Satellite Technology of the Year
Every year Via Satellite, the most trusted news source for the global satellite and space communities, recognizes excellence in the industry with the Satellite Executive of the Year and Satellite Technology of the Year awards. The Via Satellite editorial team reviews nomination submissions and selects the nominees. Nominees will be announced in mid-February. The winner is chosen by a combination of editorial and public vote and will be announced during SATShow Week.
The Satellite Technology of the Year award recognizes a technology breakthrough that has reshaped the way the satellite and connectivity industry works now and for years to come. Technologies are evaluated on their ability to meet significant market demand; create considerable cost-savings or technical efficiencies; make a profit; improve quality of life; disrupt the market; and/or demonstrate a scientific breakthrough. See 2024 Nominees.
Nominations are officially OPEN!
NOMINATE HERE
Nominations close December 5, 2025.
Visit Satellite Executive of the Year page.
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Past Winners of Satellite Technology of the Year
2024 – Slingshot – Agatha AI
Slingshot’s Agatha AI is a groundbreaking system that identifies subtle spacecraft abnormalities and predicts future threats. Agatha evaluates data from thousands of satellites and provides next-level space domain awareness. This technology offers satellite operators cost-saving capabilities and demonstrates AI’s potential in space.
2023 – GSOA, ESA, EchoStar, Thales, Inmarsat, Intelsat, and Individual Contributors – 3GPP NTN Standards
The 3GPP NTN Standards enable full interoperability between satellite and terrestrial including mobility procedures across both network components, allowing mass-market smartphones and IoT devices to connect seamlessly with both terrestrial mobile networks and NTN-based satellite networks when out of range of terrestrial connectivity. Interview will be released in the May edition of Via Satellite.
2022 – Apple – iPhone 14 Emergency Messaging Service via Satellite
With the iPhone 14, Apple brought life-saving emergency text messaging to the world’s most popular handheld device, via satellite. Apple’s SOS service and deal with Globalstar created a huge buzz in the industry, as one of the world’s largest companies is now working with the satellite sector. Read the interview Apple executive Michael Trela here.
2021 – Astroscale – ELSA-d Mission
Astroscale, which won for its End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-Demonstration (ELSA-d) mission, is a new generation of space company that is tackling one of the industry’s biggest issues — space debris. Read the latest on the ELSA-d mission, his vision for the company in the 2020s, and what the industry needs to do to ensure space stays a safe environment here.
2020 – Northrop Grumman – Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1)
In the space of 14 months, Northrop Grumman has made in-orbit satellite servicing a commercial reality, and not just an exciting concept of the future. It is a well-deserved winner of our Satellite Technology of the Year award. Read Northrop Gunman’s response to winning the award and what is next for Northrop Grumman as it looks to bring more cutting-edge services to satellites in orbit here.
2019 – ThinKom – Multi-Beam Phased Array Gateway Solution
ThinKom CTO Bill Milroy talked with Via Satellite after the company’s win about the technology, and how the ground segment market is evolving to keep up with increased demands. The company won for its phased array land gateway that it calls an “array of arrays.” Read the conversation and about the technology here.
2018 – Intellian – v240MT Tri-Band Antenna System
At SATELLITE 2019, Via Satellite announced its first winner for the new Satellite Technology of the Year Award, which recognizes superb technology achievements. The first winners of this award were Intellian Technologies, with their v240MT Tri-Band antenna system, the kind of flexible product/technology that satellite operators/end users crave. Read more about the first winners here.