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Feb 6, 2023 · 10m · a16z

A New Golden Age of Space with John Gedmark

John Gedmark · 9m spoken
0:00 / 0:00
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gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

At the a16z Summit, Astranis CEO John Gedmark details how small satellite innovation is disrupting traditional space communications and providing the United States with a vital strategic advantage in national security.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. How this is scored →

The host as informed peer 0.0 Guest teaching 2.8 Guest disagreement 1.3 The host pushing back 0.0
05100:0010:001:08–4:22 · The host as informed peer 0/10 Three Pillars of Space Innovation: Human Spaceflight, Small Launch, and Reusability John Gedmark delivers a monologue introducing the three pillars of modern space innovation and the transition to small satellites in higher orbits. Because the host does not speak during this segment, host expertise and pushback are scored zero. Gedmark maintains an encouraging and educational tone.4:22–7:31 · The host as informed peer 0/10 Bringing Dedicated Satellite Broadband Internet to Peru Gedmark details the mission to bring dedicated satellite internet to Peru, citing data on unconnected populations and Cisco exponential growth stats. Host interaction is absent, keeping host metrics at zero. Gedmark presents his company's solution informatively without conflict.7:31–9:42 · The host as informed peer 0/10 US Space Force Partnership and Resilient Satellite Strategy Gedmark shares facts about Chinese space launch dominance and quotes General Hyten regarding vulnerable military satellites. Without host involvement, host scores remain zero. The guest shows mild rhetorical assertiveness regarding national security challenges.9:42–10:27 · The host as informed peer 0/10 Commercial Space as America's Strategic Advantage and Conclusion Gedmark concludes his talk by positioning commercial venture-backed space companies as America's core strategic advantage over state-run efforts. As this is a solo closing statement, all host scores are zero. The delivery is confident and optimistic.1:08–4:22 · Guest teaching 2/10 Three Pillars of Space Innovation: Human Spaceflight, Small Launch, and Reusability John Gedmark delivers a monologue introducing the three pillars of modern space innovation and the transition to small satellites in higher orbits. Because the host does not speak during this segment, host expertise and pushback are scored zero. Gedmark maintains an encouraging and educational tone.4:22–7:31 · Guest teaching 3/10 Bringing Dedicated Satellite Broadband Internet to Peru Gedmark details the mission to bring dedicated satellite internet to Peru, citing data on unconnected populations and Cisco exponential growth stats. Host interaction is absent, keeping host metrics at zero. Gedmark presents his company's solution informatively without conflict.7:31–9:42 · Guest teaching 4/10 US Space Force Partnership and Resilient Satellite Strategy Gedmark shares facts about Chinese space launch dominance and quotes General Hyten regarding vulnerable military satellites. Without host involvement, host scores remain zero. The guest shows mild rhetorical assertiveness regarding national security challenges.9:42–10:27 · Guest teaching 2/10 Commercial Space as America's Strategic Advantage and Conclusion Gedmark concludes his talk by positioning commercial venture-backed space companies as America's core strategic advantage over state-run efforts. As this is a solo closing statement, all host scores are zero. The delivery is confident and optimistic.1:08–4:22 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Three Pillars of Space Innovation: Human Spaceflight, Small Launch, and Reusability John Gedmark delivers a monologue introducing the three pillars of modern space innovation and the transition to small satellites in higher orbits. Because the host does not speak during this segment, host expertise and pushback are scored zero. Gedmark maintains an encouraging and educational tone.4:22–7:31 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Bringing Dedicated Satellite Broadband Internet to Peru Gedmark details the mission to bring dedicated satellite internet to Peru, citing data on unconnected populations and Cisco exponential growth stats. Host interaction is absent, keeping host metrics at zero. Gedmark presents his company's solution informatively without conflict.7:31–9:42 · Guest disagreement 2/10 US Space Force Partnership and Resilient Satellite Strategy Gedmark shares facts about Chinese space launch dominance and quotes General Hyten regarding vulnerable military satellites. Without host involvement, host scores remain zero. The guest shows mild rhetorical assertiveness regarding national security challenges.9:42–10:27 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Commercial Space as America's Strategic Advantage and Conclusion Gedmark concludes his talk by positioning commercial venture-backed space companies as America's core strategic advantage over state-run efforts. As this is a solo closing statement, all host scores are zero. The delivery is confident and optimistic.1:08–4:22 · The host pushing back 0/10 Three Pillars of Space Innovation: Human Spaceflight, Small Launch, and Reusability John Gedmark delivers a monologue introducing the three pillars of modern space innovation and the transition to small satellites in higher orbits. Because the host does not speak during this segment, host expertise and pushback are scored zero. Gedmark maintains an encouraging and educational tone.4:22–7:31 · The host pushing back 0/10 Bringing Dedicated Satellite Broadband Internet to Peru Gedmark details the mission to bring dedicated satellite internet to Peru, citing data on unconnected populations and Cisco exponential growth stats. Host interaction is absent, keeping host metrics at zero. Gedmark presents his company's solution informatively without conflict.7:31–9:42 · The host pushing back 0/10 US Space Force Partnership and Resilient Satellite Strategy Gedmark shares facts about Chinese space launch dominance and quotes General Hyten regarding vulnerable military satellites. Without host involvement, host scores remain zero. The guest shows mild rhetorical assertiveness regarding national security challenges.9:42–10:27 · The host pushing back 0/10 Commercial Space as America's Strategic Advantage and Conclusion Gedmark concludes his talk by positioning commercial venture-backed space companies as America's core strategic advantage over state-run efforts. As this is a solo closing statement, all host scores are zero. The delivery is confident and optimistic.

speaking balance: gold is the host, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%0:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%3:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%3:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%6:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%6:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%9:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%9:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 8:35 Rejecting Legacy Defense Architecture

Gedmark uses General Hyten's blunt quote about 'big, fat, juicy targets' to dismiss traditional military satellite design practices.

