Elodie Collins
Intelsat wants to expand its role in the new space race.
In an interview with Forbes published Monday, the company’s CEO, David Wajsgras, an eight-time Wash100 Award winner, discussed Intelsat’s role in the first space race, plans to become a leading player in the second space race through its merger with SES and efforts to support humanitarian missions by providing connectivity in austere environments, including war zones.
Intelsat’s Satellites Enable Moon Landing Broadcast
Intelsat has been providing satellite communications services for decades. In 1969, the company’s Early Bird satellite transmitted images of the first moon landing to television screens around the world.
Wajsgras recalled that over 600 million people worldwide tuned in to watch NASA astronauts explore the lunar surface. The mission, he added, had a transformative effect on societies and sparked the vision of humanity as a spacefaring civilization.
Bruno Fromont, chief technology officer at Intelsat, commented that the Apollo moon landing was extraordinary and that space offers “a mirror to our humanity.”
Intelsat’s Merger With SES
On July 17, SES confirmed that it had completed the acquisition of Intelsat.
The union of the satellite industry leaders creates a fleet of over 150 spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit and medium Earth orbit. The fleet will be able to deliver global broadcasts of future space missions, whether on the moon or on Mars.
Fremont predicted that new-generation spacecraft and satellites will continue to transform human evolution.
He added that Intelsat and SES “will no doubt be a significant part of this evolution.”
Intelsat’s Continuing Humanitarian Work
The company has long been engaged in efforts to provide connectivity in areas where communications infrastructures are limited or threatened.
Intelsat worked with actor and humanitarian peace activist Forest Whitaker to set up learning centers that offer high-speed internet in South Sudan and Uganda.
The satcom company is also helping the hyper-tech humanitarian group Help.NGO to ensure internet access in the besieged areas of Ukraine.
“People in Ukraine need support – they need our help,” said Wajsgras.
