What is the future of the space sector? Find out from these leaders in the space industry

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The space sector has gained significant attention recently, with companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin making headlines. However, questions remain about the sector’s true value, business opportunities, and emerging trends. Jeffrey Manber, a pioneering entrepreneur in the aerospace industry, offers insight into these topics. As founder and CEO of NanoRacks since 2009, Manber has driven the company’s development of hardware and software for the International Space Station (ISS), overseeing over 300 payload deployments and 64 satellite launches into low Earth orbit. Notably, NanoRacks introduced the first commercial CubeSat deployment platform from the ISS in 2014. Following NanoRacks’ acquisition by Voyager Space, Manber now leads NanoRacks while serving as president of Voyager’s International and Space Stations division, facilitating over 1,000 commercial, educational, and research missions to the ISS.

Additionally, Manber co-founded StarLab Oasis, a Space AgriTech company focused on developing innovative biomass and agricultural technologies to support arid regions, particularly through a research ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. The discussion also highlights Charles Bolden, former NASA administrator and astronaut, emphasizing the blend of commercial innovation and institutional expertise shaping the future of space exploration. This overview invites audiences to explore the evolving opportunities and advancements within the dynamic space sector.

In our next #FutureTalks we will learn about the business potential of the aerospace sector from Jeffrey Manber, one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the sector, and Charles Bolden, former head of NASA

We have been hearing news about the space sector for months: companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin are attracting the attention of the media and the general public. 

But what is the value of this sector? Where are the business opportunities? What are the trends? 

Jeffrey Manber, considered one of the pioneering entrepreneurs to see economic opportunities around aerospace industry, will answer these questions. As founder and CEO of NanoRacks since 2009, Jeffrey Manber has led the growth of the first company to own and market its own hardware and software for the International Space Station (ISS): he has overseen the deployment of more than 300 payloads on the ISS, and the deployment of 64 satellites in low Earth orbit through September 2015. On the other hand, the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer was the first commercial platform to deploy satellites from the ISS in 2014. 

Today, after the acquisition of NanoRacks by Voyager Space, he combines the highest responsibility in NanoRacks with the presidency of the International and Space Stations area of Voyager.

Voyager Space offers opportunities to use the International Space Station for commercial customers and for educational, institutional and industrial research – they have managed over 1000 missions to the International Space Station! 

Jeffrey is also the co-founder and chairman of the board at StarLab Oasis, a Space AgriTech company whose goal is to discover innovations that help create biomass and technologies to help the most arid regions of the world. In Abu Dhabi, they seek to create an international ecosystem that can bring together the leading astrocultural and space farming researchers. 

Charles Bolden, a trustee of the Bankinter Foundation of Innovation, was the head of NASA from 2009 to 2017. Charles has been an astronaut and has commanded several missions, including the shuttle Columbia, where he was the pilot of the STS-61-C and STS-31missions. 

We look forward to seeing you in the future next #FutureTalks, don’t miss it! 

Charles Bolden
Charles Bolden

Former NASA administrator. Founder & CEO Emeritus at The Charles F. Bolden Group LLC

First as a Marine Corps Major General and then as NASA Administrator, Charles F. Bolden Jr. has dedicated his life to the service of the United States, working to secure our nation’s security, prosperity, and guiding efforts to explore our universe and better understand our fragile planet.

In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Bolden to be the 12th NASA Administrator, making him only the second astronaut to hold that position. While heading NASA, Bolden oversaw the transition from the space shuttle system to a new era of exploration, fully focused on the International Space Station (ISS) and aeronautics technology development.

Bolden led the development of the Space Launch System and the Orion Crew Capsule. Bolden also oversaw the shift toward commercial space initiatives handling resupply of the ISS. He created NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, responsible for developing the technology that will make future exploration missions successful. Bolden’s tenure included the triumph of the Mars Curiosity Rover landing, the success of the Juno mission that is helping us understand the planet Jupiter more completely, increasing the number of satellites tasked with Earth observation tasks, and continuing progress toward the December 2021 launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. Not forgetting that the first “A” in NASA stands for Aeronautics, Bolden also focused his attention on NASA’s aeronautics programs and the agency’s goal of developing airplanes that can travel faster, farther, quieter and greener than ever before. During his career as a NASA astronaut, Bolden flew on four space shuttle missions, logging over 680 hours in space. He piloted Space Shuttle Columbia in 1986 (STS-61C) and Space Shuttle Discovery in 1990 (STS-31) – the mission that deployed the Hubble Space Telescope. He also served as Mission Commander on Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1992 (STS-45), and Space Shuttle Discovery in 1994 (STS-60). Bolden also served as Chief of NASA’s Safety Division at the Johnson Space Center in the wake of the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

Bolden also had a long and distinguished military career. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Bolden flew over 100 combat missions during the Vietnam War. He later served as a test pilot for the Naval Air Test Center’s Systems Engineering and Strike Aircraft Test Directorates. After completing his service as an astronaut in 1994, he served as the Assistant Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy, and in 1998 as the Commanding General of the Marine expeditionary force attached to Operation Desert Thunder in Kuwait. He last served as Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, prior to his retirement from the Marine Corps.

Bolden also had a long and distinguished military career. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Bolden flew over 100 combat missions during the Vietnam War. He later served as a test pilot for the Naval Air Test Center’s Systems Engineering and Strike Aircraft Test Directorates. After completing his service as an astronaut in 1994, he served as the Assistant Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy, and in 1998 as the Commanding General of the Marine expeditionary force attached to Operation Desert Thunder in Kuwait. He last served as Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, prior to his retirement from the Marine Corps. Bolden holds a Master of Science Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. His past honors include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, three NASA Exceptional Service Medals and four NASA Space Flight Medals. He received the Rotary National Space Trophy in 2014, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy in 2020 and holds Honorary Doctorate degrees from numerous institutions of higher education. He was inducted into the U.S Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2006 and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2016. He served as a U.S. Department of State Science Envoy for Space from 2018-2019.

Bolden is married to the former Alexis Walker of Columbia, SC. They have two children, A. Ché Bolden, Colonel, USMC (Ret.), Dr. Kelly Bolden, MD, and four grandchildren – granddaughters Mikaley, Kyra and Talia and grandson Walker Elias. He serves today as the Founder and CEO Emeritus of The Charles F. Bolden Group LLC, a veteran-owned small business specializing in space/aerospace exploration, national security, leadership, education (STEM+AD) and health initiatives.