 Hardest push from the host ▶ 8:55 Addressing Silicon Valley Government Refusals

Because the host does not speak in this solo monologue, host pushback is absent; this clip highlights Gedmark acknowledging and framing opposition from Silicon Valley tech companies refusing defense work.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 7:45 China Launch Rate Fact-Drop

Gedmark educates the audience with data showing China has surpassed the US in annual space launches, a fact he notes most people are completely unaware of.

 The host holds their own ▶ 3:10 Technical GEO Satellite Breakdown

In the absence of host commentary, this clip represents the strongest display of technical domain knowledge as Gedmark details high-orbit radiation and propulsion challenges.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicThe host as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementThe host pushing backWhy
Three Pillars of Space Innovation: Human Spaceflight, Small Launch, and Reusability 0210 John Gedmark delivers a monologue introducing the three pillars of modern space innovation and the transition to small satellites in higher orbits. Because the host does not speak during this segment, host expertise and pushback are scored zero. Gedmark maintains an encouraging and educational tone.
Bringing Dedicated Satellite Broadband Internet to Peru 0310 Gedmark details the mission to bring dedicated satellite internet to Peru, citing data on unconnected populations and Cisco exponential growth stats. Host interaction is absent, keeping host metrics at zero. Gedmark presents his company's solution informatively without conflict.
US Space Force Partnership and Resilient Satellite Strategy 0420 Gedmark shares facts about Chinese space launch dominance and quotes General Hyten regarding vulnerable military satellites. Without host involvement, host scores remain zero. The guest shows mild rhetorical assertiveness regarding national security challenges.
Commercial Space as America's Strategic Advantage and Conclusion 0210 Gedmark concludes his talk by positioning commercial venture-backed space companies as America's core strategic advantage over state-run efforts. As this is a solo closing statement, all host scores are zero. The delivery is confident and optimistic.

Statements from this episode (13)

Assertion Supported
Astranis builds small satellites to deliver broadband to remote regions
“We build small satellites that bring broadband internet to some of the most remote and underserved parts of the world.”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 0:38
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Gedmark: Space industry can now launch small satellites rapidly on demand
“We can now launch small satellites on demand very rapidly and very responsibly. We've never been able to do that before.”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 1:41
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Gedmark: Rocket reusability is driving down space launch costs significantly
“And third is launch reusability, which is already driving down launch costs by a huge amount and opening up an explosion of activity in space.”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 1:49
Assertion Supported
Gedmark: Small space startups are now deploying synthetic aperture radar
“You even have a synthetic aperture radar. Something, I think, we never thought a new small company could go and do. And now they're doing it.”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 2:44
Assertion Contradicted
Gedmark: No company used small satellites in higher orbits before Astranis
“In some of the higher orbits that are more difficult to get to, but are still incredibly valuable, no one was going and taking a small satellite approach.”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 3:06
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Legacy GEO satellites cost billions and take years to build
“They're typically only built by a handful of companies in the entire world. They cost hundreds of millions of dollars, ah, on the commercial side, and then on the military, national security side, it's in the billions of dollars. For a single satellite. And th…”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 3:54
Prediction Partly held up
Gedmark: Astranis launching satellites for Alaska and Peru in 2023
“We're launching our first satellite in a couple months for the U.S. State of Alaska and then shortly after that we'll be launching another satellite for Peru”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 4:31
Assertion Partly supported
Gedmark: Over 10 million people in Peru lack broadband internet
“You think about Peru, it's a country of about thirty-something million people, and still a third of that country does not have broadband internet. More than ten million people are not connected today”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 4:48
Assertion Supported
Gedmark: Global broadband data demand grows 33% year-over-year
“The world's demand for broadband data has been growing at an insane exponential rate. 33% year-on-year growth, and that is just showing no signs of stopping.”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 5:24
Assertion Partly supported
Gedmark: China conducted more space launches than any nation over four years
“Over the last, ah, several years, last four years, China's been launching, doing more space launches than any country on Earth, including the United States, which I think is a fact people just weren't even aware of.”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 6:19
Disclosure
Astranis secured a U.S. Space Force contract in six weeks
“So I'm very proud to say that visit was extremely fruitful, and we are now on a new contract that General Gutlein was able to put in place in just six weeks from when he visited and we are off and rolling on that.”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 9:14
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Gedmark: China will never match US venture-backed space innovation
“And I think that is something That the Chinese will never be able to match, so we should be very proud of that, and we should make use of it.”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 9:57
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Gedmark: US will win if space becomes a contested domain
“And that is why I am I think very confident to say that if space is a contested domain, that we will win.”
John Gedmark Feb 6, 2023 ▶ 10:04
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