what NASA did with the Apollo program was amazing but the amounts of money
was amazing but the amounts of money
was amazing but the amounts of money that you had to spend to do that work
that you had to spend to do that work
that you had to spend to do that work enormous you can’t just do space for the
enormous you can’t just do space for the
enormous you can’t just do space for the sake of doing space so the only way to
sake of doing space so the only way to
sake of doing space so the only way to really open up the frontier is to show
really open up the frontier is to show
really open up the frontier is to show that the frontier is worth opening up
that the frontier is worth opening up
that the frontier is worth opening up our satellites and our system that we’re
our satellites and our system that we’re
our satellites and our system that we’re building has to pay for itself it has to
building has to pay for itself it has to
building has to pay for itself it has to exist for its own right not just because
exist for its own right not just because
exist for its own right not just because it’s a cool thing to do but because it
it’s a cool thing to do but because it
it’s a cool thing to do but because it actually provides value at the end of
actually provides value at the end of
actually provides value at the end of the day makes the world better
Kickstarter we’ve all used it to give
Kickstarter we’ve all used it to give our filmmaker or musician friends a
our filmmaker or musician friends a
our filmmaker or musician friends a couple of bucks for their latest passion
couple of bucks for their latest passion
couple of bucks for their latest passion project we don’t usually think of it as
project we don’t usually think of it as
project we don’t usually think of it as a tool that new space entrepreneurs are
a tool that new space entrepreneurs are
a tool that new space entrepreneurs are using to open up the frontier of space
using to open up the frontier of space
using to open up the frontier of space but a company in Glasgow Scotland did
but a company in Glasgow Scotland did
but a company in Glasgow Scotland did just that
just that
just that welcome to spire a company that believes
welcome to spire a company that believes
welcome to spire a company that believes it’s on the cusp of revolutionising a
it’s on the cusp of revolutionising a
it’s on the cusp of revolutionising a satellite industry this is Joel spark
satellite industry this is Joel spark
satellite industry this is Joel spark one of their co-founders the birth of
one of their co-founders the birth of
one of their co-founders the birth of spire it was a bunch of us a grad school
spire it was a bunch of us a grad school
spire it was a bunch of us a grad school and there’s this thing called CubeSat a
and there’s this thing called CubeSat a
and there’s this thing called CubeSat a satellite size of a wine bottle that
satellite size of a wine bottle that
satellite size of a wine bottle that makes it infinitely easier to get a
makes it infinitely easier to get a
makes it infinitely easier to get a satellite in space but up until that
satellite in space but up until that
satellite in space but up until that point the prevailing idea was that cube
point the prevailing idea was that cube
point the prevailing idea was that cube SATs are toys a typical like large
SATs are toys a typical like large
SATs are toys a typical like large satellite is huge it’s like the size of
satellite is huge it’s like the size of
satellite is huge it’s like the size of a bus it’s really expensive it’s
a bus it’s really expensive it’s
a bus it’s really expensive it’s billions of dollars most big weather or
billions of dollars most big weather or
billions of dollars most big weather or communication satellites will take 10-15
communication satellites will take 10-15
communication satellites will take 10-15 years to get built with the expectation
years to get built with the expectation
years to get built with the expectation that it will then last another 15 years
that it will then last another 15 years
that it will then last another 15 years on orbit so by the end of its lifetime
on orbit so by the end of its lifetime
on orbit so by the end of its lifetime every component onboard that satellite
every component onboard that satellite
every component onboard that satellite it’s 30 years old CubeSat is a
it’s 30 years old CubeSat is a
it’s 30 years old CubeSat is a completely different methodology than a
completely different methodology than a
completely different methodology than a traditional satellite and here’s where
traditional satellite and here’s where
traditional satellite and here’s where we come to the revolutionary idea what
we come to the revolutionary idea what
we come to the revolutionary idea what if they could build a lot of these
if they could build a lot of these
if they could build a lot of these little cube SATs on the cheap
little cube SATs on the cheap
little cube SATs on the cheap get them into space really fast then
get them into space really fast then
get them into space really fast then start linking them together suddenly it
start linking them together suddenly it
start linking them together suddenly it wouldn’t be about single large
wouldn’t be about single large
wouldn’t be about single large satellites it would be about a network
satellites it would be about a network
satellites it would be about a network constellation but first had to prove
constellation but first had to prove
constellation but first had to prove that they could build a single cube set
that they could build a single cube set
that they could build a single cube set so they launched a Kickstarter we
so they launched a Kickstarter we
so they launched a Kickstarter we thought it was a good idea but you know
thought it was a good idea but you know
thought it was a good idea but you know that doesn’t that doesn’t sail out a
that doesn’t that doesn’t sail out a
that doesn’t that doesn’t sail out a couple of crazy students in garage or
couple of crazy students in garage or
couple of crazy students in garage or building something the Kickstarter
building something the Kickstarter
building something the Kickstarter campaign was a decision point whether to
campaign was a decision point whether to
campaign was a decision point whether to go on from there and start building this
go on from there and start building this
