Ep. 35: How to Send Lots of Satellites to Space (for Cheap)

The space industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation from bespoke, expensive satellites costing hundreds of millions designed for 10-30 year lifespans to proliferated attritable architectures—smaller, cheaper satellites designed for 3-5 year missions that can be rapidly replaced if damaged. This shift was enabled by SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 rockets, which dramatically reduced launch costs and increased frequency, making it economically viable to build satellites as disposable components rather than long-term investments. Companies like Apex Space are addressing this market by offering productized, configurable satellite bus platforms that combine traditional aerospace reliability with Silicon Valley speed and transparency, enabling faster deployment and lower costs for both commercial and government customers.