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t Open Cosmos, the team is moving beyond simply building satellites to create a global intelligence backbone. This involves providing customers with a "trilogy" of capabilities-Broadband connectivity, Earth Observation, and IoT - all integrated directly in orbit.
To understand how this vision becomes a reality, we sat down with Isaac Ferreira, PhD, Mission Manager and Cross-Mission Product Owner at Open Cosmos Atlantic. We discussed recent launches, the hands-on reality of the cleanroom, and why that first "ping" from space is such a milestone.
Isaac, to start us off, could you describe your role? It sounds a bit more "hands-on" than a typical project manager.
At Open Cosmos, being a Mission Manager isn't a 'one-size-fits-all' role. We play to our individual strengths, so if you have the skills to help with Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT) in the cleanroom, you’re encouraged to collaborate. For me, materialising those concepts is the best part of the job. It's incredible to watch an engineering design actually transform into a physical asset."
Because I also work as a Product Owner, I gain a cross-mission perspective. My role involves managing a variety of stakeholders, from our internal systems engineers to external suppliers whose technology we integrate for flight. A key responsibility is acting as a crucial buffer: balancing external customer requirements with our internal execution capabilities to ensure every component comes together at exactly the right time".
You’re working in a truly pan-European setup. What is that like day-to-day?
"It’s a very broad experience; you aren’t limited to a local silo. I’m collaborating daily with colleagues in the UK, Greece, and Spain. When you’re working on a new cross-mission component, you’re constantly exposed to different perspectives and ways of problem-solving. That mix of backgrounds really enriches the work; you aren't just building a satellite, you're navigating different engineering cultures, which makes the final result much more robust".
Achieving such a quick deployment following the award of the spectrum filings is an unprecedented achievement. How did the team navigate such an accelerated process?
"To pull that off while maintaining our 100% success rate, we leaned hard into our 'continuous testing' philosophy. We didn't start from scratch; we leveraged proven systems and maintained rigor through constant validation loops. We were testing, iterating, and validating every scenario in advance. That proactive engineering allowed us to remain flexible so that when the filings were secured, the mission wasn't a gamble, it was a pre-validated, sound execution".
What did this mission prove to the wider space industry?
"It was a definitive proof of concept for 'Responsive Space'. We showed that satellites can be agile tools for nations to secure their digital real estate and frequency rights, even under extreme pressure. It proved that space infrastructure is evolving into a flexible, on-demand service".
For those of us outside the industry, what exactly is a 'ping' and why is it such a huge moment?
"In the high-stakes environment of a launch, the first 'ping' is the definitive proof that the spacecraft survived the forces of liftoff and the critical moments of deployment. It’s essentially the first heartbeat or beacon signal sent by the satellite and received by a ground station. It confirms the spacecraft is 'alive', the power is on, the computer is booted, and the antennas are working. Receiving that signal just an hour after deployment is the ideal scenario because it validates the integrity of the entire build instantly".
What is the atmosphere like during that window of radio silence?
"Even if you aren't physically sitting in Mission Control, you 'suffer' as a team. Every contributor is mentally retracing their work to ensure a flawless deployment. There is a universal sense of relief that travels through the entire company the moment that first 'ping' is confirmed. For me, seeing that everything went well was the ultimate validation that our collective effort held up under the pressure of such a tight timeline".
How do you balance launching faster with staying sustainable in orbit?
"To us, sustainability means protecting the orbital environment. It starts with rigorous testing so every launch provides maximum value rather than becoming debris. We then focus on keeping the satellite healthy so it can be actively managed. Finally, we design an 'exit strategy' from day one, ensuring the satellite naturally re-enters and burns up once its job is done. Ultimately, it's about leaving the orbit exactly as we found it".
Of all the stages from design to launch, which one is your personal favorite?
"Seeing the mission finally materialise. Because a satellite is composed of so many complex subsystems, seeing the final flight assembly is incredibly rewarding. There's a profound sense of pride in seeing a satellite operating in the vacuum of space and recognising the exact components you positioned or validated with your own hands. It turns an engineering challenge into a very personal achievement".
Isaac, any final thoughts? "Aim high, go beyond".
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