go on from there and start building this thing or go our own ways and never speak
thing or go our own ways and never speak
thing or go our own ways and never speak of it again
of it again
of it again in July 2012 we started the Kickstarter
in July 2012 we started the Kickstarter
in July 2012 we started the Kickstarter campaign hit our target about three days
campaign hit our target about three days
campaign hit our target about three days so okay
so okay
so okay now we actually have to do this I’m in
now we actually have to do this I’m in
now we actually have to do this I’m in about 12 months we go from napkin
about 12 months we go from napkin
about 12 months we go from napkin sketches to a satellite in space t-minus
sketches to a satellite in space t-minus
sketches to a satellite in space t-minus 10 9
and it’s a weird sense of scale we’re
and it’s a weird sense of scale we’re watching the livestream of this rocket
watching the livestream of this rocket
watching the livestream of this rocket blasting into space where you have all
blasting into space where you have all
blasting into space where you have all your hopes and dreams and in all these
your hopes and dreams and in all these
your hopes and dreams and in all these expectations cramped in this little cube
expectations cramped in this little cube
expectations cramped in this little cube you feel like the cube could fill it the
you feel like the cube could fill it the
you feel like the cube could fill it the whole rocket it feels like the rocket is
whole rocket it feels like the rocket is
whole rocket it feels like the rocket is your rocket it’s not a toy this is real
your rocket it’s not a toy this is real
your rocket it’s not a toy this is real a verified satellite the deployed
a verified satellite the deployed
a verified satellite the deployed congratulations on it all the
congratulations on it all the
congratulations on it all the appointment so they got a CubeSat into
appointment so they got a CubeSat into
appointment so they got a CubeSat into outer space that’s when the real work
outer space that’s when the real work
outer space that’s when the real work began figuring out how to build a
began figuring out how to build a
began figuring out how to build a business around them their first hires
business around them their first hires
business around them their first hires we’re not engineers they were they’re
we’re not engineers they were they’re
we’re not engineers they were they’re actually business people what we really
actually business people what we really
actually business people what we really needed to do was kind of go out to
needed to do was kind of go out to
needed to do was kind of go out to customers and various markets and see
customers and various markets and see
customers and various markets and see what our customers interested in what
what our customers interested in what
what our customers interested in what our industry is interested in one of the
our industry is interested in one of the
our industry is interested in one of the things they found was that there was a
things they found was that there was a
things they found was that there was a real need in the area of weather
real need in the area of weather
real need in the area of weather prediction so in 2017 we’re starting to
prediction so in 2017 we’re starting to
prediction so in 2017 we’re starting to see a lot of NOAA and NASA satellites
see a lot of NOAA and NASA satellites
see a lot of NOAA and NASA satellites that are primarily used for weather
that are primarily used for weather
that are primarily used for weather reaching the end of their useful
reaching the end of their useful
reaching the end of their useful lifespan and we don’t have anything that
lifespan and we don’t have anything that
lifespan and we don’t have anything that replaces it right now there is going to
replaces it right now there is going to
replaces it right now there is going to be this gap where we currently have 30
be this gap where we currently have 30
be this gap where we currently have 30 year old technology or older that’s
year old technology or older that’s
year old technology or older that’s trying to keep the weather network alive
trying to keep the weather network alive
trying to keep the weather network alive this is a simulation of just earth and a
this is a simulation of just earth and a
this is a simulation of just earth and a satellite moving around it so the dot is
satellite moving around it so the dot is
satellite moving around it so the dot is your satellite and this target that I
your satellite and this target that I
your satellite and this target that I put here is it could be extreme weather
put here is it could be extreme weather
put here is it could be extreme weather events like hurricanes and tropical
events like hurricanes and tropical
events like hurricanes and tropical storms and the idea is even though the
storms and the idea is even though the
storms and the idea is even though the satellite that I’m simulating goes
satellite that I’m simulating goes
satellite that I’m simulating goes around the Earth every hour and a half
around the Earth every hour and a half
around the Earth every hour and a half but doesn’t mean you see the whole world
but doesn’t mean you see the whole world
but doesn’t mean you see the whole world every hour and half this one satellite
every hour and half this one satellite
every hour and half this one satellite travels around it’s going to see this
travels around it’s going to see this
travels around it’s going to see this target but it’s not going to see it
target but it’s not going to see it
target but it’s not going to see it again until that targets rotated all the
again until that targets rotated all the
again until that targets rotated all the way around to the other sides at 12
way around to the other sides at 12
way around to the other sides at 12 hours later and that could be along 12
hours later and that could be along 12
hours later and that could be along 12 hours
hours
hours hurricane can change its direction in
hurricane can change its direction in
hurricane can change its direction in less than an hour and depending on how
less than an hour and depending on how
less than an hour and depending on how much direction it changes whether it
much direction it changes whether it
much direction it changes whether it ships inland or Ellen when you’re
