On the final day of SmallSat Europe in Amsterdam, Torsten Kriening sits down with Andrew Faiola of Astroscale, a long-time SpaceWatch.Global supporter and someone with whom Torsten shares decades of shared history in the satellite broadcasting world.
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The setting itself tells a story. Both Torsten and Andrew remember Hall One of the RAI as the heart of satellite broadcasting at IBC for many years. Now that same hall is dominated by European dynamic new space companies, a transformation that’s both nostalgic and revealing of how much the industry has changed.
Andrew shares his impressions of SmallSat Europe’s dramatic growth in just its second year, calling it a “money-saver” for companies because it brings together decision-makers, technical workers, and supply chain partners in one focused, paid-entry environment without the distractions of larger consumer events.
He reflects on the defense panel he joined the previous day, where the powerful mix of industry, institutional, and defense perspectives, sparked vibrant exchanges about threats, risks, and thresholds in space.
Andrew also offers a European scoop on what’s happening at Astroscale beyond the well-known US refueling story. With teams in the UK and France working closely together, Astroscale Europe is pursuing institutional ESA programs, civil government opportunities, and defense applications across all market segments. The next 12 months will see major contracts come to fruition, plus the ELSA-M spacecraft ready to fly by year’s end (pending the industry-wide challenge of launch vehicle availability).
This is a conversation that bridges three decades of satellite industry evolution- from broadcasting giants to nimble new space companies tackling the next frontier of in-orbit servicing.
