discussion segment of the program.  For those of you planning on attending this year's conference, Dr. Patterson discussed logistics to and from Logan, last minute hotel possibilities, and the conference registration. 

We started out by presenting a brief overview of the small satellite industry.  Dr. Patterson provided us with some very interesting and impressive statistics, including industry growth statistics plus the growth stats for the SmallSat Conference which this year will host close to 2,000 people!  As part of the industry overview, Pat listed three big challenges facing the industry.  Listen carefully to what he said were the challenges.  I'm sure this will be useful information for future Space Show programs. 

In talking about this year's conference, Pat noted that there will be two keynote speakers.  On Monday Dr. Franco Ongaro of ESA will talk and then on Tuesday, Gwynne Shotwell of SpaceX will address the conference. You can read about their talks at  www.smallsat.org/technical-program/keynote.  Pat then took us through the conference schedule day by day.  Check it out at www.smallsat.org/technical-program/tech-sessions. 

Pat took some questions from listeners.  One wanted to know about the Exhibit Hall and networking.  Check out the exhibitors at www.smallsat.org/sponsors-exhibits/exhibit-descriptions.  Becky asked about tours for this year's conference.  As you will hear our guest explain, no such extra events were planned for this year but they want your feedback on this issue at the close of this year's program.  Several questions came in regarding the logistics of the conference, rooms, getting to Logan, airports, transportation, and for students, a new program to help with a possible transportation grant.  The grant has been filled for this year but Pat urged students to check early on it for next year. 

Before we ended our discussion, Pat pointed out that all the conference proceedings going back to 1987 are now on the web and available for free.  Check out this URL for more information about searching the proceedings data base and downloading papers:  www.smallsat.org/conference/proceedings. 

Please post your comments/questions in the comments section for this archived program on The Space Show website.  You can reach Dr. Patterson or the SmallSat staff regarding your conference questions via the SmallSat contact page:  www.smallsat.org/contact.