ships inland or Ellen when you’re
ships inland or Ellen when you’re looking at a hurricane the loss of life
looking at a hurricane the loss of life
looking at a hurricane the loss of life can go from zero to a thousand or tens
can go from zero to a thousand or tens
can go from zero to a thousand or tens of thousands people depending on how
of thousands people depending on how
of thousands people depending on how that path changes over time you need to
that path changes over time you need to
that path changes over time you need to be able to replace this capability and
be able to replace this capability and
be able to replace this capability and that’s what we think you can do with
that’s what we think you can do with
that’s what we think you can do with CubeSat
CubeSat
CubeSat so the idea is instead of having one
so the idea is instead of having one
so the idea is instead of having one single satellite you have a
single satellite you have a
single satellite you have a constellation or a fleet this is just a
constellation or a fleet this is just a
constellation or a fleet this is just a simulation but it shows that by having
simulation but it shows that by having
simulation but it shows that by having lots of satellites in different places
lots of satellites in different places
lots of satellites in different places you can see how you have a greater view
you can see how you have a greater view
you can see how you have a greater view of the planet so this particular target
of the planet so this particular target
of the planet so this particular target that you’re interested in you see very
that you’re interested in you see very
that you’re interested in you see very very frequently when you make it
very frequently when you make it
very frequently when you make it possible for people to get updates every
possible for people to get updates every
possible for people to get updates every minute and that’s actually showing a
minute and that’s actually showing a
minute and that’s actually showing a truer course of that weather system you
truer course of that weather system you
truer course of that weather system you can directly impact people’s lives and
can directly impact people’s lives and
can directly impact people’s lives and possibly save people time will tell
possibly save people time will tell
possibly save people time will tell whether or not team spires able to grow
whether or not team spires able to grow
whether or not team spires able to grow their constellation of cube SATs fast
their constellation of cube SATs fast
their constellation of cube SATs fast enough to fill the impending weather gap
enough to fill the impending weather gap
enough to fill the impending weather gap but either way they truly believe
but either way they truly believe
but either way they truly believe they’re on the cusp of a revolution the
they’re on the cusp of a revolution the
they’re on the cusp of a revolution the beauty of CubeSat is that it’s in
beauty of CubeSat is that it’s in
beauty of CubeSat is that it’s in essence a technology demonstration of a
essence a technology demonstration of a
essence a technology demonstration of a lot of things we’re going to need in the
lot of things we’re going to need in the
lot of things we’re going to need in the future when going to other planets what
future when going to other planets what
future when going to other planets what are we going to do about tracking people
are we going to do about tracking people
are we going to do about tracking people on the surface of Mars we’re going to
on the surface of Mars we’re going to
on the surface of Mars we’re going to have to bring with us a network of small
have to bring with us a network of small
have to bring with us a network of small satellites to do all the stuff that we
satellites to do all the stuff that we
satellites to do all the stuff that we have currently happening on earth we’re
have currently happening on earth we’re
have currently happening on earth we’re really demonstrating the technology that
really demonstrating the technology that
really demonstrating the technology that can be used in the future now they have
can be used in the future now they have
can be used in the future now they have a lot of cathedrals here in Glasgow and
a lot of cathedrals here in Glasgow and
a lot of cathedrals here in Glasgow and one of the things I always found
one of the things I always found
one of the things I always found interesting about cathedrals is when you
interesting about cathedrals is when you
interesting about cathedrals is when you read the plaques on some of the real old
read the plaques on some of the real old
read the plaques on some of the real old ones they say this was built from this
ones they say this was built from this
ones they say this was built from this time this time and sometimes the span of
time this time and sometimes the span of
time this time and sometimes the span of when they started when they finished the
when they started when they finished the
when they started when they finished the Cathedral was hundreds of years so the
Cathedral was hundreds of years so the
Cathedral was hundreds of years so the people who started and who built the
people who started and who built the
people who started and who built the foundation and saw what the Cathedral
foundation and saw what the Cathedral
foundation and saw what the Cathedral could be and really designed it didn’t
could be and really designed it didn’t
could be and really designed it didn’t actually get to sit in it but they still
actually get to sit in it but they still
actually get to sit in it but they still started and for me that’s what I think
started and for me that’s what I think
started and for me that’s what I think spires do now we’re building a
spires do now we’re building a
spires do now we’re building a foundation
foundation
foundation because we see that someday humanity
because we see that someday humanity
because we see that someday humanity could be using space to be better and
could be using space to be better and
could be using space to be better and that’s what’s exciting about CubeSat
that’s what’s exciting about CubeSat
that’s what’s exciting about CubeSat it’s not what it is it’s what it is
it’s not what it is it’s what it is
it’s not what it is it’s what it is going to be
[Music]
[Music] Oh
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