Insights on Space

By Chloe Mak

Discovery+ is a series of online industry panels which give students the chance to interact with working professionals and learn about the careers they aspire to enter. These panels provide youths and working professionals with the opportunity to better understand industry trends, hear first-hand perspectives from industry professionals, and gain valuable advice on entering or navigating these industries.

On 21 March 2023, Advisory hosted Discover+: Space, the 69th edition of the Discovery+ series. Speakers on the panel included:

• Ronald Tong (Moderator), Deputy Executive Director, Office for Space Technology & Industry
• Joanne Liao, Director, Strategic Development, SpeQtral
• Dr Mark Lim, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aliena
• Adila Abdul, ASEAN Business Lead, Space & Satellite Solutions, Amazon Web Services
• Navin Gopal, Head, Strategy & Business Analysis, Astroscale 

Attendees included students at various levels of education with a desire to know the different career paths in Space, and how to best position themselves for such roles. Below are some key points shared during the session:

What developments can we anticipate in the space industry?

The space industry will only become more valuable, given that its estimated net worth is almost a trillion USD by 2030, and 1.4 trillion by 2040, making it a very exciting industry to be in.

This excitement is driven by manufacturers who have the collective realisation that space is a strategic domain one can take advantage of. Increasingly, commercial companies are driving down the cost of going to space, making it more accessible to smaller countries like Singapore.

What academic qualifications and relevant skillsets do we need to enter the sector?

You do not require a university degree to enter the space industry! The space sector requires a broad range of skills for a variety of roles, such as policy, law, services, hardware, software engineering and many more. Moreover, there is no particular degree that is preferred if you wish to enter the space sector, nor does it need to directly correlate to the space industry. You may require an engineering or physics background for some aspects of the sector, a sales degree for other roles such as business development, or a finance degree to help you deal with cash responsibly.

Mid career switches are also possible, but having an overview of the industry and being able to understand the ecosystem will help the transition. If you are interested in the sector, you can build up your knowledge and understanding by reading up on the Internet. There are so many different roles in the industry that there is no set way to get ready for it, but talking to people and asking questions, as well as taking up internships, will help.

Most importantly, to enjoy working in space, you need to be genuinely passionate about it. Space is generally an industry of “geeks”, and to make full use of it, you can ask people out to chat and network. Most companies are open to welcoming interns, so it is possible to ask on LinkedIn about positions which may lead to a career in space.

How does one approach the space sector?

When approaching the space sector, there are several key areas to consider.

The manufacturing sector focuses on producing the necessary parts and components for satellites. This involves designing and fabricating the various elements that make up these space-based vehicles.

The launch sector, although smaller due to its higher upfront costs, plays a crucial role in getting satellites into space.

The ground sector is responsible for controlling and receiving data from satellites by establishing ground stations and communication systems to gather and interpret the information transmitted by satellites.

The in-orbit sector is an area that is currently growing. In the past, satellites were often left to orbit for 5-10 years before becoming floating debris. However, with advancements in space manufacturing and maintenance, it is now possible to extend the lifespan of satellites. Additionally, there has been a shift from the International Space Station to commercial space stations, which should be taken into account.

Lastly, the servicing sector involves exploiting the data beamed from space. This sector enables the extraction of valuable insights and benefits from the data collected by satellites.

What has your experience in the industry been like and what has it taught you?

One inspiring experience is witnessing the power of education and the impact it can have on young minds. For instance, there was a young company that was facing challenges in raising capital to support various aspects of the business, such as purchasing equipment, compensating employees, renting facilities, and supporting satellite launches. One particular instance stood out when they needed to fill up the tanks of their satellites, which required a minimum of USD 50,000. However, an intern stepped forward and offered to build the required part. Encouraged by his determination, the entire team came together and delivered a convincing pitch. Eventually, they managed to build this required part within 60 days using just USD 12,000. What truly made the experience inspiring was the realisation that great companies and technologies are driven by the people involved, rather than just the investors and the C-Suite. This shows the value of investing in talented individuals, knowing that as they grow, the entire industry benefits.

There is a wealth of major talent and brainpower available in the space industry. Despite the significant challenges and complexities, there is a prevailing sense of humbleness among professionals. Everyone acknowledges that there is always more to learn than what they currently know and to approach problems with an open mind. There is also a positive trend of collaboration and cooperation within the industry. Rather than working in isolation, companies are increasingly engaging in conversations and partnerships. This collaborative spirit fosters growth and propels the industry forward.

Overall, these reinforce the importance of education, investing in talented individuals, and fostering a collaborative environment. It showcases the potential of young minds, the dedication of the team, and the collective growth that can be achieved when people come together in the space sector.

What is a day like in your life?

The working hours are very dynamic given that the space industry is an international one. You can be required to attend calls in the middle of the night to cater to an international team and support customers from various countries, but what keeps you going is the joys of the job and the excitement you get when you learn from people developing impactful technology.

Your job can also revolve around problem solving, such as looking at business development programmes and marketing strategies. To do so, you will need to keep up-to-date with developments around the world and be ready to answer customers’ queries.

How do you build your portfolio to enter this sector?

No one can prepare themselves entirely for the space sector. However, taking a constructivist approach in how we learn will certainly make it easier to enter the industry. This means that in the process of solving a problem, you find out what you need to know by piecing together information sufficiently to solve the problem. This is in contrast to Singapore’s instructional approach to education, where mainstream schools usually have handouts and notes that encourage rote learning. This learning method gives one a toolbox of skills to fix problems, which we may not use all the time.

To become a better constructivist learner, you can take on internships for hands-on experiences as there are many space startups in Singapore. This will help you find out what it takes to solve certain problems or formulate solutions to problems you wish to solve.

How to clean up space?

Currently, it is a difficult task where one uses satellites to capture the debris with a magnetic plate that attracts the magnetic parts of the debris. These satellites push it into the orbit of the Earth until it burns up. However, the industry is looking towards creating materials that can be parked on the moon to be maintained and reused. This is unfortunately made more difficult as fuel is hard to find on the moon, but there is still an aim to recycle materials in space.

What is one key skill or trait you think is most important for the space sector?

Firstly, the ability to keep learning and relearning is important. You need to stay hungry especially when developing space-related technology in Singapore, and have the capacity to defy odds.

Second, you should not be afraid to ask questions. In this industry, everyone is willing to share and use their expertise, and by asking questions, you can clarify your doubts and also help others who may have the same set of questions as you.