The European Space Agency (ESA) is closely monitoring near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR4, which poses a small but non-zero chance of impacting Earth in 2032. Currently estimated to be 40-100 meters wide, the asteroid has a 1.2% probability of impact according to ESA, a figure corroborated by NASA. This risk level has triggered the activation of two UN-endorsed international groups—the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG)—to coordinate observation efforts and plan potential mitigation strategies.

Crispin Littlehales, Global Editor, Satellite Evolution Group talks to Chad Anderson, Founder and Managing Partner, Space Capital. Described by TechCrunch as “among the best-positioned people on either the investment or the operator side to weigh in on the current and future state of the space startup industry,” Chad Anderson has been pioneering investment in the Space Economy for over a decade. He is also author of The Space Economy: Capitalize on the Greatest Business Opportunity of our Lifetime, published by Wiley.

Military satellite communications have transformed dramatically over the decades, evolving from rudimentary capabilities to highly advanced, secure systems that underpin modern defense and intelligence operations. These advancements reflect the intersection of technological innovation and the shifting landscape of global security threats. From enabling basic voice and data transfer to supporting intricate, multi-domain operations, the role of military satcom has since expanded to become indispensable to modern military strategy. This evolution has not only bolstered the military’s capacity to operate in complex and contested environments but has also ensured forces remain connected, informed, and protected.