Press release

Spaceflight is Proud to Announce Curt Blake has been Nominated for Via Satellite’s 2018 Satellite Executive of the Year Award

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Spaceflight,
the leading satellite rideshare and mission management provider,
announces Curt Blake, president and CEO, has been nominated for
the most prestigious award in the satellite and connectivity industry, Via
Satellite’s
2018 Satellite Executive of the Year Award. The
nominees are chosen for durable contributions made to the global
satellite market including innovative technologies, best practices,
important services, or any combination of these. Likewise, it recognizes
lasting contributions of their achievements.

In 2015, Blake recognized the increasing demand for access to space from
the growing smallsat industry and conceptualized a solution: purchase an
entire launch vehicle dedicated to smallsats. Later that year,
Spaceflight purchased a SpaceX Falcon 9 and in December of 2018, under
Blake’s leadership, the Spaceflight team executed the successful launch
of the company’s first-ever dedicated rideshare mission, SSO-A. The
record-breaking launch carried 64 smallsats, the largest number of
satellites launched from a U.S.-based rocket to space, from 34
organizations from 17 different countries. This mission was the first of
its kind and required innovative engineering to integrate and deploy the
large number of satellites, as well as incredible organization and
management of each organization’s and spacecraft’s individual needs for
launch.

The winner of the 2018 Satellite Executive of the Year will be
determined by a combination of the Via Satellite editorial team,
including Editorial Director, Mark Holmes, and votes that come
directly from industry. The public can vote for Blake online,
or onsite at the SATELLITE
2019
event, which takes place May 6-9 at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center in Washington, D.C. There will be stations for
attendees to vote at the Via Satellite booth (#543 on the show
floor).

“Many visionaries who have shaped the industry are recipients of this
award and I am honored to be a finalist,” said Blake. “Spaceflight had a
momentous year in 2018, especially with the successful execution of our
first-ever dedicated rideshare mission, SSO-A. During the year, we also
launched nearly 100 satellites across four missions, expanded our launch
vehicle portfolio and signed important customers. None of these
accomplishments would be possible without our incredible team. I’m proud
of everything we’ve been able to achieve.”

“The honoree for the 2018 Satellite Executive of the Year will join the
ranks of the best of the best. Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of
SpaceX was honored in 2017, Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace was
honored in 2016, and the 2015 honoree was Michel de Rosen, CEO of
Eutelsat. We’re looking forward to welcoming another notable satellite
industry leader to this already impressive group,” said Mark Holmes.

Voting closes at noon ET on Tuesday, May 7th. The winner will
be announced at a special Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Peraton, at
SATELLITE 2019 on Wednesday, May 8, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Tickets for
the Awards Luncheon can be purchased through SATELLITE 2019 registration.
SATELLITE 2019 will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention
Center, located at 801 Mt Vernon Pl NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.

For more information on the award, or to vote for Curt Blake,
please visit https://www.viasatellite.com/vote.

About Via Satellite

Via Satellite, a monthly publication providing essential news and
expert business analysis on the global satellite communications
marketplace, including current and evolving applications, infrastructure
issues, technology, and business and regulatory developments around the
world reaches the most engaged community of satellite professionals and
qualified industry decision makers.

About SATELLITE 2019

SATELLITE unites 15,000 aerospace and connectivity thought leaders,
entrepreneurs, executives, engineers, end-users and enthusiasts from
over 100 countries for the largest and most important global satellite
technology event of the year. Serving all industries looking to better
their business operations or enhance their strategy through
connectivity, the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition will take place on
May 6-9, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in
Washington D.C.