Novaspace will make its ASCEND debut this year in Washington, D.C., with a dedicated half day aimed at unpacking three of the space sector’s fastest-moving trends: direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, cloud-enabled space infrastructure, and the next AI-fueled era of remote sensing.
The new programming, scheduled for the morning of 21 May, marks the first time the consultancy – formed from the merger of Euroconsult and SpaceTEC Partners – has served as a programming partner for ASCEND.
“We provide robust, data-driven market intelligence throughout the year, along with forward-looking forecasts that help our clients understand where the space industry is headed,” said Zack Hester, Head of U.S. Office, Novaspace.
Why ASCEND, Why Now
Hester said ASCEND’s growth trajectory and its location in Washington, D.C., factored into Novaspace’s decision to take on a programming role.
“ASCEND promises to deliver fresh ideas, new partnerships, and growing momentum,” Hester said. “What I’m really excited about is this new energy and new perspective for the space industry.”
Novaspace’s involvement reflects its broader positioning as a space-focused consultancy with a global footprint, with 150+ professionals across 10 global offices and more than four decades of combined space-sector expertise. ASCEND is tapping that expertise to frame discussions that go beyond technical demonstrations.
“They’re relying on us to provide our market insight and our space expertise into their programming,” Hester said.
All three Novaspace sessions will be held Thursday morning, 21 May, with content that “runs the gamut between satcom and EO (Earth observation),” giving ASCEND attendees a concentrated window into how D2D, cloud, and AI are reshaping the commercial space landscape.
The first session, “How D2D Is Transforming Global Connectivity,” will explore how D2D satellite links are reshaping user expectations and service models worldwide. Satellite direct-to-phone enables standard mobile devices, like smartphones, to connect directly with satellite constellations in GEO or NGSO orbits. Novaspace projects that the market will grow tenfold over the next decade, reaching over $100 billion in cumulative revenues across all D2D and IoT segments by 2034.
“D2D is emerging as the next major layer of mobile connectivity, extending service beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. With mobile networks covering around 96% of the global population but only about 20% of the world’s landmass, this session will unpack why satellite-to-device connectivity is becoming strategically important, how the ecosystem is evolving, and where the market is headed next,” said Sumaiya Najarali, Novaspace’s manager, who leads the Prospects for Direct to Handheld and IoT Markets Intelligence report.
The second session, “From Ground to Orbit: How the Cloud Is Transforming Space Infrastructure,” will feature Salem El Nimri, chief of Space Technology at AWS Aerospace and Satellite, and other panelists examining how cloud architectures are changing mission design, operations and data handling.
The final Novaspace session, “The Next AI-Fueled Era of Remote Sensing,” will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping Earth observation value chains, from data collection to analytics. That discussion will include Michael Bergen, vice president and head of air and space at Vantor (formerly Maxar), a rebranded EO player emerging from Maxar Intelligence.
With its first ASCEND appearance, Novaspace is offering timely programming that will give attendees a concentrated look at how D2D, cloud and AI are reshaping the market – and how the company sees that evolution unfolding.
