Unlocking the Possibilities of Space-Based Environmental Monitoring w/Dan Katz

Space-based intelligence is the new frontier of effective and scalable energy infrastructure monitoring. The world’s oil and gas pipelines need persistent monitoring, and technology can be leveraged to avoid catastrophe. This problem is tailor-made for the space sector. The industry can deal with large-scale environmental concerns and make our world a safer place. Orbital Sidekick is a startup unlocking the power of Hyperspectral Intelligence™ to deliver value to the end-user. How did this startup emerge out of new developments in space-based technology? What are some of the biggest real-world problems that can be solved by satellites? In this episode, I’m joined by co-founder and CEO of Orbital Sidekick, Dan Katz. He shares why energy infrastructure monitoring is so important, how his company is providing this service, and what the future holds in this exciting sector. The space industry has become mature enough that we can focus on end-users outside of the space industry . -Dan Katz Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How current energy monitoring methods increase the risk of disaster Oil and gas pipelines are everywhere, and they are old and prone to leaks. The current models of monitoring them are not thorough, effective, or scalable enough, which increases the risk of disaster. Pipelines need persistent monitoring with the ability to see below the surface and detect changes before it’s too late to fix them. The true potential of space-based environmental monitoring For space-based solutions to sustain demand, they need to have a use case in solving bigger environmental problems. From detecting wildfires to discovering new energy sources and monitoring pipelines, providing solutions to real-world problems outside of the space sector is vital to growth. The biggest concerns around Hyperspectral Intelligence™ Hyperspectral Intelligence™ has the potential to unlock new trillion-dollar energy economies. The same technology that is changing the world of oil and gas pipeline monitoring can be applied to new energy exploration and discovery. With all this innovation and growth, however, there’s a huge concern around increased space junk and debris. Guest Bio Dan Katz is the CEO and Co-Founder of Orbital Sidekick. Orbital Sidekick (OSK) provides space-based hyperspectral monitoring solutions powered by Spectral Intelligence™. OSK's unique radiometric speciation and change detection capability enable unparalleled target monitoring services for both commercial and defense users on a global scale. OSK's first space-based hyperspectral payload is currently operational on the International Space Station, and the company is on schedule to build a constellation of five microsatellites by 2021. This growing constellation will enable daily target monitoring of customer assets at a relatively low cost. For more information visit https://orbitalsidekick.com/ and connect with Dan https://www.linkedin.com/in/katzdaniel34/ . Learn More About Your Host: Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers. Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.