Working Group B

Agenda
	Working Groups

Working Group B	Leveraging New Space for Ground System Enterprise Evolution
	Wednesday – February 28, 2024 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM PT
Description	This WG aims to establish a collaborative forum for the discussion of the evolution of future ground systems. Satellite ground enterprises for federal agencies have traditionally consisted of predominantly Government Owned/Government Operated solutions. In recent years, however, commercial offerings such as Commercial Ground Stations and Commercial SATCOM Service have emerged and are beginning to disrupt this traditional model. New Space is potentially highly disruptive to current ground operations business practices. Innovation in flight architectures needs to be enabled through innovation in the ground enterprise. Outsourcing satellite operations services or implementing hybrid solutions that integrate both government and commercial services allows for potentially more agile and efficient ground operations. The WG will engage a broad range of government agencies, industry, and international partners to discuss the role of commercial services in the future satellite ground enterprise. It will explore the reimagining of the government/contractor relationship, including the exploration of relevant technology and business services offerings that may transform daily operations. It will also consider strategic business issues such as the acquisition, regulatory, and cultural transformations necessary for government agencies to exploit relevant commercial technology and business services effectively, affordably, and securely. Proposed Format: The WG will be managed by two cochairs, one from the government and the other from Aerospace. The WG will discuss in progress to realize mission-agnostic ground enterprises from several government agencies. Building on the successful panel discussions hosted at GSAW since 2021, this year the WG, in addition to updates from government agencies, will provide a forum for commercial service providers to give their perspective on leveraging New Space within government, discussion will focus around: How does the government take advantage of rapid innovations and commoditization of commercial space services? How does government position itself to effectively to acquire ground services rather than developing and purchasing ground systems? How does government take advantage of industry’s willingness to invest in new ideas and take business and technological risks? The WG will be focused around to key topics: Data Acquisition and Ground Station Services Satellite Operation Services
Leads	Michael Bonadonna, NOAA/NESDIS/SEA and Stephen Marley, The Aerospace Corporation
Biographies	Michael Bonadonna Mr. Michael Bonadonna currently serves at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS), Office of Systems Architecture and Advanced Planning. Over the course of a 40-year career in the United States Air Force and NOAA, he has been the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, managed the National Space Weather Program, and commanded combat forces providing operational weather services to military forces around the world. He is a subject matter expert in space weather, satellite meteorology, and space operations. He holds degrees in Meteorology and Program Management from Penn State University and George Washington University.Dr. Stephen Marley As a Ground Systems Enterprise Architect, Dr. Marley is focused on complex/scientific data information systems in support of environmental observation science and ground system operations. Approaching 30 years’ experience of successful leadership and participation in the design of satellite ground systems for the European Space Agency’s European Remote Sensing satellites, NASA’s Earth Observing System, USGS Landsat program, and most recently NOAA’s Geostationary and Polar satellite programs. As part of NASA’s Geosciences Interoperability Office (GIO), Steve promoted the use of open community-based standards for IT systems interoperability throughout NASA and into Federal partner agencies, facilitating the adoption of NASA’s Earth science research results within Federal partner agency decision-support systems. Most recently, working within the EA team within NOAA/NESDIS, he helped establish the EA best practices and tools that will define the technical framework for the realization of the future NESDIS Ground Enterprise. Steve is a graduate of the University of Leeds with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics with Astrophysics, and a Ph.D. in Infrared Astronomy.